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. He also played one season in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers in . He currently works as a trader on Wall Street.
Early life
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. 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.
Minor Leagues
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.