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Deron Roger Johnson
Philadelphia Phillies
Third Base-First Base
Born: July 17, 1938, San Diego, CA
Signed: Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before 1956 season
Major League Teams: New York Yankees 1960-61; Kansas City Athletics 1961-62; Cincinnati Reds 1964-67; Atlanta Braves 1968; Philadelphia Phillies 1969-73; Oakland Athletics 1973-74; Milwaukee Brewers 1974; Boston Red Sox 1974; Chicago White Sox 1975; Boston Red Sox 1975-76
World Series Appearances: Oakland Athletics 1973
Died: April 23, 1992, Poway, CA (Age 53)
Slugger Deron Johnson accumulated 245 home runs over a 16-year career that benefited from the advent of the American League designated hitter in 1973. Johnson enjoyed a career year in 1965, leading the National League in RBIs with 130 and slugging 32 home runs while hitting .287. He finished fourth that season in MVP voting behind the eventual winner Willie Mays (#190), Sandy Koufax and Maury Wills (#45). He hit over 20 home runs in a season six times and cleared the 80 RBI mark seven times.
His sole postseason appearance came in 1973 with the World Champion Athletics. Johnson appeared in six of the seven games, hitting .300 (3 for 10). Following his playing days, Johnson served as a coach for the Angels (1979-80, 1989-91), Mets (1981), Phillies (1982-84), Mariners (1985-86) and White Sox (1987). When he passed away from lung cancer in 1992, the Angels honored their former coach by wearing his initials, "DJ," on the sleeve of their jerseys for the remainder of the season.
Died: April 23, 1992, Poway, CA (Age 53)
Slugger Deron Johnson accumulated 245 home runs over a 16-year career that benefited from the advent of the American League designated hitter in 1973. Johnson enjoyed a career year in 1965, leading the National League in RBIs with 130 and slugging 32 home runs while hitting .287. He finished fourth that season in MVP voting behind the eventual winner Willie Mays (#190), Sandy Koufax and Maury Wills (#45). He hit over 20 home runs in a season six times and cleared the 80 RBI mark seven times.
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| From the 1969 Phillies Yearbook |
Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.
Building the Set / Card #556
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Vintage Cardboard Collectibles)
The Card / Phillies Team Set / Accuracy Index -8
1969 Season
Johnson was the opening day third baseman for the Phillies, but ended up playing more games in left field than any of his other teammates. He started 131 games overall - 70 in left field, 47 at third base and 14 at first base. In 138 games, Johnson batted .255 with 17 home runs and 80 RBIs. The latter mark second on the team behind Dick Allen (#350), who drove in 89.
Phillies Career
Johnson was purchased from the Braves by the Phillies on December 3, 1968. He had a good run with the Phillies, serving as their regular left fielder in 1969, and then moving back to first base for the next three seasons. In 563 games with the Phillies, the longest tenure with any team during his career, Johnson hit .251 with 88 home runs and 304 RBIs. He hit 22 home runs at home in 1971, breaking Del Ennis' home record set in 1950. On July 10th and 11th, Johnson hit four consecutive home runs against the Expos, which he listed as one of his career highlights along with playing in the World Series.
Having lost the starting first baseman's job in 1973 to Willie Montanez, Johnson was traded to the A's on May 2nd for Jack Bastable. He'd return to the Phillies in 1982 and he served as the team's hitting and first base coach during the Pat Corrales (#382) and Paul Owens era between 1982 and 1984.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1959 Topps #131
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16): 1959-62, 1964-74, 1976
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1990 Swell Baseball Greats #34
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 91 in the Beckett online database as of 8/17/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
Building the Set / Card #556
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Vintage Cardboard Collectibles)
On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.
Having spent the first half hour or so pulling 98 commons and semi-stars from the neon green binder of Uncle Dick's Cards, and adding the big purchase of the day, the Rollie Fingers (#597) rookie card, and after adding a few more star cards, the remaining cash I had was starting to burn a hole in my wallet. I had noticed the common/semi-star boxes at the tables of Vintage Cardboard Collectibles, and I found 14 more cards for our 1969 Topps set and six cards for our not-yet-officially collecting 1959 Topps set. This is the 11th of those 14 cards. After the obligatory dealer discount, I handed over the last of my cash, and we exited the show for the drive home.
The Card / Phillies Team Set / Accuracy Index -8
I'd guess Johnson is wearing a Reds' road uniform here, as the Braves uniforms (his team in 1968) had a stripe around the collars. His solid 1965 season is highlighted in the write-up on the back of the card.
Accuracy Index: It's yet another -8 for Johnson's card due to the former team uniform (-5) and lack of a hat (-3).
1969 Season
Johnson was the opening day third baseman for the Phillies, but ended up playing more games in left field than any of his other teammates. He started 131 games overall - 70 in left field, 47 at third base and 14 at first base. In 138 games, Johnson batted .255 with 17 home runs and 80 RBIs. The latter mark second on the team behind Dick Allen (#350), who drove in 89.
Johnson was purchased from the Braves by the Phillies on December 3, 1968. He had a good run with the Phillies, serving as their regular left fielder in 1969, and then moving back to first base for the next three seasons. In 563 games with the Phillies, the longest tenure with any team during his career, Johnson hit .251 with 88 home runs and 304 RBIs. He hit 22 home runs at home in 1971, breaking Del Ennis' home record set in 1950. On July 10th and 11th, Johnson hit four consecutive home runs against the Expos, which he listed as one of his career highlights along with playing in the World Series.
Having lost the starting first baseman's job in 1973 to Willie Montanez, Johnson was traded to the A's on May 2nd for Jack Bastable. He'd return to the Phillies in 1982 and he served as the team's hitting and first base coach during the Pat Corrales (#382) and Paul Owens era between 1982 and 1984.
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First Mainstream Card: 1959 Topps #131
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (16): 1959-62, 1964-74, 1976
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 1990 Swell Baseball Greats #34
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 91 in the Beckett online database as of 8/17/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
Beckett Database / The Trading Card Database
1965 Topps Blog / The Phillies Room
1965 Topps Blog / The Phillies Room
#296 Andy Messersmith - California Angels / #298 Dave Nicholson - Kansas City Royals
Johnson's presence on the Phillies is why Greg Luzinski was converted to an outfielder in 1972.
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