ST. PETERSBURG -- Mention Dan Johnson to most baseball fans. Some might recognize the name; most wouldn't.
Mention Johnson's name to a Rays fan, and you'll get an entirely different reaction. Not only did Johnson get perhaps the most important hit for the 2008 American League pennant-winning Rays, he came through with an encore performance in 2011.
Johnson's legend began on Sept. 9, 2008, when the Rays called him up from Triple-A Durham to meet the team in Boston for a crucial series against the Red Sox.
Manager Joe Maddon planned to start Johnson that night, but due to travel complications, Johnson didn't arrive until just before the start of the game.