Ernie Johnson (baseball pitcher)

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Ernest Thorwald Johnson (a.k.a. Ernie Johnson Sr.) (born June 16, 1924 in Brattleboro, Vermont) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. The 6'4", 195 lb. right-hander was signed by the Boston Braves as an amateur free agent before the 1942 season. He played for the Boston Braves (1950, 1952), Milwaukee Braves (1953-1958), and Baltimore Orioles (1959).

After serving 3 years in the U.S Marine Corps, Johnson made his major league debut in relief on April 28, 1950 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Shibe Park. His first big league win was also in relief, coming against the New York Giants on June 30, 1950 at the Polo Grounds. He spent part of 1950 in the Eastern League and all of 1951 in the American Association before returning to the major leagues for good in 1952. He started 10 games for Boston in 1952 and then appeared almost exclusively in relief thereafter.

From 1953 to 1957, the first five years that the Braves were in Milwaukee, Johnson led the pitching staff with 175 relief appearances, an average of 35 per season. He was followed closely behind by Dave Jolly, who relieved in 158 games during that five-year span. During those seasons the closer's job was held at different times by Lew Burdette, Johnson, Jolly, and Don McMahon.

Johnson had an important role on the 1957 World Series Champion Braves with a 7-3 record and 4 saves in 30 games. In three World Series appearances against the New York Yankees that October he gave up only one run in seven innings, but it happened to be a game-winning home run by Hank Bauer in the seventh inning of Game # 6.

In nine seasons Johnson had a losing record only once (1955) and had an overall winning percentage of .635. Career totals include a record of 40-23 in 273 games, 19 games started, 3 complete games, 1 shutout, 119 games finished, 19 saves, and an ERA of 3.77.

Following his playing days Johnson was a longtime Braves broadcaster, working from 1962 to 1999 and becoming an icon in Atlanta. He was elected to the Braves' Hall of Fame on August 24, 2001. His son, Ernie Johnson Jr., worked with him from 1993 to 1996.

[edit] Trivia

Johnson led Western League pitchers with a .750 winning percentage while playing for the Denver Bears in 1949.
He led American Association pitchers with a .789 winning percentage and an ERA of 2.62 while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1951.