Roy Johnson R.I.P.

On the same day the tragic news of the death of Angels' rookie Nick Adenhart arrived, I received a note from a friend, ex-Expos beat writer Danny Gallagher that former major-league outfielder Roy Johnson had passed away in Mexico of a heart attack back in January at the age of 49. Very few people would remember Johnson and the circumstances of his death were not as dramatic, but 49 is still too young. 

Johnson's was almost a tragic life. Selected out of high school in the projects of Chicago in the fifth round of the June 1980 draft, the 6-4, 205 lbs. outfielder had all the raw skills of a major-league star. But he played just 36 major-league games in six years in the Expos' organization, moving on to the White Sox minor-league system, finally establishing himself as a star in the Mexican Leagues. 

The reason I remember Johnson so vividly and so fondly is that he was physically intimidating, but personally gentle, humble and naive. He was a lost soul with very little family support in Chicago, which made it difficult to go home in the off-season. That led to lingering problems with drugs.

These were the days when organizations treated many of their young players that found trouble like family. The players, in turn, did not turn to their agents for help as they do today. It was a much closer relationship, so when the Expos realized Johnson was struggling, they tried to help him out.

I recall that the late John McHale, the president and GM at the time, lived in the West Palm Beach area. Instead of sending Johnson back home where he might drift and hang with a bad crowd, McHale found him an apartment near the spring training site and gave him a job on the construction of the Expos' new minor-league complex. The first Christmas Johnson was in town, the late Patty McHale, a marvelous woman and the conscience of the organization, made sure that Roy was invited over for the family's Christmas dinner. Johnson was truly touched.

There were some memorable Roy Johnson stories, stemming from his unique circumstances. That first winter he saw a basketball court on the other side of a chain link fence. He went back to his apartment, got a ball and climbed the fence to shoot some hoops. As he went to climb the fence after he was done, some guys in white jackets came running over to stop him. He had trouble talking his way out of the psychiatric asylum. One day at srping training, Johnson didn't show up for work. Travelling secretary Peter Durso received a call from the Lake Worth police. Roy was in jail. It seemed that he was doing his laundry at a laundromat the night before. He threw his stuff in the dryer and stepped out onto the mean streets of Lake Worth for some fresh air. He started to chat up a young woman on the sidewalk. It turned out she was an undercover cop. His attempt at pleasantries turned into a night in the slammer as his laundry continued to spin dry.

My favourite though was the late Larry Bearnarth's re-telling of the three Johnsons. Bearnarth was managing the AA-Memphis Chicks in 1981. As best I can recall, he had Roy Johnson on first, Wallace Johnson on second and Anthony Johnson batting. Anthony smoked a drive in the air down to the left field corner. Wallace went half way to third. Roy went to second and stopped to make sure the ball dropped in. Anthony broke from the batter's box. In the gloom, the ball looked like it was caught, but it dropped in on the track. Wallace headed back to second, Roy headed back to first where he was passed by Anthony cruising into second. Wallace saw Anthony as he came back to second, then turned and headed to third where he beat the throw. Somehow the batter was on second and the runner was on first. The bases were loaded. The opposing manager was screaming. As Bearnarth recalled the conversation, it went something like this:

Umpire: Who's on second?

Bearnarth: Johnson.

Umpire: Who's supposed to be on second?

Bearnarth: Johnson.

Umpire: Who's on first?

Bearnarth: Johnson.

Umpire: Who's supposed to be on first?

Bearnarth: Johnson.

Umpire: Play Ball.

Rest in  Peace, Roy.

    

       

Comments

[LJ]

Thanks for the funny stories. I hope Roy found some peace and happiness in his life before he passed on.

[Chong Hum]

Great blog post. I rather read these stories about down-to-earth athletes rather than the mega-stars' that everybody hypes.

[Mark]

great story, as a big expo fan from 1969 until about 1985, i remember that the expos always had great prospects coming up, some made it and some didnt, but there was never a shortage of great talent in the minors.

One year it was Gary Carter, Larry Parrish, Warren Cromartie, then came Ellis Valentine, all the great pitchers, David Palmer, Charlie Lea, Bill Gullikson, and then a whole host of others that ended up making it later, Terry Francona, Tim Wallach, Andres Gallaraga and of course a whole bunch that never did like the Johnsons, but we still remember them all, it was a great time for baseball.

the 2009 Blue Jays sort of remind me of that, we will see how it turns out, but they have the one great starter (Halliday) like the expos did (steve rogers) and all the great prospects who could be anything (purcey, romero, cecil, mills, snider, lind, etc.).

[Mark]

sorry, left off the best of them all, Andre Dawson, meant to include him with Ellis Valentine, those were magical times to be an Expos fan, so much hope after so many bad years before.

But we loved them either way.

[Eric Emerson]

I remember Wallace Johnson coming up late one season and getting a big hit for the Expos. We thought our second base problems were finally solved. Did he have drug problems, that were rampant at that time or just not enough talent?

[R-Griff]

Wallace Johnson hit the pinch-hit triple in New York that clinched the Expos only post-season berth in September '81. Johnson was supposed to be the answer at second base in 1982, but defensively he was terrible. The switch-hitter was a grad in accounting from Indiana St. University and did many of his young teammates taxers for them at the time. Johnson was a solid hitter and a more solid citizen, never with any drug issues. His issue was with the leather on his left hand. I saw him a couple of years ago. He flew up to London, Ont. to attend Jim Fanning's surprise birthday part. He's a successful businessman and looked like he could still play.
R-Griff

[Josh]

Thanks for that nugget. I enjoyed reading it.

[Eric Emerson]

Rodney Scott looked like he was the answer. Part of the track team with Leflore, Raines, Dawson etc.
He was jettisoned, causing the manager to resign. It didn't look like he would be missed to badly with Raines set to take over second. Rock turned out to be a great ballplayer, just not a great second baseman.
When Wallace Johnson's star burned out, second base became a black hole in the Expo line-up until years later when Delino Deshields took over. I remember thinking what an awful trade it was when they swapped him for Pedro. It looked like he was going to be outstanding. Did Dodger Stadium screw up his swing beyond repair?
Except for a good year or two from Mike Lansing, the 'spos never did solve their second base problem. It was the place where prospects came to die (or at least move to left field).
Ah, the memories.