Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson is a retired player most recently playing for Sydney.

Alexander Johnson (born December 7, 1942) is a former professional baseball outfielder. Between 1964 and 1976, he played in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and Detroit Tigers. He was the National League Comeback Player of the Year in 1968 and an American League All-Star and batting champion in 1970. His brother, Ron, was an NFL running back, notably for the New York Giants.

Johnson was born in Helena, Arkansas, but grew up in Detroit, Michigan with his two brothers and sisters. He played sandlot ball with Bill Freehan, Willie Horton, and Dennis Ribant.

Johnson attended Northwestern High School, where he excelled as an offensive lineman for the school's football team. He received a scholarship offer to attend Michigan State University to play football for the Michigan State Spartans, but opted to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies instead.

Johnson worked his way up the ranks quickly in the Phillies' farm system, batting .322 with forty home runs and 187 runs batted in (RBIs) across two seasons to earn a spot on the Phillies' bench for the start of the 1964 season. However, he was optioned back to the Arkansas Travelers of the Pacific Coast League without having logged a major league at-bat in order to make room on the major league roster for relief pitcher Ed Roebuck, who was acquired from the Washington Senators shortly after the season started.

Johnson soon earned a call back up to the majors as he batted .316 with 21 home runs and 71 RBIs in just over half a season in Little Falls. In his major legue debut, Johnson went three-for-four with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. He remained hot for his first month in the majors, batting .400 with one home run and nine RBIs through August. He eventually settled into a lefty-righty platoon with Wes Covington in left field, which he would do through the 1965 season. After which, Johnson, Pat Corrales and Art Mahaffey were dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bill White, Dick Groat and Bob Uecker.