Billy Johnson (baseball player)

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For other persons named Billy Johnson, see Billy Johnson (disambiguation).

William Russell Johnson (August 30, 1918-June 20, 2006) was a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the New York Yankees in the 1940s. Johnson was born in Montclair, New Jersey and debuted in 1943. He had an impressive rookie season which earned him 4th place in American League MVP voting.

After missing two years for wartime service, he returned to spend the next five seasons as a regular third baseman. Johnson was named an All-Star in 1947, and was a part of four championship teams in his six seasons as a regular. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1951 to allow Gil McDougald, a hot prospect for the Yankees, to play his position full time. He served as the Cards' third baseman for two years before retiring during the 1953 season. In later years he worked as a shipping supervisor in Augusta, Georgia. He died on June 20, 2006.