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Two Dodger Greats Of The 1960s Pass Away`Two Dodger Greats Of The 1960s Pass Away
(L-R) Ron Perranoski, "Sweet" Lou Johnson. (Images courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers)

Two Dodgers Greats Of The 1960s Pass Away

“Sweet” Lou Johnson and Ron Perranoski, both members of World Series winning Los Angeles Dodger teams of the 1960s have died.

Perranoski, a reliever for the Dodgers for eight of his 13 seasons in the Major League, member of the 1963 and 1965 World Series championship teams and later Dodger pitching coach, died Friday at 84 years old after a long illness.

Over the course of his Dodger career from 1961 to 1967 and 1972, Perranoski had a 2.56 ERA and recorded 100 saves. He ranks near the top of several career pitching records for Dodgers pitchers, including sixth in saves, seventh in ERA and fifth in games played at 457 games.

Johnson, a member of the Dodgers from 1965-1967 and teammate of Perranoski on the 1965 World Series team, died Wednesday at 86 years old, no cause of death was given.

While Johnson’s time with the organization as a player was brief, he made a significant impact with his heroics in Game 7 of the 1965 World Series, when he hit a game winning solo home run to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead on their way to a 2-0 win to clinch the series. 

The moment became iconic, when Johnson rounded the bases he enthusiastically clapped to himself.

After passing through three different teams from 1960 to 1962, Johnson spent three years in the minors including after his trade to the Dodgers in 1964. At that point, Johnson had grown uncertain if he would have another opportunity to play in the big leagues.

An unfortunate ankle injury to Dodgers star outfielder Tommy Davis in 1965 gave him the opportunity he needed in the crowded outfield and Johnson made the most of it.

“I didn’t have to worry about staying,” said Johnson, according to Dodgers Insider. “They didn’t have anybody else at the time, and I began to do the job. I didn’t have to give up on myself anymore in terms of hating. I got a chance to be me and I didn’t give a damn who knew it. I clapped my hands. My hands weren’t clapping to show up anybody after hitting a home run. I didn’t need anyone to clap for me. I was tired of people not clapping for me. I was going to do it myself.”

While both players played for other teams over the course of their career, they each returned to work for the Dodgers organization after their playing days.

After his playing career, Johnson returned to the Dodgers organization to spend more than thirty years working in the community relations department.

Perranoski rejoined the organization as the Dodgers’ Minor League pitching coordinator from 1973 to 1980 and was then promoted to pitching coach where he served for 14 seasons from 1981 to 1994. 

Over the course of his tenure as pitching coach, Perranoski oversaw the development of some of the next generation of great Dodgers pitchers, Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser.

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Two Dodgers Greats Of The 1960s Pass Away

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About Wyatt Smith

Wyatt was born and raised in Santa Clarita. After graduating from Hart High School in 2012, he continued his studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a degree in applied statistics. After a year and a half working in the digital advertising industry, Wyatt left his previous field of work to pursue his interest in writing.