Roy Johnson (1980s outfielder)

Roy Edward Johnson (June 27, 1959 – January 26, 2009) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball, playing mainly at center field in parts of three seasons for the Montreal Expos (1982, 1984-85). Listed at 6' 4", 205 lb., Johnson batted and threw left-handed. A native of Parkin, Arkansas, he was selected by the Expos in the 5th round of the 1980 draft out of Tennessee State University.

Johnson was a distinguished hitter in the minors, but he was not able to translate it to major league success. He hit a .361 batting average with 90 RBI and a .561 slugging for the 1982 Wichita Aeros, where he also played in 1983. Dealt to the Oakland Athletics, he played for Triple-A Tacoma Tigers during three seasons (1986-87), hitting .343 in 1986. He posted a .171 average (12-for-70) with one home run and four RBI in 36 major league games. In an eight-season minors career, he hit .291 with 85 homers and 428 RBI in 773 games, including a .829 on-base plus slugging. He also played for the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League and later became their hitting coach.

Johnson died at his San Francisco de Campeche home of a heart attack at the age of 49. He was buried at Jardines del Angel Cemetery, in Campeche.

Facts

• Johnson is regarded as one of the most powerful foreign-born hitters to play in Mexican baseball. Well known as the "Arkansas Train," he shares the Mexican League record for most home runs in one game with four, and hit more home runs than any other player in the Campeche team history, with 114. ^[1]

• The 1982 Expos had Andre Dawson, Tim Raines and Warren Cromartie as regulars in the outfield, with Terry Francona and Johnson serving in backup roles.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)