Gary Johnson

Gary George "Griz" Johnson was a longtime figure in professional baseball who, at various points, played, managed and scouted. Prior to playing professionally, Johnson attended Huntington Beach High School and then Orange Coast College. A first baseman, Johnson played in the minor leagues for 11 seasons, from 1958 to 1967. He began his career at 19 years old, hitting .282 with 49 hits in 50 games split between the Class-D Dubuque Packers and Class-D- Holdrege White Sox in 1958. In 1959, he played for the Clinton Pirates and hit .277 with five home runs in 115 games. He played for the Class-B Lincoln Chiefs in 1960 and hit .230 with one home run, 50 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 130 games. He returned to Lincoln for 1961 and hit .289 with one home run and 122 hits in 110 games. He played for the unaffiliated Class-B Tri-City Braves in 1962, but was still part of the White Sox system. That season, he hit .341 with 178 hits, 35 doubles, 10 triples, 89 runs scored and 103 RBI in 135 games. He led the Northwest League in hits and RBI, tied Nelson Mathews for the lead in triples, placed second behind Ethan Blackaby in doubles and total bases and was third in at-bats.