Quick Facts
Biography
Johnny Joe Lewis (August 10, 1939 – July 29, 2018) was an American Major League Baseball player who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets from 1964 to 1967. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1959. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed, and was listed as weighing 189 pounds (86 kg) and at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) in height. His first game was on April 14, 1964 against the Los Angeles Dodgers and his final game was on June 11, 1967. He was born on August 10, 1939 in Greenville, Alabama.
Lewis is probably best known for breaking up a Jim Maloney no-hitter in the 11th inning with a game-winning homer for the Mets. In that Crosley Field game, Maloney threw a complete game of 11 innings and allowed no hits over the first ten innings. Lewis' homer in the 11th gave Maloney the loss, 1–0. Lewis had the nickname "The Gunner" when with The Mets for his ability to throw out runners heading to home plate and the bases.
Bob Gibson credits Johnny Lewis with helping him to rehab from the Roberto Clemente line drive which broke his leg in 1967 by being his practice catcher to keep his arm strong while Lewis was serving in the Cardinal front office at that time.In later years, Lewis was a coach for the Cardinals (1973–76, 1984–89), a scout for them, and managed their Rookie League affiliate, the Calgary Cardinals, in 1977 and 1978.
Lewis died July 29, 2018.
