Prospect Retro: Howard Johnson

by John Sickels on May 2, 2007 2:15 PM EDT in News Comment 16 comments

Howard Johnson Prospect Retro

You young whippersnappers likely don't remember him, but HoJo was a very interesting, if frustrating, player to watch.

He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 1st round of the January 1979 secondary draft for previously drafted players., out of St. Petersburg Junior College in Florida. He signed and was sent to Lakeland in the Florida State League, where he hit .235/.340/.300 with 18 steals in 132 games. He was fast and drew 69 walks, but didn't show much power. Still, it was his pro debut at age 18 in advanced A-ball. He was toolsy and had offensive potential; Grade C+ probably.

Returned to Lakeland in 1980, Johnson hit .285/.385/.411 with 10 homers, 31 steals, and 73 walks. His power was growing, he drew walks and stole bases. . .he'd be a stathead favorite nowadays. His defense was erratic, but he was starting to get attention as an intriguing prospect due to his athleticism and broad skill base. I'd raise him to Grade B.

Moved up to Double-A in 1981, he hit .266/.370/.488 with 22 homers, 19 steals, and 75 walks for Birmingham in the Southern League. The skill growth was definitely here to go with his tools: Grade B+ and a top prospect.

Promoted to Triple-A in 1982, he hit .317/.400/.571 with 23 homers and 35 steals in 98 games, then hit .316/.384/.426 in 54 games for the Tigers. Power/speed/walks, plus a stronger batting average. . .hard to beat that at age 21. He had the arm strength and range for third base but remained erratic.

Injuries limited him to just 30 games in 1983, but he came back in 1984 and hit .248/.324/.394 for the Tigers. Disappointed, he was shipped to the Mets where he had a mediocre '85 season, then started to show more power in '86. His big step forward took place in 1987 when he hit 36 homers, stole 32 bases and drew 83 walks.

Johnson never hit for much of a batting average: his high was .287 and his career average was .249. But he hit for power, drew walks, stole bases, posted strong secondary averages, and was fun to watch, if frustrating when he'd make a defensive mistake. His bat slowed down at age 31 and he was finished as an effective player very rapidly.

Career Major League numbers: .249/.340/.446, 228 homers, 231 steals in 4940 at-bats, OPS +118, Secondary Average .369.
Career Minor League numbers: .273/.375/.436, 58 homers, 103 steals in 1793 at-bats.

0 recs | Comment 16 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Speaking of guys young for their league

What do you think of Carlos Triunfel as a 17 year old putting up an OPS of around .700 when the Midwest League has an average of about a .660 OPS?

by Fett42 on May 2, 2007 2:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

MVP

thanks John for the Retro...He was one of my favorite players back then. Didn't knew he start his career with Detroit but I remember thinking that he deserve the MVP in 1991. Also a few 30-30 season when that was not very common in those days.

by LCT on May 2, 2007 2:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One other thing

HoJo was a switch hitter, which makes his accomplishments even more impressive.

by samjjones on May 2, 2007 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HoJo

Thanks John, one of my personal faves. Love the cover too - he and Darrrrrrrrrylllll helped make 30-30 become a benchmark of offensive value.

Before 1987, it was done just 11 times, 5 of those by the elder Bonds. In '87, HoJo, Darryl, Eric Davis and Joe Carter all did it. There's been too many for me to count since then.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/hi3030c.shtml

And how 'bout that Ken Williams in 1922? Talk about a pioneer. How 'bout a prospect (really) retro on him?

"Baseball is dull only to dull minds." -Red Barber

by e 6 on May 2, 2007 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah

30-30 does lose its luster when you see Jose Cruz and Preston Wilson on the list. Still, back in the 1980s, that was were the stars were at. I wonder how many Bo would have had

by ScottAZ on May 3, 2007 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember him well as a Tiger

1984 was a great season, but it would have been even better if Sparky could've just penciled HoJo into the lineup instead of Tom Brookens or Marty Castillo.

At least with the Tigers, he was the dullest interview ever -- he never looked at the camera, and muttered cliches like "I was just trying to hit it hard somewhere and I was fortunate and got ahold of it"

by BIgMax on May 2, 2007 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol...

whippersnappers.

Ballllllly Sta®

by uga007 on May 2, 2007 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HoJo

Definitely my favorite Met of all time. His sudden career end (if you'll all remember, he went from leading the NL in homers and RBI's one season to being a bench quality player the next) was very hard to take. Still, he was a very good player.

I still remember when fans would hold up signs on the 1st base stands with a target on the message "Throw it here, HoJo" written in big letters. Man, half the time even HoJo didn't know where his throws were going. Amazing that Buddy Harrelson actually thought he could play shortstop at one point.

by Lunkwill Fook on May 2, 2007 5:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not that amazing....

I mean, there are some people who still think BJ Upton can play shortstop lol.

(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

by Boxkutter on May 2, 2007 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a Cubs fan...

HoJo frustrated me first when he killed the Cubs for years in the old NL East and later when he became a Cub way past his prime. I had hoped he would again put up his signature power and speed numbers after a couple of off years but sadly it was not to be.

by Y2Q on May 2, 2007 8:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As a cub fan I remember as well

He hit below the mendoza line, but still had power. By that time he was the epitome of an all or nothing slugger. Relegated to PH duty by the time he got to Chicago. He would hit a PH HR a few times a month. Then strikeout every other time he came to the plate. Good times all around.

by aaronb on May 3, 2007 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who is the most famous HoJo?

The ball player or the hotel chain?

by sdbaseballfan on May 3, 2007 5:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Reminds me of....

Morgan Ensberg with more speed and less defense.

by Harold Baines on May 3, 2007 10:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HoJo

my favorite player growing up.... I loved that guy

Future Fish

by Maverick on May 3, 2007 1:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Great fastball hitter.

Guy couldn't hit a curveball if his life depended on it. But had an amazing number of late inning homeruns against power closers. For some reason they all wanted to think they could get that fastball by him. Killed Todd Worrell.

by acerimusdux on May 6, 2007 5:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs