Despite making their way to the NLDS, it has been rough week from the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Six days ago, Jay Johnstone, who won a World Series ring with the club in 1981, passed away of COVID-19.
Then two members of the 1965 World Series champion Dodgers passed away within 48 hours of each other. Outfielder "Sweet" Lou Johnson passed away on September 30th at the age of 86 while pitcher Ron Perranoski died on October 2nd at the age of 84. Johnson's cause of death was not released while Perranoski died of a long, but unspecified illness.
Johnson had a lengthy minor league career beginning in 1953 with the New York Yankees organization with stops with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs before finally making his big league debut with the Cubs in 1960, but he did not stay long. There were cups of coffee with the Los Angeles Angels in 1961 and the Milwaukee Braves in 1962 before lengthy minor league stints with both the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers before Johnson finally got his big break with the Dodgers during the 1965 season at the age of 30 after Tommy Davis had a season ending ankle injury. Johnson made the most of his opportunity culminated by a game winning home run in the 7th game of the World Series against the Minnesota Twins earning him a World Series ring.
In 1966, Johnson would put up the best numbers of his career hitting .272 with 17 HR and 73 RBI. The Dodgers would win another NL pennant, but would be swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series. In those two World Series, Johnson hit .286 (12 for 42) with 2 HR and 4 RBI.
Unfortunately, Johnson was never quite the same after breaking his leg in a home plate collision with Atlanta Braves catcher Joe Torre during the 1967 season. Johnson split the 1968 season with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians before finishing his big league career with the California Angels in 1969. In 677 big league games in parts of eight seasons, Johnson hit .258, collecting 529 hits with 48 HR and 232 RBI.
Ron Perranoski shared World Series glory with Johnson in 1965, but also won a ring with the Dodgers in 1963. Prior to joining the Dodgers, the New Jersey born southpaw was signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1958. At the beginning of the 1960 season, the Cubs traded Perranoski and future Minnesota Twins manager Johnny Goryl to the Dodgers for another future big league manager - Don Zimmer. Perranoski made his big league debut in 1961 and would lead the NL in appearance in 1962 with 70. But 1963 would be Perranoski's breakout season.
That year, Perranoski went 16-3 with a 1.67 ERA with 21 saves while leading the National League with 69 appearances out of the bullpen. Those numbers were good enough for him to finish fourth in NL MVP balloting. His Dodgers teammate Sandy Koufax earned NL MVP honors that season.
After 7 seasons with the Dodgers, Perranoski was traded to the Minnesota Twins prior to the 1968 season along with John Roseboro and Bob Miller for Jim "Mudcat" Grant and Zoilo Versalles. After a mediocre '68 campaign, Perranoski would lead the AL in saves in both 1969 and 1970 as the Twins would win back to back AL West Division titles under Billy Martin and Bill Rigney, respectively. Perranoski would reunite with Martin with the Detroit Tigers in late 1971 and early 1972 before finishing the '72 season back with the Dodgers with Walter Alston. Perranoski finished his big league career with the California Angels in 1973. In 13 MLB seasons, Perranoski made 737 appearances (all but one out of the bullpen) with 79-74 record, a 2.79 ERA and 178 career saves.
Later in 1973, Perranoski rejoined the Dodgers' organization for a third time serving as a minor league pitching coordinator through the 1980 season. In 1981, he was named the Dodgers' pitching coach and would serve in that capacity for 14 seasons earning two more World Series rings with the Dodgers in 1981 and 1988.
Perranoski's last stop in baseball with the rival San Francisco Giants joining them in 1995 as minor league pitching instructor. He joined the Giants big league coaching staff as the bench coach for Dusty Baker (whom he knew well in his Dodgers days) in 1997 before becoming the team's pitching coach during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. Perranoski would then go upstairs to serve as a special assistant to longtime Giants GM Brian Sabean.
But both "Sweet" Lou Johnson and Ron Perranoski will always be remembered as Dodgers. R.I.P.
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