#263 Darrell Johnson

Darrell Johnson  St. Louis Cardinals

Career: Johnson's major league career came in bits and pieces spread over a decade for six different teams. He came out of Nebraska-Kearney and he caught in the St. Louis Browns' system beginning in 1949. He made their roster in 1952 but from there it was a journey through Chicago (Sox), New York (Yankees), back to St. Louis (Cardinals), Philly, Cincinnati, and Baltimore.

Johnson's numbers through all that don't add up to full seasons worth of games but he learned a lot and it came in handy when he managed three teams later in life. He logged nearly a thousand games in the minors, was a player/coach for the Cardinals, and went on to manage the Red Sox (winning the '75 pennant), the Mariners (he was their first), and finally, briefly, the Rangers.

He was a career .234 hitter with one homer off Virgil Trucks and another one off Johnny Podres.

In 1960: Johnson started the season as a spare catcher and coach. When the Cards recalled top prospect Tim McCarver they took Johnson off the active roster and he was officially a coach for the rest of the year. He'd had just twenty-six at-bats over eight games hitting .154 with an RBI.

Off The Charts: Johnson ended his playing days with the Orioles and then began managing in their chain. He was pushed aside by the Rochester owner in favor of Earl Weaver and he moved on to scouting with the Yanks and then got back into managing. He took over the Red Sox job in 1974, finished third, and then took them to the Series.

#188 Dick Williams

Dick Williams   Kansas City Athletics

Career: Williams made his name as a manager who won a couple of titles and four pennants. But he was also a jack-of-all-trades player whose career lasted 13 years. He began in Brooklyn in 1951 after four seasons in the minors where he showed superior hitting skills. He bounced between the Dodgers and their high minor league teams for several years playing the outfield.

A 1956 trade to the Orioles gave him a full-time spot for the first time in his career. He played everywhere on the field except catcher and pitcher and the steady work allowed him to show off his hitting. He was never a power threat but his average and versatility seemed to make him a valuable trade piece. Williams played for Cleveland, Baltimore (again), Kansas City, Baltimore (again!!), and finally, the Red Sox. He even was dealt to the Colt .45s in the winter of 1962 by the Orioles but was then traded to Boston a few weeks later. He finished his career with a .260 average, and he had a hit in two at-bats in the 1953 World Series for the Dodgers.


In 1960: In his second year with the Athletics he upped his average to a career (as a regular) high of .288 and added a dozen home runs to the mix. He started most of his games at third but had a fair share of time in left and at first.

Off The Charts: Williams earned his Hall of Fame status as a manger. He began at the helm of the Impossible Dream Red Sox in 1967. He went on to manage for 21 years in the dugouts of the Athletics, Angels, Mariners, Padres, and Expos in addition to the Sox. Williams was involved in his fair share of controversies as a manager, but he won titles in Oakland in 1972 and '73.