1976 Topps #658 - Jerry Johnson

• Jerry Johnson was originally signed by the New York mets as a third baseman in 1963. Johnson was a below average fielder at third base and he didn't hit enough to stay at the position, so he tried pitching a bit in 1963. Jerry became a pitcher for good in 1965. Johnson stayed in the Mets' system through the 1967 season. After the 1967 season Johnson was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the minor league draft.
• Johnson started the 1968 season 7-1 with a 1.95 ERA in 10 starts in AAA San Diego. Jerry was brought up to the Phillies in July 1968 and was 4-4 with a 3.24 ERA in 16 games (11 starts).
• Johnson was a 5th starter and occasional reliever in 1969. Jerry went 6-13 with a 4.28 ERA in 33 games (21 starts) in 1969. After the season Jerry was part of the big trade that was supposed to send Curt Flood to the Phillies and Dick Allen to the St. Louis Cardinals (Flood refused to report to Philadelphia). The Cardinals substituted Willie Montanez and a minor leaguer for Flood and  the trade went through.
• Jerry spent a few weeks in St. Louis in 1970 and was 2-0 with a 3.18 ERA in 7 games. On May 19 Johnson was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Frank Linzy. Johnson was 3-4 with a 4.27 ERA in 33 games for the Giants in 1970.
• Johnson had his best season in 1971 and finished sixth in NL Cy Young Award voting. Jerry became the  Giants' main man out of the bullpen and was 12-9 with 18 saves and had a 2.97 ERA in 67 games. Jerry allowed 2 runs in 1.1 innings in his only appearance in the 1971 NLCS. On September 14 Jerry was fined for his part in a brawl with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Jerry wasn't as effective in 1972, going 8-6 with 8 saves and a 4.42 ERA in 48 games. 
• Johnson was waived during spring training in 1973 and was claimed by the Cleveland Indians. Jerry had a 5-6 record with 5 saves and had a 6.18 ERA in 39 games in 1973. After the 1973 season Johnson was traded to the Houston Astros for Cecil Upshaw.
• Jerry spent two months in AAA in 1974. Johnson ended up going 2-1 with a 4.80 ERA in 34 games with Houston in 1974 and was released after the season.
• Johnson signed with the San Diego Padres in 1975. Jerry was assigned to AAA Hawaii. He spent the first three months of the 1975 season in Hawaii and was brought up in July. Johnson was 3-1 with a 5.17 ERA in 21 games (4 starts) with the Padres in 1975.
• Jerry found himself in Hawaii again to start the 1976 season and was brought up in early July. Johnson was 1-3 with a 5.31 ERA in 24 games for the Padres in 1976.
• Before the 1977 season Jerry was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Dave Roberts. Johnson went 2-4 with a 4.60 ERA in 43 games for Toronto in 1977. Jerry was cut during spring training in 1978 and retired.

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