Mark Johnson

Mark Patrick Johnson (born October 17, 1967) is a former professional baseball player who played first base in the Major Leagues from 1995–2002 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Anaheim Angels, and New York Mets.

In 1988 and 1989, he played collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Bourne Braves and was named a league all-star in 1988.

He graduated from Dartmouth in the spring semester of 1990 with a degree in psychology.

Shortly thereafter, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a first baseman in the 20th Round of the Amateur Entry Draft on the recommendation of scout Rene Mons.

Johnson began his professional career with the Welland Pirates of the New York–Penn League, though his stay was short-lived as Johnson batted .375 in five games and was quickly promoted.

He finished the season with the Augusta Pirates of the South Atlantic League.

Overall, he batted .257/.361/.309 with no home runs, 14 runs scored and 21 runs batted in for his debut season.

He started off the 1991 season in Augusta again and batted .259 in 49 games before being promoted to the Salem Buccaneers of the Carolina League where he finished the season.

Johnson did not get regular playing time in Salem and was not considered a prospect by Pittsburgh, batting .256/.377/.376 with four homers, 35 runs scored and 38 runs batted in after playing in 86 games and garnering only 242 at-bats.

Johnson went to Major League Spring training with Pittsburgh in 1992 and was assigned to the Carolina Mudcats of the Southern League, where he spent the entire season.

Johnson struggled in Carolina, batting .232/.333/.334 with seven home runs, 40 runs scored and 45 runs batted in.

He followed the same course in 1993 and again wound up in Carolina where his struggles were not remedied, as he batted .233/.344/.404 with 14 home runs, 48 runs scored and 52 runs batted in.

He had a third trip to Spring training and assignment to Carolina in the strike-shortened 1994 season, when he finally regained his power stroke from Dartmouth.

In 1994 he batted .276/.384/.515 with 23 home runs, 69 runs scored and 85 runs batted in.

The strike cost him about a month of playing time which would have allowed him a chance to reach 30 homers and 100 RBIs and possible promotions to AAA and/or a September call-up to Pittsburgh.

Johnson's 23 bombs led the Southern League in 1994, while his .515 slugging percentage was second, his .384 on-base percentage and 85 RBIs placed him third in both categories, and his 67 walks were good for fourth in the league.

For his 1994 season he was selected to play in the Southern League All-Star Game and selected the Southern League Most Valuable Player.

In addition, he was selected to the Baseball America and Topps AA Postseason All-Star teams and ended his 1994 campaign by being named the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Player of the Year.

Johnson entered Spring training in 1995 as a 27-year-old career Minor Leaguer whose minimal prospect status had long-since evaporated, although his 1994 campaign had caused Pittsburgh to reevaluate his power potential.

Johnson won Pittsburgh's first base job in the strike-shortened 1995 season, although his playing time was irregular, at best.

Still, Johnson started 63 games at first base for Pittsburgh, more than any other player.

Johnson's playing time was hindered by his struggles at the plate, as he finished the season at .208/.326/.421.

Johnson had his moments in 1995, though, as he hit 13 homers in only 221 at-bats, emerged as one of the premier pinch hitters in the National League, and displayed a smooth glove at first base.

Johnson retained his job as Pittsburgh's first baseman in 1996, this time garnering much more playing time than in 1995, as he started 83 games for the Pirates.

It was a career year for Johnson, as he set highs in hits, doubles, and runs batted in.

Johnson's power suffered though, as he matched the 13 homers he'd hit the year before, though he received 122 more at-bats in 1996 and probably would have topped 13 in 1995 had it not been for the strike.

Still, Johnson's smooth glove at first was never in doubt and he went 14-for-31 (.452) as a pinch hitter with a club-record four homers and nine runs batted in.

Johnson lost his first baseman's job to Kevin Young in 1997, though he remained on the roster as a pinch hitter and backup first baseman.

Johnson struggled in his spot starts, batting .215/.345/.315, though he provided good defense when called upon and was still clutch in pinch-hitting duties.

In the middle of a playoff race, manager Gene Lamont wanted more consistent players on his bench and Johnson was optioned to the Calgary Cannons of the Pacific Coast League, where he batted .339/.446/.609 in 34 games.

He also played one season in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers in 1999.

He currently works as a trader on Wall Street.

Johnson graduated from Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Massachusetts where he was a varsity letterman in football, basketball, and baseball.

Following high school, he attended a year at Worcester Academy Prep School where he played football and baseball and was an honors student.

He then attended Dartmouth College where he played football and baseball.

He was the starting quarterback at Dartmouth for two years where he set many school records, including passing for 4,413 yards.

Johnson gave up playing football after his sophomore season, though, as he realized that his prospects at a future NFL career were much lower than those available in professional baseball.

Most of Johnson's records at Dartmouth were quickly broken by future NFL starter Jay Fiedler, who passed for 6,684 yards in his college career.

However, Johnson still holds many school and Ivy League records for a left-handed quarterback.

Johnson also played on the baseball team under head coaches Mike Walsh and Bob Whalen, where he pitched, played first base and right field, and also saw some time as a designated hitter.