A legitimate leadoff hitter and four-time All-Star, he was a very popular player in Cincinnati in the 1950s. Throughout his career, he walked more often than he struck out, compiling an outstanding 1.92 walk-to-strikeout ratio (648-to-338) and a .363 on base percentage. Temple also had above-average speed and good instincts on the base paths. Quietly, he had 140 steals in 198 attempts (71%). Defensively, he showed great range with a strong and accurate arm.

Temple enjoyed his best year in 1959, with career-highs in batting average (.311), home runs (8), RBI (67), runs (102), hits (186), at-bats (598), doubles (35) and triples (6). At the end of the season he was sent to Cleveland for Billy Martin, Gordy Coleman and Cal McLish, in the first interleague trade in major league history (December 16, 1959). Temple also played with Baltimore and Houston, and again with Cincinnati for his last major season. He worked as a Houston sportscaster after his retirement. Johnny Temple died in Anderson, South Carolina at age of 66.