VERMONT SPORTS HALL OF FAME

(Photo Courtesy: MLB and Dana Sprague)

Brattleboro

Baseball 

2014 Inductee

An excellent pitcher at Brattleboro Union High in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Ernie Johnson went on a solid nine-year career in the major leagues including helping the Milwaukee Braves to the 1957 World Championship. He also was a broadcaster and executive for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves for close to four decades.

Johnson graduated from Brattleboro Union High in 1942 after going 6-3 on the mound as a senior including three straight one-hit shutouts striking out 20 in one game against Deerfield (Mass.).

He signed with the Boston Braves in June of 1942 and pitched for Hartford in the Eastern League before going on to serve with the Marine Corps in World War II. He pitched in the Braves system after returning from the service and made his big league debut in 1950 for Boston.

Starting in 1952, Johnson anchored the Braves bullpen for the next six seasons. His best was in 1957 going 7-3 in 30 appearances including three more with a 1.29 ERA in Milwaukee's seven-game World Series victory over the New York Yankees. He wrapped up his playing career with Baltimore in 1959. Johnson posted a 40-23 record in the majors with a 3.77 ERA pitching in 273 career games.

After his playing days were over, he became a Braves broadcaster in 1962 and called the games until 2000, most notably from on cable Superstation WTBS. 

Johnson is a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, the Braves Hall of Fame and the Georgia Radio and Television Hall of Fame.

Ernie Johnson passed away on August 11, 2011 at the age of 87.