Charles Johnson is a former American professional baseball player who played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 12 seasons. He was born on July 20, 1971, in Fort Pierce, Florida, and attended the University of Miami, where he played college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes.
Johnson was selected by the Florida Marlins in the first round of the 1992 MLB draft and made his debut for the team in 1994. He quickly established himself as one of the best defensive catchers in the league, winning three Gold Glove Awards in his first four seasons. He also showed some offensive prowess, hitting 19 home runs and driving in 63 runs in his rookie season.
Johnson played for the Marlins until 1998, helping the team win the World Series in 1997. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1998 and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2000. He played for the Orioles for one season before being traded to the Chicago White Sox in 2001.
Johnson's career began to decline in the early 2000s, as he struggled with injuries and saw his offensive production drop. He played for the White Sox for two seasons before being traded to the Colorado Rockies in 2003. He played for the Rockies for one season before being traded back to the Marlins in 2004.
Johnson played his final season in the majors in 2005, splitting time between the Marlins and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He finished his career with a .245 batting average, 167 home runs, and 570 runs batted in. He also won four Gold Glove Awards and was named to the All-Star team twice.
After retiring from baseball, Johnson worked as a baseball analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network. He also founded the Charles Johnson Foundation, which provides scholarships and other support to underprivileged youth in his hometown of Fort Pierce, Florida.
Overall, Charles Johnson had a successful career as a catcher in the major leagues, known for his defensive skills and occasional offensive contributions. He played for several teams over the course of his career, including the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
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