Jimmy Johnson (baseball)
Encyclopedia
James Lloyd "Jimmy" Johnson (born August 28, 1947) is an American
professional baseball
coach
, and a former infielder
and manager
at the minor league
level. Johnson was primarily a shortstop
and third baseman
during his playing days. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg). As a player, Johnson compiled a .252 batting average
in 577 minor league
games.
, Illinois
. He graduated from Rincon High School
in Tucson, Arizona
, and attended the University of New Mexico
.
and spent a quarter-century in their system as an infielder (1969-76), minor league manager (1977-82; 1984-85) (including the Columbus Astros (1978-1979, 1984) and Tucson Toros
(1980-82, 1985)) and coordinator of instruction (1983; 1986-93).Carroll, Frank (3 November 1989). JOHNSON: INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE A SUCCESS, Orlando Sentinel(7 November 1993). Dempsey's new NCAA position a lucrative one, Arizona Daily Star ("After 17 years together, the Houston Astros fired longtime Tucsonan Jimmy Johnson last week. Johnson was the Tucson Toros manager from 1980-81 ....") He then joined the New York Yankees
as an instructor and manager, and later worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers
and Colorado Rockies
as a minor league hitting coordinator. He has also managed additional minor league teams, including the Norwich Navigators in 1995, Greensboro Bats in 1996 and the St. Paul Saints
in 2002.(26 February 2002). Saints Get Their Manager: Jimmy Johnson Lends Experience To Team, St. Paul Pioneer Press
(28 September 1995). Essian Will Call Shots for Gators, The Day (noting replacement of Johnson as manager of Norwich Navigators due to promotion within Yankees organization) He was listed as the Colorado farm system's roving batting instructor in .
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, and a former infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
at the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
level. Johnson was primarily a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
during his playing days. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg). As a player, Johnson compiled a .252 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 577 minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
games.
Early life
Johnson was born at ColonaColona, Illinois
Colona is a city in Henry County, Illinois, along the Green River. It is part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area. The population was 5,099 at the 2010 census, down from 5,173 at the 2000 census....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. He graduated from Rincon High School
Rincon High School
Rincon High School is a public high school in Tucson, Arizona. The school serves about 1,300 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Tucson Unified School District . Since 1985, the campus has been shared with University High School, a separate accelerated institution. Courses from each school can be...
in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, and attended the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
.
Career
He signed his first pro contract with the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and spent a quarter-century in their system as an infielder (1969-76), minor league manager (1977-82; 1984-85) (including the Columbus Astros (1978-1979, 1984) and Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
(1980-82, 1985)) and coordinator of instruction (1983; 1986-93).Carroll, Frank (3 November 1989). JOHNSON: INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE A SUCCESS, Orlando Sentinel(7 November 1993). Dempsey's new NCAA position a lucrative one, Arizona Daily Star ("After 17 years together, the Houston Astros fired longtime Tucsonan Jimmy Johnson last week. Johnson was the Tucson Toros manager from 1980-81 ....") He then joined the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
as an instructor and manager, and later worked with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
as a minor league hitting coordinator. He has also managed additional minor league teams, including the Norwich Navigators in 1995, Greensboro Bats in 1996 and the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
in 2002.(26 February 2002). Saints Get Their Manager: Jimmy Johnson Lends Experience To Team, St. Paul Pioneer Press
St. Paul Pioneer Press
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is a newspaper based in St. Paul, Minnesota, primarily serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Circulation is heaviest in the eastern metro region, including Ramsey, Dakota, and Washington counties, along with western Wisconsin, eastern Minnesota and Anoka County,...
(28 September 1995). Essian Will Call Shots for Gators, The Day (noting replacement of Johnson as manager of Norwich Navigators due to promotion within Yankees organization) He was listed as the Colorado farm system's roving batting instructor in .