Patch Blog: Major Leaguer Jay Johnstone to Speak at Lib

and Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library will present former Dodger and Angel player Jay Johnstone for an Author Night on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 7:00 p.m. The program is free and will focus on Johnstone’s bestselling books Temporary Insanity, Over the Top, and Some of My Best Friends Are Crazy. Two of them made the prestigious New York Times Bestseller List.

After growing up in Southern California, Johnstone signed in 1963 with the California Angels where he played his first five seasons. He went on to play a total of 20 years in the Major Leagues, a feat accomplished by few players. During that span, he played for eight divisional title winning teams and once batted .778 in a National League Championship Series, a record-setting performance.

Jay played on three World Series Championship teams: the Oakland A's in 1973, the New York Yankees in 1978, and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 198. He possesses a lifetime batting average in World Series play of .435. In 1976 he was 10th in NL batting with a .318 average. In 1977, he led the NL in hitting with a .329 average but missed the batting crown because he was a mere 12 at bats shy of eligibility.

Even though he enjoyed such great successes on the field, it appeared his career was over in 1973 at age 27 after he batted only .173. After relentlessly working every day on his hitting with a tee and tennis balls, he bounced back with four of the best seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting .295, .329, .318, and .284.

Johnstone played for eight different teams, including two stints with the Dodgers. During his playing days, Johnstone was known for his offbeat personality and as a clubhouse prankster, earning the nickname of Moon Man.

Since then he has broadcast games for Prime Ticket, ESPN, the New York Yankees, Fox Sports, and many others and has traveled the country as a corporate speaker giving both humorous and motivational speeches. In 2010, Jay became the national spokesperson for Hope4Heroes, an organization that raises funds for U.S. soldiers who are wounded in action. He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Angels 50th Anniversary celebration in May 2011.

is located at 1115 El Centro Street. No tickets or reservations are necessary; doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Ballgame-type refreshments will be served and a free drawing for door prizes will be conducted. Special thanks to the Baseball Reliquary.

To read more about Johnstone, click here.