RIP Alex Johnson

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Shocked this hasn't been posted here yet. 

 

1970 Angels AL batting champ Alex Johnson has passed.

[Tank]

maybe the most talented and aggravating player the angels have ever had, and to date, our only batting champion.

 

what was the cause?

[The Ghost of Bob Starr]

Tim Mead just tweeted a short bit:

 

Thoughts & prayers to family of former Angel Alex Johnson. Passed away earlier today at 72 in Detroit. A.L. Batting Champ in '70. #Angels

[mtangelsfan]

RIP, remember watching him play.

[Angel Oracle]

R.I.P. Alex 

 

He was sometimes very misunderstood.   Yes, he could be aggravating.   But he was also known for performing random acts of kindness to strangers. 

 

I remember being at one of the 4 games against the ChiSox to close the 1970 season.

Some lunk head loudmouth behind me would remind Alex whenever he failed to get a hit.   "That's 0 for 1, Alex!"   "That's 0 for 2, Alex!"

Finally after Alex got his 2nd hit of the game, I turned around just enough and yelled backwards "That's 2-4, Alex!"    Never heard a word from the loudmouth after that.  

[Redondo]

RIP Alex

[laagamer]

Well that sucks. 

[Tyler]

R.I.P. Alex 

 

He was sometimes very misunderstood.   Yes, he could be aggravating.   But he was also known for performing random acts of kindness to strangers. 

 

I remember being at one of the 4 games against the ChiSox to close the 1970 season.

Some lunk head loudmouth behind me would remind Alex whenever he failed to get a hit.   "That's 0 for 1, Alex!"   "That's 0 for 2, Alex!"

Finally after Alex got his 2nd hit of the game, I turned around just enough and yelled backwards "That's 2-4, Alex!"    Never heard a word from the loudmouth after that.  

 

Because the game was over?

[Diaz15]

RIP

[JAHV76]

RIP

[DMVol]

Trivia question:

 

maybe the most talented and aggravating player the angels have ever had, and to date, our only batting champion.

Surprising that he is the only Angel batting champion.

[Jimmag]

RIP Alex Johnson.

 

Think it was the year after he won the batting title there was a promo day where they gave out full size baseball bats with his signature and acknowledgement of his title.

[fan_since79]

 

 

Surprising that he is the only Angel batting champion.

 

Darin Erstad's .355 average in 2000 was second best to Nomar Garciaparra's .372. I can't recall any other Angel with such a high average that also came in second.

Edited March 3, 2015 by fan_since79

[Hollyw00d]

Trout almost won in 2012 didn't he?

[disarcina]

The Alex Johnson case is an important one for MLB.

 

Often mis-understood and a very moody figure who would have fits of rage and would turn on teammates in the clubhouse, Alex Johnson was diagnosed as having a mental condition, perhaps bi-polar -- this was way back before, really, there was such a diagnosis.

 

the legendary Marvin Miller, head of the MLBPA, fought for Alex Johnson's cause and he may have been the first player to receive medical benefits and other assistance for his condition.

 

there's an old newspaper article floating around in the internet that I think I posted one time when we had a discussion of Angels players over the years with Pine Tar (the author of that great book "Once they were Angels")  -- even he was not aware of the efforts Marvin Miller made on behalf of Johnson.

 

Johnson was part of the clubhouse scene where Chico Ruiz pulled a gun in the clubhouse - it was a tough time to be a Halos fan.  Johnson was known to be moody, surly and short with people.

 

However, Johnson was said to be a player who never turned down a kid who wanted an autograph and showed kindness beyond the call.........

 

RIP -- the only batting champ in Halos history -- but GEEZ -- I gotta say the greatest Halo hitting season belonged to either Erstad's 240 hit season or Baylor's MVP season. 

[LBHalos17]

RIP, Alex.  I wish he would've come-around and gotten back into the Angels fold... 

[Broad Street]

Who?

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Remember this guy from the early days of my baseball fandom.