1961 Topps #24, Ken Johnson

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Ken Johnson's 1961 Topps #24 baseball card is shown
here, both front and back:

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images/024_Johnson-a.jpg

http://home.triad.rr.com/ovis/images/024_Johnson-b.jpg

Ken came up briefly with the Kansas City Athletics in 1958,
but was sent back to the minors. The Athletics brought
him back at the end of '59, but it wasn't until 1960 that the
big right hander got a real chance to pitch in the big leagues.

In a mostly relief role, Ken won 5 and lost 10 in 1960, with
an ERA of 4.26, for the last place Athletics.

In 1961, the year of this card, he only pitched a little over
9 innings stretched over 6 games for Kansas City, and
was traded to the Reds in July. Good news for Ken,
because the Reds won the pennant in '61, even though
Ken just barely made an appearance in the series.

At the end of the '61 season, Ken was taken by the
Houston Colt .45's in the expansion draft and went 7-16,
with an ERA of 3.84 in 1962. He threw 178 strikeouts
this year, 6th in the league.

In '63, even though he went 11-17, he had a very nice
2.65 ERA, 10th best in the league.

In April of 1964 Ken threw a complete game 9 inning
no-hitter against his old team the Reds. The only
problem was, he lost the game 1-0.

With one out in the 9th, Pete Rose laid down a bunt
in front of the plate. Ken had to hurry the play, and
threw what he called, "...a perfect sinker, low and
away" to Pete Runnels, who couldn't reach it.

Chico Ruiz then hit a ball off of Ken's shin to Bob
Aspromonte at third. Bob threw out Chico at first,
but it moved Pete Rose to third.

Then Vada Pinson hit a grounder to Nellie Fox who
bobbled it, and missed the out at first, allowing Rose
to score.

Early in the 1965 season, Ken was traded to the
Braves. This would be the first year he won more
games than he lost. From 1965 through 1967 his
record was 16-10, 14-8, 13-9, and in 1967 he would
post a very good 2.74 ERA, 8th best in the league.

Ken played with the Braves until June of 1969 when
he was sold to the Yankees, then later in the season
to the Cubs, never getting much playing time.

He finished his Major League career with the Expos
in 1970.

Ken's lifetime ERA was 3.46.
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John Wade