Alex Johnson was an All-Star and 1970 American League Batting Champion.
He played thirteen years in the majors and is best remembered for winning the American League batting championship in 1970 with a .329 batting average. He had previously been in the top ten in batting in 1968 and 1969 in the National League.
Alex Johnson was a high-profile player who was often the center of controversy.
Johnson broke in with the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies, a team which also featured Dick Allen (who's autographed 1970 Topps is featured in one of my other auctions on eBay) in his first full season in the majors.
At age 24, he was a backup on the 1967 Cardinals who won the 1967 World Series.
Alex Johnson (who could hit!) never stayed more than two years with any major league team. He was with the Philadelphia Phillies for two years in 1964-65, the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966-67, the Cincinnati Reds in 1968-69, the California Angels in 1970-71, the Cleveland Indians in 1972, the Texas Rangers in 1973 and 1974, the New York Yankees in part of 1974 and 1975, and the Detroit Tigers in 1976.
He was sometimes part of big trades, being involved once in a trade for Dick Groat and another for Vada Pinson.
His emotional issues were at the center of one of the landmark cases in the early days of the players' union. As a Detroit Tiger, I can remember him leisurely strolling in from left field to-and-from the dugout, at Tiger Stadium.
After his major league days he played one season for Mexico City.
After baseball, he ran his family's truck repair and leasing company in Detroit, his native city.
His brother Ron Johnson was an NFL running back for the Cleveland Browns (1969) and New York Giants (1970-1975).
The signature is in blue ballpoint pen. I have had the card since it was new in the pack and signed for me shortly thereafter.
Check out my other items which include many vintage Topps autographed baseball cards, including the Rich Allen / Richie Allen / Dick Allen signed 1970 Topps.
