Johnson: Canes Legend and World Champion
Incelebration of Black History Month, HurricaneSports.comwill highlight several African-American student-athletes that left their markon the University of Miami. Our next profile focuses on CharlesJohnson, who went from All-American at UM to WorldSeries champion.
Charles Johnson was always a standout baseballplayer.
TheHurricane legend was drafted 10th overall by the Montreal Expos in the 1989 MLBDraft, but chose to forgo millions to attend the University of Miami and playunder legendary coach Ron Fraser. The decision proved to be a good one,as Johnson tied UM’s freshman home run record with 11 to earn aselection to both the Baseball America and Collegiate BaseballNewspaper Freshman All-America teams. Johnson eventually concluded histenure at Miami as a two-time Golden Spikes Award finalist. In his final seasonwith UM in 1992, The Sporting News named Johnson a first-teamAll-American.
Johnsonwas selected in the first round of the 1992 MLB Draft, becoming the first-everamateur draft pick of the Florida Marlins. That same year, he played for Fraserone last time at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona as a member of theUnited States National Team.
TheFort Pierce, Fla., native reached the Majors in 1994 and was the Marlins’starting catcher in 1995. Johnson won a Gold Glove in his first full season inthe Majors, his first of four consecutive awards for being the best defensivecatcher in the National League. He is one of only three catchers in MajorLeague history to catch at least 100 games in a single season withoutcommitting an error.
Johnsonwas a two-time All-Star (1997, 2001) and was a member of the 1997 World Serieschampion Florida Marlins. He also caught the first three no-hitters inMarlins history, tying him for second-most no-hitters caught in MLB history. Inhis 12-year big league career, Johnson played for the Marlins, Los AngelesDodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies and Tampa BayDevil Rays.
A 2002 UM Sports Hall of Fameinductee, Johnson had his No. 23 retired on the outfieldwall of Mark Light Stadium in a ceremony held during theMiami vs. Florida game on Feb. 10, 2002.
