A catcher, he appeared in 12 games over five Major League seasons for the Cleveland Indians (1972; 1974), Montreal Expos (1975–76), and Chicago White Sox (1978).

Johnson was named for Larry Doby, the first African-American to play in the American League, a seven-time All-Star outfielder, and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Johnson was selected by the Indians in the ninth round of the 1968 Major League Baseball draft.

Johnson's last game as a major leaguer, on May 25, 1978, preceded by five weeks Doby's July 1 appointment as manager of the White Sox.

[3] His son, Josh, also played professional baseball and coached with the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers.