Born in Portland (December 31, 1900 – February 20, 1985), Sylvester “Syl” Johnson played his way into the professional ranks as a right-handed pitcher at age 19 and did not stop until age 46, a span that included 19 seasons in the Major Leagues. Originally a catcher, Syl switched to pitching after several injuries behind the plate.
Johnson started his pro career with the Vancouver, B.C. Beavers of the Pacific Coast International League, but transferred to the Portland Beavers late in the 1920 season. In 1921, he went 12-26 with a 3.82 ERA over 304 innings, and the Detroit Tigers traded five players and $30,000 for his contract and that of Herman Pillette, a St. Paul, Ore., native who played three seasons with the team.
Johnson played 1921 as a spot starter and went 7-3 with a 3.71 ERA. He played that role until 1929 when the St. Louis Cardinals, who traded for him in 1926, put him into their rotation and he finished 13-7. He went 12-10 in 1930 and 11-9 in ’31, helping the Cardinals to the World Series title that season.
Syl continued to battle through a variety of injuries in the bigs while giving home a pair of home runs to the legendary Babe Ruth.
The Cardinals traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1934, and he played seven seasons for them. In an emergency, he was the third base umpire in a game between the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds. He was a coach for the Phillies from 1937 to 1941. An early proponent of a pension plan for players, his proposal to Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis was rejected although a pension plan was approved in 1947
After being released by the Phillies, Johnson played five seasons with the Seattle Rainiers of the PCL and appeared in one game for the Vancouver, B.C., Capilanos of the Western International League and served as co-manager. He retired in 1946 but stayed in sports, scouting for both big league teams and the NFL.
In his Major League career, Johnson finished 112-117 with a 4.06 ERA in 542 appearances. He made 209 starts. He left us these words; “The record books will show that I played for two Tigers and two Beavers. I am noted by many as “the most unlucky pitcher in baseball history.”
Syl Johnson retired to Portland and worked in farming and construction before his passing.
