Lamar Johnson – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

If you followed baseball in the late ’70s or early ’80s, you might remember Lamar Johnson Sr. He played mostly first base for the Chicago White Sox, then wrapped up his career with the Texas Rangers. Johnson spent nine seasons in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1982. He hit .287, knocked out 64 home runs, and drove in 381 RBIs over 792 games.

But Johnson wasn’t just another reliable hitter. He stood out for an odd pregame habit in 1977—singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before games. On June 19, 1977, right after his anthem performance, Johnson had one of his all-time best games. He went three-for-three, blasting two solo home runs and a double in a 2-1 win over Oakland.

After he retired in 1982, Johnson didn’t just disappear from the game. He became a hitting coach, working with big league teams like the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets. He spent decades coaching, helping mold young players across several organizations.

Early Life and Background

Lamar Johnson Sr. was born on September 2, 1950, in Bessemer, Alabama. That state has always been big on baseball, and it definitely helped shape his path.

He went to Wenonah High School in Birmingham. Graduating from there was a big deal, since he later became the first from his school to make it to the majors.

Birthplace and Family

Johnson came into the world in Bessemer, Alabama, which sits in Jefferson County, close to Birmingham. Born in 1950, he grew up during a time when baseball was everywhere in the South.

His family raised him with values that stuck with him throughout his career. Johnson’s dad especially influenced his work ethic and love for the game.

Later on, Johnson kept the baseball tradition alive with his son, Lamar Johnson Jr.. The family stayed close to Alabama, no matter where Johnson’s career took him.

Those Alabama roots meant a lot to him. The state’s deep baseball culture gave him the perfect place to develop his skills.

Education at Wenonah High School

Johnson went to Wenonah High School in Birmingham, Alabama. There, he grew both as a ballplayer and a student.

He graduated in 1968, right in the middle of some pretty big changes in the country. At Wenonah, Johnson stood out on the diamond, showing off the talent that would eventually take him to the pros.

The school’s baseball team gave him the training and experience he needed. Coaches noticed his potential early and encouraged him to chase baseball after high school.

When Johnson graduated in 1968, he wrapped up his amateur days at Wenonah. He made history as the first Wenonah High School grad to play in the majors when he debuted with the Chicago White Sox on May 18, 1974.

Path to Professional Baseball

After finishing high school in 1968, Johnson started working his way toward pro baseball. He spent six years in the minors before finally making his big league debut.

Scouts liked what they saw in Johnson. At 6’2″ and 215 pounds, he looked the part of a first baseman.

He batted and threw right-handed, which fit the classic mold for his position. That, plus his Alabama high school background, caught the attention of the White Sox.

Getting from Birmingham to Chicago wasn’t easy. Johnson had to grind through the minors, staying focused and determined until he earned his shot at the majors.

Major League Playing Career

Lamar Johnson Sr. played nine years in the big leagues from 1974 to 1982. He built a reputation as a reliable offensive player. Most of his career happened with the Chicago White Sox, but he finished up with the Texas Rangers. He hit .287, with 64 home runs and 381 RBIs.

Chicago White Sox Years

Johnson broke into the majors on May 18, 1974, with the Chicago White Sox. He became the first Wenonah High School grad from Birmingham, Alabama, to reach the big leagues.

He batted and threw right-handed, stood 6’2″, and weighed 215 pounds. Johnson mostly played first base and sometimes filled in as a designated hitter.

He stayed with the White Sox for eight seasons, from 1974 to 1981. During that stretch, he became a steady offensive presence.

Johnson’s best years were in the mid-to-late ’70s, when he settled in as a regular in the lineup. He hit .287 over his career—pretty solid contact, honestly.

Memorable National Anthem Game

On June 19, 1977, Johnson pulled off something you don’t see every day at Comiskey Park. He sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game against Oakland.

Then he went out and got all three of the White Sox’s hits in a 2-1 win—two solo homers and a double. It was the first game of a doubleheader.

That mix of singing and slugging made the game unforgettable for White Sox fans. Johnson sang the anthem a few more times that season.

He showed off more than just his baseball skills that day. Turns out, he had some musical chops too.

Texas Rangers and Final Playing Season

Johnson moved to the Texas Rangers for the 1982 season, which turned out to be his last in the majors. That ended his long run with the White Sox.

He played his final MLB game on October 2, 1982, with the Rangers. That year closed out his major league career.

With Texas, Johnson mainly worked as a designated hitter, just like in his later Chicago days.

The Rangers let him go after spring training in 1983, which pretty much wrapped up his playing days.

Retirement as a Player

When Johnson retired in 1982, he wrapped up a steady big league career. He finished with 64 home runs and 381 RBIs over nine seasons.

His .287 batting average showed he could hit consistently. Both the White Sox and Rangers got value from his bat.

After hanging up his spikes, Johnson took a break from baseball for a few years. He eventually returned as a coach, starting with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1988.

Moving from player to coach let Johnson keep sharing his love for the game and help younger players develop.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Lamar Johnson’s nine seasons in the majors featured some standout moments and solid stats as a first baseman and designated hitter. That 1977 game where he sang the anthem and then had a huge day at the plate? It’s still his most famous.

Notable Games and Performances

His most legendary game happened on June 19, 1977, at Comiskey Park during a doubleheader against Oakland. After singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the White Sox first baseman went off at the plate.

He got all three of his team’s hits in a 2-1 win—two solo homers and a double. Johnson basically carried the White Sox offense that day.

The mix of singing the national anthem and then dominating with the bat made that game stand out. He sang the anthem a few more times that season.

That performance remains one of the most memorable in White Sox history. Johnson showed he could deliver under pressure and do it with style.

Career Statistics

Johnson put up some solid numbers from 1974 to 1982. As a baseball player, he kept a .287 average and racked up 755 hits.

He spent most of his career with the White Sox from 1974 to 1981, then finished up with the Rangers in 1982.

Johnson hit right-handed and had the size—6-foot-2, 215 pounds—to be a threat at the plate. With 64 home runs and 381 RBIs, he showed he could produce offense year after year.

Recognition and Legacy

Johnson’s influence didn’t stop when he retired as a player. He became a respected hitting coach for teams like the Brewers, Royals, Mariners, and Mets.

He helped the Brewers bump their run total from 547 in 1994 to a record 894 in 1996. With the Royals, he was part of back-to-back franchise records for runs scored in 1999 and 2000.

When Johnson debuted on May 18, 1974, he became the first from Wenonah High School to reach the majors. His story is all about persistence and giving back, both as a player and as a mentor.

Post-Playing Career and Coaching

After retiring in 1982, Lamar Johnson jumped into coaching and player development. He worked with several Major League teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets as a hitting instructor and coach.

Transition to Coaching

Johnson took a short break from baseball after his playing days. The Rangers let him go after spring training in 1983, and that was it for his time on the field.

He returned to baseball in 1988. The Milwaukee Brewers brought him on as a minor league hitting instructor. That marked the start of his second act in the game.

From 1991 to 1992, he coached for the Denver Zephyrs. Then he managed the Stockton Ports in the California League for two years. His record with Stockton was up and down—79-57 in 1993, but just 54-82 in 1994.

Milwaukee Brewers Tenure

In 1995, Johnson moved up to become the Brewers’ major league hitting instructor. That was a big step from his earlier minor league roles.

He spent four seasons with the Brewers from 1995 to 1998. Johnson worked closely with hitters at the top level. His background as a first baseman and DH helped him connect with players.

The Brewers liked how he related to players. His major league experience gave him credibility, and he understood what hitters went through.

Kansas City Royals Coaching Role

Johnson joined the Kansas City Royals coaching staff in 1999. He worked as a hitting coach through the 2002 season, making it one of his longer coaching runs.

The Royals set some offensive records during his time there, especially in the late ’90s. Johnson’s coaching played a part in the team’s improved hitting.

The Royals appreciated Johnson’s approach to teaching hitting. He worked with both veterans and rookies, helping them boost their offensive numbers.

New York Mets and Later Roles

After he left Kansas City, Johnson kept his coaching career going with other organizations. He coached the Seattle Mariners in 2003, spending just one season with the American League club.

Soon after, Johnson joined the New York Mets organization. He coached the St. Lucie Mets in 2004, then took on the job of minor league hitting coordinator.

He held that coordinator role for 10 years, which ended up being his longest single assignment in pro baseball.

On May 26, 2014, the Mets promoted Johnson to major league hitting coach. The team fired Dave Hudgens and needed a replacement, so Johnson’s deep experience made him a pretty obvious choice.

Even so, Johnson didn’t stay long as the Mets’ major league hitting coach. The hitters just didn’t improve much with him at the helm.

After the 2014 season, the organization decided not to keep him around.

Personal Life and Legacy

Lamar Johnson Sr. built a family legacy in baseball, always keeping close ties to his Alabama roots and the wider baseball community. His impact went well beyond stats, and people in the game respected him for building a foundation for future generations.

Family and Personal Background

Johnson was born on September 2, 1950, in Bessemer, Alabama. He graduated from Wenonah High School in 1968.

He became the first Wenonah High alum to reach the major leagues when he debuted with the Chicago White Sox on May 18, 1974.

Throughout his career, he stayed connected to Alabama. His family background in the U.S. gave him a solid base for his professional journey.

Johnson had a son, Lamar Johnson Jr., so the family name lives on. Standing 6’2″ and weighing 215 pounds, Johnson batted and threw right-handed, representing his Alabama community on baseball’s biggest stage.

Impact on the Baseball Community

Johnson’s influence on baseball stretched far beyond his time as a player. He took on coaching work with several major league organizations, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets.

With the Brewers, he helped boost team runs from 547 in 1994 to a franchise record 894 runs in 1996. The Kansas City Royals set a club record with 856 runs in 1999 while he was there, then broke it again in 2000 with 879 runs.

Johnson spent a lot of time in player development, working as a roving hitting instructor and later as a minor league hitting coordinator. His work with the Mets helped develop homegrown talent that allowed the team to field an all-homegrown starting lineup in 2011, something they hadn’t done since 1971.

Reputation Off the Field

Johnson became known for his personality and some memorable moments as a player. On June 19, 1977, he sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a White Sox game, then got all three of his team’s hits—including two solo homers—in a 2-1 win over Oakland.

He sang the national anthem a few more times that season, showing he was happy to add something extra to the game day experience. That took a bit of guts, honestly, and showed he cared about entertaining fans.

During his career, Johnson built a professional reputation that helped him move into coaching after his playing days. He worked with players at both the major and minor league levels, which really showed off his communication skills and baseball knowledge. People across the baseball world respected him for it.

Net Worth and Financial Overview

Lamar Johnson’s finances reflect his nine years in MLB and all the coaching jobs that followed. Right now, most estimates put his net worth somewhere between $100,000 and $1 million, but there are some wild reports that go as high as $35 million.

Income Sources

Johnson earned most of his income during his playing days with the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers from 1974 to 1982. Back then, first basemen didn’t make anywhere near what players do now.

Salaries in the 1970s and early ’80s were much lower than today. Most players made between $20,000 and $100,000 a year at that time.

After he retired, Johnson moved into coaching, which brought in more income. He worked as a hitting coach for MLB teams like the Brewers, Royals, Mariners, and Mets.

Coaching salaries usually ran from $75,000 to $200,000 a year. In the long run, his coaching career probably provided steadier income than his playing days.

Estimated Net Worth

Financial sites can’t seem to agree on Johnson’s current net worth. Most say he’s worth between $100,000 and $1 million as of 2025.

One source claims $35 million, though that’s hard to believe given the era he played in. The lower estimates make more sense based on his career and salary expectations.

Johnson’s finances really reflect the economic realities for players before free agency changed the game. Most players from the ’70s just didn’t build up big fortunes like today’s stars.

He came from humble beginnings in Alabama, graduating from Wenonah High in 1968, and that background probably shaped how he approached money throughout his life.

Financial Legacy in Baseball

Johnson stands out as one of those baseball players who played during a big shift in the sport. He spent his career in the years right before salaries exploded and changed how much players could actually make.

Today’s players rake in millions every year, but Johnson and his peers had to think ahead. They often needed to find new careers once their playing days ended, just to stay afloat. Johnson figured that out pretty well, moving into coaching and making it work.

He lasted as a hitting coach for several organizations, which says a lot about how people in baseball viewed him. That kind of respect probably helped him keep a steady paycheck long after he retired as a player in 1982.

Honestly, Johnson’s financial path looks a lot like what many players from his era experienced. They didn’t get rich quick, but through sticking with baseball—as players and coaches—they built solid, stable lives.