Philadelphia Phillies
Johnson worked his way up the ranks quickly in the Phillies' farm system, batting .322 with forty home runs and 187 runs batted in (RBIs) across two seasons to earn a spot on the Phillies' bench for the start of the 1964 season. However, he was optioned back to the Arkansas Travelers of the Pacific Coast League without having logged a major league at-bat in order to make room on the major league roster for relief pitcher Ed Roebuck, who was acquired from the Washington Senators shortly after the season started.
Johnson soon earned a call back up to the majors as he batted .316 with 21 home runs and 71 RBIs in just over half a season in Little Falls. In his major legue debut, Johnson went three-for-four with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. He remained hot for his first month in the majors, batting .400 with one home run and nine RBIs through August. He eventually settled into a lefty-righty platoon with Wes Covington in left field, which he would do through the 1965 season. After which, Johnson, Pat Corrales and Art Mahaffey were dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bill White, Dick Groat and Bob Uecker.
Read more about this topic: Alex Johnson
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