[2] The native of Topeka, Kansas, served in World War II in the United States Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations,[3] where he was a tank commander.

[4] Johnson entered the Majors in 1947 with the St. Louis Cardinals, playing for them in part of four seasons (1947–50) before joining the Philadelphia Phillies (1950–51) and Detroit Tigers (1952).

In his first major league start, he pitched a one-hitter for the Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field (September 27).

Although he did not pitch in the 1950 World Series, Johnson appeared as a pinch runner for Dick Sisler in the ninth inning of Game 4, and scored the Phils' last run of the Fall Classic on an error by New York Yankees leftfielder Gene Woodling.

In a six-season career, Johnson posted a 12–14 record with a 4.58 ERA in 74 appearances, including 34 starts, eight complete games, four shutouts, 147 strikeouts, 195 bases on balls, and a 1.32 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 2691⁄3 innings of work.