James Harle Johnston (December 10, 1889 – February 14, 1967) was a
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player from 1911 to 1926. He played mostly with the
Brooklyn Robins
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Califor ...
of the
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...
. His brother
Doc Johnston was also a major league player.
Career
Johnston, who batted and threw right-handed, made his major-league debut on May 3, 1911, with the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
, which was his only appearance that season. He did not return to the majors until 1914, when he played 50 games with the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is locate ...
. From 1916 through 1925 he was with the Brooklyn Robins (who later became the
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the club moved to Los Angeles, Califor ...
). He finished up his career the following year, playing for the
Boston Braves and the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
. His final major league game was on September 11, 1926.
Overall, Johnston played all or part of 13 seasons in the major leagues, ten with the Brooklyn Robins. He appeared in two
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the Wor ...
, both Brooklyn losses. In the
1916 World Series
The 1916 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1916 season. The 13th edition of the World Series, it matched the American League champion Boston Red Sox against the National League champion Brooklyn Robin ...
he started two of the games, batting in the lead-off position. In the
1920 World Series
The 1920 World Series was the championship series for Major League Baseball's 1920 season. The series was a best-of-nine format played between the American League (AL) champion Cleveland Indians and the National League (NL) champion Brookly ...
, he appeared in four of the games, mostly batting second except for batting sixth in one of the games. Johnston injured his knee in Game 4 and had to sit out the rest of the series.
Jimmy's brother
Doc Johnston played against him for the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
in the 1920 World Series, marking the first World Series and first
Big Four championship to feature two brothers on opposing teams.
On May 25, 1922, Johnston hit for the
cycle as a member of the Brooklyn Robins in an 8–7 win over the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has been Citizen ...
at the
Baker Bowl.
During his major league career, Johnston played 448 games at third base, 354 in the outfield, 243 at second, 178 at shortstop, and 49 at first base. He had a .294 lifetime batting average, hitting in the .270 to .280 range near the end of the
dead-ball era
In baseball, the dead-ball era was the period from around 1900 to the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1919, when he hit a then-major league record 29 home runs; only three players since 1890 had even hit 20. This era was characterized ...
and going over .300 once the
live-ball era
The live-ball era, also referred to as the lively ball era, is the period in Major League Baseball beginning in (and continuing to the present day), contrasting with the pre-1920 period known as the "dead-ball era". The name "live-ball era" comes ...
started. He stole 169 bases in his major league career, mostly from 1916 to 1923. He had little power, except in 1921 when he had 41 doubles and 14 triples. All of his managers became
Hall of Famers
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...
;
Hugh Duffy
Hugh Duffy (November 26, 1866 – October 19, 1954) was an American outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He was a player or player-manager for the Chicago White Stockings, Chicago Pirates, Boston Reds, Boston Beaneaters, Milwauk ...
with the White Sox,
Hank O'Day
Henry M. O'Day (July 8, 1859 – July 2, 1935), nicknamed "The Reverend", was an American right-handed pitcher and later an umpire and manager in Major League Baseball. After a seven-year major league playing career, he worked as a National ...
with the Cubs,
Wilbert Robinson
Wilbert Robinson (June 29, 1864 – August 8, 1934), nicknamed "Uncle Robbie", was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and St. Louis Cardinal ...
with Brooklyn,
Dave Bancroft
David James Bancroft (April 20, 1891 – October 9, 1972) was an American professional baseball shortstop and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Robi ...
with the Braves, and
John McGraw
John Joseph McGraw (April 7, 1873 – February 25, 1934) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager who was for almost thirty years manager of the New York Giants. He was also the third baseman of the pennant-winning 18 ...
with the Giants.
After his playing career ended, Johnston coached first base for Brooklyn in 1931. He died in
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States. Located along the Tennessee River bordering Georgia, it also extends into Marion County on its western end. With a population of 181,099 in 2020 ...
, in 1967.
Family
Johnston married Nora Belle Jones (1888–1974) in 1910; the couple had five children.
Johnston's brother
Doc Johnston was also a major league player.
See also
*
List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
In baseball, completing the cycle is the accomplishment of hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. In terms of frequency, the cycle is roughly as common as a no-hitter; ''Baseball Digest'' calls it "one of the ...
*
List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
In baseball statistics, a stolen base is credited to a baserunner when he successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is throwing the ball to home plate. Under Rule 7.01 of Major League Baseball's (MLB) Official Rules, a runner acqu ...
References
External links
, o
Retrosheet*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Jimmy
1889 births
1967 deaths
Major League Baseball infielders
Chicago White Sox players
Chicago Cubs players
Brooklyn Robins players
New York Giants (NL) players
Boston Braves players
Baseball players from Tennessee
Brooklyn Dodgers coaches
Kewanee Boilermakers players
Ottumwa Packers players
Birmingham Barons players
San Francisco Seals (baseball) players
Oakland Oaks (baseball) players
Chattanooga Lookouts players
Chattanooga Lookouts managers
Atlanta Crackers players
Montgomery Capitals players
People from Cleveland, Tennessee