Ken Johnson (left-handed pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Wandersee Johnson [Hook] (January 14, 1923 - April 6, 2004) was a pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 1", 185 lb., he batted and threw left-handed
.
A native of Topeka, Kansas
, Johnson was a hard-throwing pitcher but lacked in control he made up for in velocity and movement. His wildness impeded his career, though he had flashes of brilliance.
Johnson entered the majors in 1947 with the St. Louis Cardinals
, playing for them in part of four seasons (1947-1950) before joining the Philadelphia Phillies
(1950-51) and Detroit Tigers
(1952). In his first major league start
, he pitched a one-hitter for the Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs
at Wrigley Field
(September 27). He struggled with his control after that and was sent by St. Louis to the Phillies in exchange for outfielder
Johnny Blatnik
. He went 4-1 as a member of the famous Phillies Whiz Kids
, on the way to the National League
pennant. He also pitched in nine games for Detroit in 1952, his last major league season.
In a six-season career, Johnson posted a 12-14 record with a 4.58 ERA
in 74 appearances, including 34 starts, eight complete game
s, four shutout
s, and a 1.32 walk-to-strikeout ratio
(195-to-147) in 269 ⅓ innings of work. Johnson died in Wichita, Kansas
, at the age of 81.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for three different teams between the and seasons. Listed at 6' 1", 185 lb., he batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
A native of Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, Johnson was a hard-throwing pitcher but lacked in control he made up for in velocity and movement. His wildness impeded his career, though he had flashes of brilliance.
Johnson entered the majors in 1947 with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, playing for them in part of four seasons (1947-1950) before joining the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1950-51) and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1952). In his first major league start
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, he pitched a one-hitter for the Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
(September 27). He struggled with his control after that and was sent by St. Louis to the Phillies in exchange for outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Johnny Blatnik
Johnny Blatnik
John Louis Blatnik was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals . Listed at 6' 0", 195 lb., Blatnik batted and threw right-handed...
. He went 4-1 as a member of the famous Phillies Whiz Kids
Whiz Kids (baseball)
The Whiz Kids was a nickname given to the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball. This team, averaging only 26.4 years of age, won the National League pennant during that season.After owner R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr...
, on the way to the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennant. He also pitched in nine games for Detroit in 1952, his last major league season.
In a six-season career, Johnson posted a 12-14 record with a 4.58 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 74 appearances, including 34 starts, eight complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s, four shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s, and a 1.32 walk-to-strikeout ratio
Walk-to-strikeout ratio
In baseball statistics, walk-to-strikeout ratio is a measure of a hitter's plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone. Generally, a hitter with a good walk-to-strikeout ratio must exhibit enough patience at the plate to refrain from swinging at bad pitches and take a base on balls, but he...
(195-to-147) in 269 ⅓ innings of work. Johnson died in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
, at the age of 81.