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Post by inger on Nov 21, 2021 10:01:54 GMT -5
Clifford Johnson rates higher on my list of favorite shote time yanks that perhaps he deserves. In about 3 series with the Yanks, Clifford only hit .239, but he clubbed 20 HR . He hit home runs as a catcher, a first baseman, from each corner out field, Johnson, hr’d as a DH, a pinch hitter pinch hitter. An amazingly tough and strong player with a versatile hr bat… So dosed out on Ambien that I don’t remember posting that. But it’s true. I loved that big dorky looking dude… |
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Post by pippsheadache on Nov 21, 2021 10:24:30 GMT -5
Clifford Johnson rates higher on my list of favorite shote time yanks that perhaps he deserves. In about 3 series with the Yanks, Clifford only hit .239, but he clubbed 20 HR . He hit home runs as a catcher, a first baseman, from each corner out field, Johnson, hr’d as a DH, a pinch hitter pinch hitter. An amazingly tough and strong player with a versatile hr bat… Cliff Johnson was a heckuva hitter, especially for a guy who was primarily a catcher. Career OPS+ of 125, OBP of .355. For the 1977 Yankees he flashed an OPS+ of 173 in a part-time role. The problem-- or maybe I should say one of the problems-- with Cliff Johnson is that he was horrible defensively. One year with the Astros he led the league in passed balls while catching only 66 games. And he really wasn't much better at other positions. A natural DH. The other problem with Cliff Johnson, at least from the Yankees' perspective, was the thing he was most famous for while playing for them -- getting in a locker room fistfight with the equally combative closer Goose Gossage. This resulted in a broken thumb for Gossage, causing him to miss about half the 1979 season and seriously hurting the Yanks' chances for a third consecutive title. That fight was instigated by Reggie Jackson as I recall, something to do with asking Cliff how well he hit against Goose when they were both in the National League. It took off from there. Steinbrenner popped his cork, hitting both of them with big fines and a short time later trading Johnson to Cleveland. Of course next time Cleveland played the Yankees, Billy Martin ordered his pitcher, Bob Kammeyer, to throw at Johnson, which he did, after which Martin was actually seen in the dugout handing a roll of bills to Kammeyer for a job well done. Great Bronx Zoo material. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but that stuff seems like more fun looking back over 40 years later than it did when it was happening. Cliff Johnson is the brother-in-law of Mike Easler, the "Reverend Hit Man" of the Pirates' slugging Lumber Company of the 1970s. |
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Post by inger on Nov 21, 2021 10:29:05 GMT -5
Clifford Johnson rates higher on my list of favorite shote time yanks that perhaps he deserves. In about 3 series with the Yanks, Clifford only hit .239, but he clubbed 20 HR . He hit home runs as a catcher, a first baseman, from each corner out field, Johnson, hr’d as a DH, a pinch hitter pinch hitter. An amazingly tough and strong player with a versatile hr bat… Cliff Johnson was a heckuva hitter, especially for a guy who was primarily a catcher. Career OPS+ of 125, OBP of .355. For the 1977 Yankees he flashed an OPS+ of 173 in a part-time role. The problem-- or maybe I should say one of the problems-- with Cliff Johnson is that he was horrible defensively. One year with the Astros he led the league in passed balls while catching only 66 games. And he really wasn't much better at other positions. A natural DH. The other problem with Cliff Johnson, at least from the Yankees' perspective, was the thing he was most famous for while playing for them -- getting in a locker room fistfight with the equally combative closer Goose Gossage. This resulted in a broken thumb for Gossage, causing him to miss about half the 1979 season and seriously hurting the Yanks' chances for a third consecutive title. That fight was instigated by Reggie Jackson as I recall, something to do with asking Cliff how well he hit against Goose when they were both in the National League. It took off from there. Steinbrenner popped his cork, hitting both of them with big fines and a short time later trading Johnson to Cleveland. Of course next time Cleveland played the Yankees, Billy Martin ordered his pitcher, Bob Kammeyer, to throw at Johnson, which he did, after which Martin was actually seen in the dugout handing a roll of bills to Kammeyer for a job well done. Great Bronx Zoo material. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but that stuff seems like more fun looking back over 40 years later than it did when it was happening. Cliff Johnson is the brother-in-law of Mike Easler, the "Reverend Hit Man" of the Pirates' slugging Lumber Company of the 1970s. And… lest we forget, the esteemed Mr. Easley also had a short term as a Yankee… That always elevates a player in my eyes… |
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Post by chiyankee on Nov 21, 2021 10:47:25 GMT -5
Clifford Johnson rates higher on my list of favorite shote time yanks that perhaps he deserves. In about 3 series with the Yanks, Clifford only hit .239, but he clubbed 20 HR . He hit home runs as a catcher, a first baseman, from each corner out field, Johnson, hr’d as a DH, a pinch hitter pinch hitter. An amazingly tough and strong player with a versatile hr bat… I never forgave him for breaking Goose's thumb during a locker room tussle. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Nov 21, 2021 11:12:58 GMT -5
I had completely forgotten Mike Easler's time with the Yankees. Only one season, 1986, but a very good one. And he played 146 games.
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Post by rizzuto on Nov 21, 2021 18:09:17 GMT -5
Clifford Johnson rates higher on my list of favorite shote time yanks that perhaps he deserves. In about 3 series with the Yanks, Clifford only hit .239, but he clubbed 20 HR . He hit home runs as a catcher, a first baseman, from each corner out field, Johnson, hr’d as a DH, a pinch hitter pinch hitter. An amazingly tough and strong player with a versatile hr bat… Cliff Johnson was a heckuva hitter, especially for a guy who was primarily a catcher. Career OPS+ of 125, OBP of .355. For the 1977 Yankees he flashed an OPS+ of 173 in a part-time role. The problem-- or maybe I should say one of the problems-- with Cliff Johnson is that he was horrible defensively. One year with the Astros he led the league in passed balls while catching only 66 games. And he really wasn't much better at other positions. A natural DH. The other problem with Cliff Johnson, at least from the Yankees' perspective, was the thing he was most famous for while playing for them -- getting in a locker room fistfight with the equally combative closer Goose Gossage. This resulted in a broken thumb for Gossage, causing him to miss about half the 1979 season and seriously hurting the Yanks' chances for a third consecutive title. That fight was instigated by Reggie Jackson as I recall, something to do with asking Cliff how well he hit against Goose when they were both in the National League. It took off from there. Steinbrenner popped his cork, hitting both of them with big fines and a short time later trading Johnson to Cleveland. Of course next time Cleveland played the Yankees, Billy Martin ordered his pitcher, Bob Kammeyer, to throw at Johnson, which he did, after which Martin was actually seen in the dugout handing a roll of bills to Kammeyer for a job well done. Great Bronx Zoo material. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but that stuff seems like more fun looking back over 40 years later than it did when it was happening. Cliff Johnson is the brother-in-law of Mike Easler, the "Reverend Hit Man" of the Pirates' slugging Lumber Company of the 1970s. I had forgotten that incident, Pipps. Brings back memories of my brother’s 1969 graduating class/group of friends. They all sported Fu Manchu mustaches and big sideburns, long hair and were dangerously competitive in all things. Instigating and playing ruthless tricks on each other were daily comic events, sometimes leading to fights. But, the hard feelings never lasted. A couple days later, they were back to hunting, fishing, drinking, playing cards, baseball, softball, tennis, pool, etc. - all laced with gambling bets. A dark thread of humor ran through all of them. They were the most athletic and competitively determined group of guys, playing each contest with a focus and relentlessness like it was life or death - be it chess or who could hold their breath the longest or a local basketball tournament or who caught the most fish. Most of their parents were kids of The Great Depression and WWII veterans, and they all had Viet Nam and the draft looming over them. An early Kevin Costner movie called Fandango kind of captures the zeitgeist of that period and the recklessness it bred. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Nov 21, 2021 18:41:54 GMT -5
Cliff Johnson was a heckuva hitter, especially for a guy who was primarily a catcher. Career OPS+ of 125, OBP of .355. For the 1977 Yankees he flashed an OPS+ of 173 in a part-time role. The problem-- or maybe I should say one of the problems-- with Cliff Johnson is that he was horrible defensively. One year with the Astros he led the league in passed balls while catching only 66 games. And he really wasn't much better at other positions. A natural DH. The other problem with Cliff Johnson, at least from the Yankees' perspective, was the thing he was most famous for while playing for them -- getting in a locker room fistfight with the equally combative closer Goose Gossage. This resulted in a broken thumb for Gossage, causing him to miss about half the 1979 season and seriously hurting the Yanks' chances for a third consecutive title. That fight was instigated by Reggie Jackson as I recall, something to do with asking Cliff how well he hit against Goose when they were both in the National League. It took off from there. Steinbrenner popped his cork, hitting both of them with big fines and a short time later trading Johnson to Cleveland. Of course next time Cleveland played the Yankees, Billy Martin ordered his pitcher, Bob Kammeyer, to throw at Johnson, which he did, after which Martin was actually seen in the dugout handing a roll of bills to Kammeyer for a job well done. Great Bronx Zoo material. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but that stuff seems like more fun looking back over 40 years later than it did when it was happening. Cliff Johnson is the brother-in-law of Mike Easler, the "Reverend Hit Man" of the Pirates' slugging Lumber Company of the 1970s. I had forgotten that incident, Pipps. Brings back memories of my brother’s 1969 graduating class/group of friends. They all sported Fu Manchu mustaches and big sideburns, long hair and were dangerously competitive in all things. Instigating and playing ruthless tricks on each other were daily comic events, sometimes leading to fights. But, the hard feelings never lasted. A couple days later, they were back to hunting, fishing, drinking, playing cards, baseball, softball, tennis, pool, etc. - all laced with gambling bets. A dark thread of humor ran through all of them. They were the most athletic and competitively determined group of guys, playing each contest with a focus and relentlessness like it was life or death - be it chess or who could hold their breath the longest or a local basketball tournament or who caught the most fish. Most of their parents were kids of The Great Depression and WWII veterans, and they all had Viet Nam and the draft looming over them. An early Kevin Costner movie called Fandango kind of captures the zeitgeist of that period and the recklessness it bred. Real sportsmen can beat the Hell out of each other and go out for a drink afterwards. Hockey players and boxers are very good at this. One example off the top of my head -- Joe Louis and Max Schmeling fought two bruising and highly politicized bouts for the Heavyweight championship, as I am sure you know. Joe died deeply in debt because of IRS troubles not of his own making. Max Schmeling paid for his funeral. There was a follow-up of sorts to the Gossage-Johnson contretemps. At the Yankees Old Timers Game in 2001, Cliff hit a home run off of Goose, who proceeded to plunk the next batter. It may be the only HBP in the history of that game. |
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Post by inger on Nov 21, 2021 20:53:11 GMT -5
Clifford Johnson rates higher on my list of favorite shote time yanks that perhaps he deserves. In about 3 series with the Yanks, Clifford only hit .239, but he clubbed 20 HR . He hit home runs as a catcher, a first baseman, from each corner out field, Johnson, hr’d as a DH, a pinch hitter pinch hitter. An amazingly tough and strong player with a versatile hr bat… Cliff Johnson was a heckuva hitter, especially for a guy who was primarily a catcher. Career OPS+ of 125, OBP of .355. For the 1977 Yankees he flashed an OPS+ of 173 in a part-time role. The problem-- or maybe I should say one of the problems-- with Cliff Johnson is that he was horrible defensively. One year with the Astros he led the league in passed balls while catching only 66 games. And he really wasn't much better at other positions. A natural DH. The other problem with Cliff Johnson, at least from the Yankees' perspective, was the thing he was most famous for while playing for them -- getting in a locker room fistfight with the equally combative closer Goose Gossage. This resulted in a broken thumb for Gossage, causing him to miss about half the 1979 season and seriously hurting the Yanks' chances for a third consecutive title. That fight was instigated by Reggie Jackson as I recall, something to do with asking Cliff how well he hit against Goose when they were both in the National League. It took off from there. Steinbrenner popped his cork, hitting both of them with big fines and a short time later trading Johnson to Cleveland. Of course next time Cleveland played the Yankees, Billy Martin ordered his pitcher, Bob Kammeyer, to throw at Johnson, which he did, after which Martin was actually seen in the dugout handing a roll of bills to Kammeyer for a job well done. Great Bronx Zoo material. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, but that stuff seems like more fun looking back over 40 years later than it did when it was happening. Cliff Johnson is the brother-in-law of Mike Easler, the "Reverend Hit Man" of the Pirates' slugging Lumber Company of the 1970s. I think Clifford Johnson can make a fine case against over-utilizing OPS+ in rating players or even in consideration for the Hall of Fame. That sweet 125 looks great on the surface. It goes without saying that Johnson’s poor defense is not reflected in that number. Nor is his lumbering lack of speed. Of course, despite a long career and a pretty generous accumulation of games played he wasn’t a great “accumulator” of hits, nor home runs, which is an obvious Hall of Fame blocker. In Johnson case in particular he was far more effective vs. LHP and therefore was often platooned or used as a PH vs LHP, with limited usage in that role vs. RHP. A decided excess number of at bats vs. opposite handed pitching gave him an advantage in the OPS statistic. Excess is a relative term here of course because there are far more RHP in general than there are LHP. Before I started this I should have done more extensive research so I could provide statistical back up like OPS vs. LHP and RHP, percentage of AB vs L and R pitching. I guess it was a spur of the moment post. I do feel as though I know this particular player well enough to present this case and feel quite confident that I’m not barking up the wrong tree…(And at sometime in the relatively recent past, I have looked at Johnson’s splits)… |
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Post by inger on Nov 21, 2021 21:00:45 GMT -5
I had forgotten that incident, Pipps. Brings back memories of my brother’s 1969 graduating class/group of friends. They all sported Fu Manchu mustaches and big sideburns, long hair and were dangerously competitive in all things. Instigating and playing ruthless tricks on each other were daily comic events, sometimes leading to fights. But, the hard feelings never lasted. A couple days later, they were back to hunting, fishing, drinking, playing cards, baseball, softball, tennis, pool, etc. - all laced with gambling bets. A dark thread of humor ran through all of them. They were the most athletic and competitively determined group of guys, playing each contest with a focus and relentlessness like it was life or death - be it chess or who could hold their breath the longest or a local basketball tournament or who caught the most fish. Most of their parents were kids of The Great Depression and WWII veterans, and they all had Viet Nam and the draft looming over them. An early Kevin Costner movie called Fandango kind of captures the zeitgeist of that period and the recklessness it bred. Real sportsmen can beat the Hell out of each other and go out for a drink afterwards. Hockey players and boxers are very good at this. One example off the top of my head -- Joe Louis and Max Schmeling fought two bruising and highly politicized bouts for the Heavyweight championship, as I am sure you know. Joe died deeply in debt because of IRS troubles not of his own making. Max Schmeling paid for his funeral. There was a follow-up of sorts to the Gossage-Johnson contretemps. At the Yankees Old Timers Game in 2001, Cliff hit a home run off of Goose, who proceeded to plunk the next batter. It may be the only HBP in the history of that game. As much as I loved Gossage in his time in NY, he’s proven so many times to be a guy that could use a punch in the mouth just to shut him up. I will say that when I was boxing not only did I often at least spar with friends, I also fought them. And whether or not I entered a match as a friend of the opponent, no one I ever boxed with ever ended up an enemy afterward. There is a strange affection built that you never lose. Maybe it’s just respect. I never noticed wrestling or even a playground tussle to create the same feeling… |
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Post by inger on Jan 5, 2022 15:44:55 GMT -5
Reliever Mike Stanton at least spent parts of seven seasons with the Yankees. Although seldom heralded with only 15 Yankee saves to his credit, he posted a fine 31-14 mark for the Yanks. His 3.77 Yankees ERA was +121 over his time here. In 2001-2002 he combined for a 16-5 record…
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Post by rizzuto on Jan 5, 2022 18:45:08 GMT -5
Reliever Mike Stanton at least spent parts of seven seasons with the Yankees. Although seldom heralded with only 15 Yankee saves to his credit, he posted a fine 31-14 mark for the Yanks. His 3.77 Yankees ERA was +121 over his time here. In 2001-2002 he combined for a 16-5 record… There were times that Stanton was the last reliever a hitter wanted to see from the Yankees’ bullpen. Sometimes those appearances in the 7th innings were the highest leveraged spots in the ballgame. Stanton was particularly lights out against the Mets in the 2000 World Series. |
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Post by inger on Jan 5, 2022 19:25:33 GMT -5
Reliever Mike Stanton at least spent parts of seven seasons with the Yankees. Although seldom heralded with only 15 Yankee saves to his credit, he posted a fine 31-14 mark for the Yanks. His 3.77 Yankees ERA was +121 over his time here. In 2001-2002 he combined for a 16-5 record… There were times that Stanton was the last reliever a hitter wanted to see from the Yankees’ bullpen. Sometimes those appearances in the 7th innings were the highest leveraged spots in the ballgame. Stanton was particularly lights out against the Mets in the 2000 World Series. It noted that when the Yanks finally let him go and he became a NY Met in 2003-2004 his combined record was 4-13 for those two seasons… |
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Post by domeplease on Jan 13, 2022 13:07:23 GMT -5
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