Athletic Hall of Fame: Robert "Dale" Johnson '61
INDUCTED 2005
Second-team all-state honoree for Lemont High School on the baseball field… also played basketball and football… played baseball at Bradley University… pitched nine years in the Major Leagues (1969-77)… originally signed by the New York Mets, and debuted for the Mets during their World Series-winning season in 1969… was traded to the Kansas City Royals in the offseason, and in his first full season in the Major Leagues, finished as the runner-up for the 1970 American League “Rookie of the Year” award according to The Sporting News… won eight games, posted a 3.07 ERA and led the Royals with 206 strikeouts that season… was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 1971 season… won nine games and posted a 3.45 ERA for the Pirates as they won the National League East Division… winning pitcher in game three of the 1971 National League Championship Series… also pitched in the 1971 World Series for the Pirates… finished his Major League career with a 28-34 record and a 3.48 ERA in nearly 700 innings pitched.