Jay Johnstone Explains The Role Humor Had In His Major League Baseball Career And Beyond

Jay Johnstone, Major League Baseball Player and prankster

Jay Johnstone is a former professional baseball player, active from 1966 to 1985 for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs.

Jay was known as a versatile outfielder with a good sense of humor, known for keeping clubhouses loose with occasional pranks and gimmicks.

He later served as a radio color commentator for the Yankees (1989–1990) and Phillies (1992–1993).

Jay’s career highlights include:

  • As an Angel, he preserved Clyde Wright‘s no-hitter against the Athletics in the seventh inning by catching a Reggie Jackson fly ball 400 feet from straightaway center field, just in front of the wall (July 3, 1970).
  • As a Philly, he went 7-for-9 in the 1976 National League Championship Series against the Cincinnati Reds. It wasn’t enough, however. The Reds swept the Series.
  • As a Dodger, he hit a pinch-two run home run in Game Four of the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees, the home run rallying the Dodgers from a 6-3 deficit to win 8-7. The victory also enabled the Dodgers to tie the Series at two games each; they won the next two games to win it all.

Jay is the author of several books: Temporary Insanity. Over the Fence and Some Of My Best Friends Are Crazy.