The anthem singer who mashed two home runs

CHICAGO -- Lamar Johnson performed the national anthem prior to Game 1 of a doubleheader between his White Sox and the Athletics on June 19, 1977, at Comiskey Park.

Even for an accomplished player such as Johnson, who spent eight of his nine big league seasons with the White Sox and hit 64 career home runs and 122 doubles with a .754 OPS, this was a rare but not unheard-of event. Adam Wainwright, Luke Berryhill, Barry Zito and Steven Brault are players who tackled "The Star-Spangled Banner," while Bernie Williams still delivers captivating versions on his guitar.

But here’s where special circumstances work their way in for Johnson, who at 74, is enjoying retirement with his family and grandkids. Not only did Johnson produce a memorable rendition that day, but he hit two solo home runs in a 2-1 victory.

In fact, the White Sox had three total hits off Mike Norris and Bob Lacey, and Johnson’s leadoff double in the seventh completed the individual trifecta. It’s of little wonder his White Sox teammates recommended Johnson do the anthem again … and again, with baseball players often being a superstitious group not willing to mess with success.

“Oh, they talked about that for the rest of the year. You know how guys are. They said, ‘You need to sing the anthem every night.’” said Johnson with a laugh during a recent phone interview. “That has to be the highlight because singing the anthem was one thing, but then going out and [performing] like that, it just put icing on the cake.”

How did Johnson go from a primarily everyday White Sox player and part of the iconic South Side Hitmen with Richie Zisk, Oscar Gamble, Ralph Garr, Chet Lemon, Eric Soderholm and Jorge Orta in ’77 to a temporary musical virtuoso? According to an Associated Press story from that day, White Sox pitcher Bart Johnson talked to owner Bill Veeck’s secretary about the possibility. Lamar Johnson recalls a woman from the department run by Mike Veeck, who went to work for his dad in 1976, approaching him -- followed by back-and-forth conversations -- and deciding on June 19.

This selection was far from random. Johnson often sang around the clubhouse after being part of the choir at Wenonah High School in Birmingham, Ala., and having a role in his school’s production of "Guys and Dolls."

“I didn’t have one of the major parts, but I was in there and I did about three or four songs,” said Johnson, who was the understudy for the lead character of Sky Masterson. “At the time, I was playing baseball, so I couldn’t be there for all the rehearsals. But it was a lot of fun.”

Johnson’s national anthem also happened to come on Father’s Day, which held extra meaning. His dad, Robin, never had a chance to see him play as a big leaguer, as he tragically died in a car accident three years earlier. As a big baseball fan, Johnson knows the whole day would have been something his father treasured.

Many of the players’ children were in attendance for the Father’s Day doubleheader, including Johnson’s three kids. They were playing with their friends and those other kids on the team, so they didn’t truly realize their dad was singing until growing older.

The White Sox claimed a 5-1 victory in Game 2, improving to 35-27 overall with the sweep. Johnson finished 1-for-4 in the nightcap with one run scored, but his time at the plate or in the field had nothing nerves-wise on his anthem performance, which Johnson practiced repeatedly at home.

“Oh, terrified. The thing that terrifies you is, please don’t forget the words,” Johnson said. “That’s the part that gets you. Doing the song was OK. I just didn’t want to forget the words.

“Yeah, I got through it OK and breathed a sigh of relief and got a blessing after that. We won the game, 2-1, and my home runs were the difference in us winning that game.”

With the White Sox celebrating the franchise’s 125th anniversary during the 2025 season, it would only make sense to invite Johnson back for another national anthem performance. Johnson chuckled at the idea.

“No more anthems. No more anthems. That’s it,” Johnson said. “I’m just a spectator now.”

A spectator who enjoyed nearly a decade as a player, another 34 years coaching for the Brewers, Royals, Mariners and Mets, and one afternoon as a Major League singer.

“There was nothing like it,” Johnson said. “As you are going through it, you don’t realize how much fun it was until after you are done playing. When I started coaching, that’s when I realized ‘Wow, hey, you did OK.’”