Bob Johnson (pitcher)

Robert Dale Johnson (April 25, 1943 in Aurora, Illinois) is a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of seven seasons (1969–1974, 1977) with the New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

Johnson was a member of the 1971 World Series champion Pirates. The 1971 season was also his most productive, finishing 9–10 with a 3.45 ERA, including 27 starts, seven complete games and one shutout.

The Pirates faced the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series that year, and with the 5-game series tied 1–1 after two games, Johnson started Game 3. He out-dueled Juan Marichal at Three Rivers Stadium, pitching eight innings and allowing only one unearned run for the win. The Pirates went on to win Game 4 to reach the World Series for the first time in 11 years. Johnson did not fare as well in the World Series, losing Game 2 at Memorial Stadium against the Baltimore Orioles.

An alumnus of Bradley University, for his career he compiled a 28–34 record with a 3.48 ERA and 507 strikeouts in 183 appearances, including 76 starts, 18 complete games, two shutouts, 12 saves and 692 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched. He garnered 15 hits in 157 at-bats for an .096 lifetime batting average.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet