Major League Baseball Player. For twenty seasons (1966 to 1985), he was an outfielder and first baseman with the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. Born John William Johnstone, he attended Edgewater High School in West Covina, California, where he excelled in basketball and football, as well as baseball. Signed as an amateur free agent by the California Angels in 1963, he made his major league debut on July 30, 1966 and played in 61 games that year. His most productive period was with the Phillies (1974 to 1978), as he split time in right field with Ollie Brown and topped the .300 batting average mark two consecutive years (1975 and 1976). During the 1976 National League Championship Series against the Cincinnati Reds, he batted .778. He was traded to the Yankees during the 1978 season and experienced a world championship that year. He was signed as a free agent by the Dodgers following the 1979 season and went on to establish himself as a highly respectable pinch hitter and role player who contributed to the Dodgers capturing the 1981 World Series title. During that series, he belted a memorable two-run home run against the Yankees in Game 4, which proved to be pivotal. During the course of his career, Johnstone was a fan favorite with his quirky and colorful personality. In 1,748 career regular season games, he compiled 1,254 hits with a .267 lifetime batting average. After retiring from baseball, he found some acting roles which include "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" (1988) and "The Drew Carey Show."
Major League Baseball Player. For twenty seasons (1966 to 1985), he was an outfielder and first baseman with the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. Born John William Johnstone, he attended Edgewater High School in West Covina, California, where he excelled in basketball and football, as well as baseball. Signed as an amateur free agent by the California Angels in 1963, he made his major league debut on July 30, 1966 and played in 61 games that year. His most productive period was with the Phillies (1974 to 1978), as he split time in right field with Ollie Brown and topped the .300 batting average mark two consecutive years (1975 and 1976). During the 1976 National League Championship Series against the Cincinnati Reds, he batted .778. He was traded to the Yankees during the 1978 season and experienced a world championship that year. He was signed as a free agent by the Dodgers following the 1979 season and went on to establish himself as a highly respectable pinch hitter and role player who contributed to the Dodgers capturing the 1981 World Series title. During that series, he belted a memorable two-run home run against the Yankees in Game 4, which proved to be pivotal. During the course of his career, Johnstone was a fan favorite with his quirky and colorful personality. In 1,748 career regular season games, he compiled 1,254 hits with a .267 lifetime batting average. After retiring from baseball, he found some acting roles which include "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" (1988) and "The Drew Carey Show."
Bio by: C.S.
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