Deron Johnson, All-Southern California in both football and baseball at San Diego High School, had sixteen years as a player and twelve as a coach in major league baseball until his death from cancer in 1992.
A prep All-American in 1955 when San Diego High School won the National High School Championship, he opted for baseball, played part time in the majors in 1960-1962, then made “The Show” for good with the a Pacific Coast League leading 33 home runs for the San Diego padres in 1963.
In 1965, his best year, he batted .287 for Cincinnati Reds, hit 32 home runs and led the National League with 132 RBI. In 1972, Deron tied a major league record with home runs on four consecutive at-bats.
