Billy Johnson (baseball)
A slick-fielding third baseman whose steady glove helped anchor the New York Yankees dynasty during the 1940s.
1918–2006 (age 88)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 30·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Billy Johnson broke into the majors during World War II, a time when rosters were depleted and opportunities arose. The New York Yankees, always in pursuit of championship pieces, found in Johnson a reliable answer at the hot corner. He wasn't a headline-grabbing slugger, but his value was in his crisp, consistent defense and timely hitting. Johnson manned third base for the Yankees' 1943 World Series championship team, providing a stable presence in the infield. After serving in the military, he returned to contribute to another pennant winner in 1947. His career later included a stint with the St. Louis Cardinals, but his identity is welded to that era of Yankees success. In an organization famous for its stars, Johnson was the kind of solid, everyday player that winning teams are built around, earning respect for his workmanlike approach over nearly a thousand major league games.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Billy was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Billy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Billy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 80
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Died at 88
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
Key Achievements
- Played 964 major league games, primarily as the starting third baseman for the New York Yankees.
- Won a World Series championship with the Yankees in 1943.
- Was a member of the American League pennant-winning Yankees team in 1947.
- Recorded a career .991 fielding percentage at third base, demonstrating exceptional defensive reliability.
Did You Know?
He hit a home run in his first major league at-bat on April 22, 1943.
Johnson served in the United States Army during World War II, missing the 1944 and 1945 seasons.
He was nicknamed 'Sweet William.'
After his playing career, he worked as a scout for the Yankees.
“You don't have to hit it over the wall to help the club win a game.”
