Johnson is one of two players to play for every team in the American League East (current Red Sox lefty-masher Steve Pearce is the other), and he did so in descending alphabetical order. He was once a rising star with the Braves who had some big power for a second-baseman. He was then traded to Arizona where he was even better, hitting 26 home runs in 2010. The Diamondbacks then exchanged second-basemen with Toronto, sending Kelly for Aaron Hill, another future Red Sox.
At this point in his career, Johnson became a journeyman, always hitting for some power, but not much else. From 2011 to 2016, Johnson played for eight teams, including three teams in 2014. It was in 2014 that he showed up in Boston. He started the season with the Yankees before being sent to Boston at the trading deadline in a very rare trade between the two rivals. Boston sent Stephen Drew to New York.
In his very short time in Boston, Johnson appeared in just ten games and appeared at every infield position except shortstop and also played left field and designated hitter. He did not produce at all, hitting .160/.160/.200 with no home runs and one double. He had just one RBI. He was then shipped off to Baltimore along with Michael Almanzar for Jemile Weeks and Ivan DeJesus, his stint in Boston being ultimately forgettable.
And that is why it is so shocking to see this card. He played for three teams in 2014, starting with the Yankees and finishing with the Orioles, and yet he has this Topps Update card commemorating his time with the Red Sox. I am thrilled it exists, but it makes me wonder how he gets a Red Sox card, but Andrew Miller, who played three and a half seasons in Boston, does not get one.
Johnson played two more seasons, splitting each one between the Braves and Mets.
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