In the baseball comedy “Major League,” the main character, Jake Taylor, receives a phone call from an executive offering the aging catcher a shot at the Cleveland Indians? roster.
Passing it off as a prank, Taylor abruptly hangs up the phone.
That same scenario nearly happened to former Oriole Dave Johnson, who at the time had given up on baseball.
A friend coerced the right-hander into pitching once more so a Pittsburgh Pirates scout could see Johnson, then 22, pitch in a metro-league game.
Johnson threw a one-hitter, and the next day he got a call with a contract offer.
“I basically thought someone was messing with me,” Johnson said.
Johnson signed the contract and made his major league debut with the Pirates five seasons later.
Johnson, 46, grew up in Middle River (Baltimore County) and alternated between being a tractor-trailer driver and a junior college pitcher before finally getting a crack at a professional contract.
He devotes most of his time to the game today.
Not only does he direct the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program for the Orioles, but he also makes public appearances, a role he cherishes, especially now after the passing of Orioles community icon Elrod Hendricks.
“Elrod was what I tried to be off the field,” Johnson said. “I saw early on how he was an ambassador not only for baseball, but specifically the Orioles.”
Johnson is a baseball analyst for Comcast SportsNet, and also tutors young ballplayers in a batting cage at his home.
As an instructor, Johnson?s mostsuccessful pupil to this point happens to be his son, Steve, a product of St. Paul?s School. Steve was drafted in the 13th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers last June, and his jump to pro ball comes in stark contrast to that of his father?s.
“He made more money just to sign (a contract) than I made in my career,” the elder Johnson said, half-seriously.
Although his trek to this point in life hasn?t been easy, Dave Johnson wouldn?t have had it any other way.
“A lot more heartache,” Johnson recalls. “But a lot more fun.”
THE JOHNSON FILE
Former sport: Baseball
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Hometown: Baltimore
High School: Overlea
College: Baltimore City Community College
Did you know? Johnson didn?t make the varsity team at Overlea High until his senior year ? Johnson pitched the first three innings of the first-ever Orioleanders? All-Star game in 1980 ? Johnson lives in Kingsville with his wife, Tera, and their son, Daniel, 15 ? Son Steve is set to join the Dodgers? Single-A Pioneer League affiliate, the Ogden Raptors, after logging innings at extended spring training … Dave Johnson pitched in the majors for the Pirates (1987), Orioles (1989-91) and Tigers (1993). He was part of the Orioles? 1989 “Why Not?” team.
