Top 100 Angels: Alex JOHNSON #86
The Angels had a batting champion. His name was Alex Johnson. Tales abound about his bad chemistry in the clubhouse, but he beat out Carl Yastrzemski by .0004 points in 1970 and remains to this day the only Angel to win a league batting title. His .329 average is tied for 9th place in a season all time in franchise history. His 1970 season overall was outstanding, his partial 1971 season was not, and he was traded after the season ended.
Alex was a Post-2005 Top 100 Angel, you can read a little bit more about him at that link.
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Alex Johnson
Alex certainly swung a good stick in 1970. As I recall, the last game of that season, he had two hits his first two times up, then was pulled from the game, as Yastrzemski had earlier in the day gone 1 for 4, thus giving Alex the batting title.
Things became unraveled for Alex and the team in 1971 and the clubhouse was certainly one of chaos. I was at the game in June 1971 at Boston, when Alex played his last game in an Angel uniform. After hitting a routine ball to the infield in the first inning, he didn’t leave the batter’s box and just walked to the dugout, where he had a heated discussion with some coaches………..that was his last at bat. I believe the manager was Lefty Phillips.
by Canada Angel on Nov 20, 2008 4:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Wow, he fell 35 places on the Top 100
I always think it’s interesting when someone recalls events from games they saw firsthand. I’m sorry to pick nits with your first post Canada Angel, but that wasn’t Johnson’s last game as an Angels. Through the wonder of the internet, we’re able to go back and check games. The game you’re refering to was June 4th in Boston and you’re right, Johnson grounded out to the pitcher and was taken out of the game. Johnson went on to play 15 more games and have 49 additional at-bats before his season and Angel career ended later that month.
Once again, sorry…I don’t mean to jump on you after your first comment and I appreciate what you wrote. That was more than 37 years ago, and you remembered the important stuff.
I was uncool before uncool was cool.
by WiHaloFan on Nov 21, 2008 7:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Thanks, WiHalofan for the correction.
I always thought that the June 04th 1971 game was his last as an Angel. There were some other events I recall from that series. After Sunday’s game, I waited near the area where the team bus was parked for the players to board. The lone occupant of the bus and sitting at the back by himself was Alex. Also, the series marked the return of Boston favourite Tony Conigliaro, who was traded to the Halos from Boston, the previous winter. Tony had come off a 1970 season of 36 Hrs, 116 BRI rbi, however, due to declining vision in one eye, as it turned out, 1971 was his only one in Angel uniform. The player who stood out to me in the whole June visit, was Jim Fregosi. I caught the Angels return to Boston in August 1971 also. Jim went on the disabled list with a foot injury I believe that summer and when I saw him in August, wasn’t the same player………looked way out of playing shape. Also, 1971 was Jim’s last with the team as in December was traded to the Mets for among others , as we long time Angel fans know, a one NOLAN RYAN.
I usually travelled to Boston many times, over the years, to catch an Angel / BoSox series, Boston being about 8 hours from my home area.
by Canada Angel on Nov 21, 2008 8:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
nice comment
i just like how you spell “favorite” with like favourite. Welcome to HH :^)

Go gettem next year, what have we got to lose--Frankie?
by AnaheimHalos61 on Nov 22, 2008 8:56 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
seriously--i did like what you said
wasnt a joke lol :^)
Go gettem next year, what have we got to lose--Frankie?
by AnaheimHalos61 on Nov 22, 2008 8:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, as I said before...
I appreciate your comments. One of my favorite things is to talk about “baseball memories”. I like hearing about games people hae gone to and firsthand accounts.
It sounds like you’ve got quite a few good stories.
I was uncool before uncool was cool.
by WiHaloFan on Nov 23, 2008 10:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not a lot of these in Angel History

Willie Mays Aikens is FREeeeeeeee
by Angel Aviator on Nov 23, 2008 6:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
nice
Go gettem next year, what have we got to lose--Frankie?
by AnaheimHalos61 on Nov 27, 2008 8:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

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