Wallace Johnson
Encyclopedia
Wallace Darnell Johnson (born December 25, 1956 in Gary, Indiana
), is an American former professional baseball
player and coach. He was a first baseman with the Montreal Expos
and San Francisco Giants
and Chicago White Sox
third base coach and is also known for his skill as a pinch hitter
. Johnson was a switch hitter
and threw right-handed.
After graduating from Indiana State University
Wallace was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the sixth round of the 1979 amateur draft
. He made his major league debut for the Expos in September 1981 and played most of his career in Montreal. He spent part of with the Giants, having been traded to them on May 25 in exchange for outfielder Mike Vail
. The next spring, the Giants released him, and he returned to the Expos as a free agent shortly thereafter.
On May 2, 1988, Johnson broke up the perfect game
bid of Ron Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds
. Johnson getting a single with two outs in the 9th inning.
Johnson led the major leagues in pinch-hits during the period 1987-1990. On August 11, 1990 he was released by the Montreal Expos again and signed with the Oakland Athletics
, but he did not appear in any games for the A's. He played his final major league game on August 3, 1990.
He spent three years (-) coaching in the Atlanta Braves minor league system and five years as the third base coach with the Chicago White Sox but was fired after the season. During his time as third base coach of the White Sox, Hawk Haarrelson gave him the nickname "Wavin Wally".
Johnson's was an acclaimed pinch-hitter. His pinch-hit knocked in the winning run that put the Montreal Expos in their first (and only) postseason in . He was the Expos all-time pinch-hit leader with 86.
Gary, Indiana
Gary is a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States. The city is in the southeastern portion of the Chicago metropolitan area and is 25 miles from downtown Chicago. The population is 80,294 at the 2010 census, making it the seventh-largest city in the state. It borders Lake Michigan and is known...
), is an American former 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...
player and coach. He was a first baseman with the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
and San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
third base coach and is also known for his skill as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. Johnson was a switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
and threw right-handed.
After graduating from Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
Wallace was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the sixth round of the 1979 amateur draft
1979 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
. He made his major league debut for the Expos in September 1981 and played most of his career in Montreal. He spent part of with the Giants, having been traded to them on May 25 in exchange for outfielder Mike Vail
Mike Vail
Michael Lewis Vail is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played from 1975-1984....
. The next spring, the Giants released him, and he returned to the Expos as a free agent shortly thereafter.
On May 2, 1988, Johnson broke up the perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
bid of Ron Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Johnson getting a single with two outs in the 9th inning.
Johnson led the major leagues in pinch-hits during the period 1987-1990. On August 11, 1990 he was released by the Montreal Expos again and signed with 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....
, but he did not appear in any games for the A's. He played his final major league game on August 3, 1990.
He spent three years (-) coaching in the Atlanta Braves minor league system and five years as the third base coach with the Chicago White Sox but was fired after the season. During his time as third base coach of the White Sox, Hawk Haarrelson gave him the nickname "Wavin Wally".
Johnson's was an acclaimed pinch-hitter. His pinch-hit knocked in the winning run that put the Montreal Expos in their first (and only) postseason in . He was the Expos all-time pinch-hit leader with 86.