Randy Johnson (third baseman)
Encyclopedia
Randall Glenn Johnson is a former Major League Baseball
third baseman. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the Atlanta Braves
. He also played two seasons in Japan, and , for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
. He currently serves as the minor league field coordinator for the San Diego Padres
.
and San Jose State University
, where he was an Academic All American in 1978 for baseball. He was drafted in the 11th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft
by the New York Mets
.
as a free agent. He played for their top farm club, the Phoenix Firebirds
, in 1986 before signing with the Carp.
He later played for the West Palm Beach Tropics in the Senior Professional Baseball Association
in 1989-90 and one season in the Australian Baseball League for the Brisbane Bandits in 1991.
, Detroit Tigers
and worked for the Oakland Athletics
as special assistant to the team's general manager, Billy Beane
from 2003-2010. In February 2010, he was named the Padres' minor league field coordinator, a job which he will again perform in 2011.
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...
third baseman. He played all or part of three seasons in the majors, from until , for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. He also played two seasons in Japan, and , for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
. He currently serves as the minor league field coordinator for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
Amateur career
Johnson played football and baseball at Palomar CollegePalomar College
Palomar College is a community college with one campus and six education sites in San Diego County, California. The main campus is located in San Marcos, while the six education sites are located elsewhere throughout north San Diego County. The largest of these is the education center located in...
and San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
, where he was an Academic All American in 1978 for baseball. He was drafted in the 11th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft
1978 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
Professional career
Johnson played in the Mets farm system for two seasons before being traded to the Braves in 1980. He was released by the Braves following the 1985 season, then signed with the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as a free agent. He played for their top farm club, the Phoenix Firebirds
Phoenix Firebirds
The Phoenix Firebirds, formerly the Phoenix Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 1958-1959, and 1966 until 1997....
, in 1986 before signing with the Carp.
He later played for the West Palm Beach Tropics in the Senior Professional Baseball Association
Senior Professional Baseball Association
The Senior Professional Baseball Association was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over . The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule...
in 1989-90 and one season in the Australian Baseball League for the Brisbane Bandits in 1991.
Post-playing career
Since 1989, Johnson has scouted for the Padres, Colorado RockiesColorado 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...
, 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...
and worked for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as special assistant to the team's general manager, Billy Beane
Billy Beane
William Lamar "Billy" Beane III is a former Major League Baseball player and the current general manager and minority owner of the Oakland Athletics...
from 2003-2010. In February 2010, he was named the Padres' minor league field coordinator, a job which he will again perform in 2011.