Charles Johnson (Negro League)
Encyclopedia
Charles Johnson was a baseball player in the Negro League who later pushed major league baseball
to offer pensions to former Negro League players.
Johnson also filed an anti-discrimination suit against Illinois Central Railroad
in the mid-1960s after he was turned down for a special agent position. Johnson won the suit and became the first African American
special agent.
Johnson was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
. At 15 he and his mother moved to Chicago. His mother died shortly after the move, and Johnson -- who was an only child -- was left on his own.
Johnson had a friend, legendary Negro League player Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe
, who helped him get into the league. Johnny Washington
, a former Negro League player and friend of Johnson, said: "Duty lived on the same block as Charlie and really took a liking to him."
Johnson spent his time in the Negro League barnstorming the United States
and Canada
. He went on a barnstorming tour of Canada
with the Texas Giants in 1930 and 1931. Johnson returned to Chicago and served as pitcher and outfielder for the Chicago American Giants
.
Johnson married in 1942 and, at his wife's insistence, quit baseball in 1944. Johnson worked at various jobs until he became a porter on the Illinois Central in 1951.
Johnson died of complications from prostate cancer
. He is buried in Chicago's Oak Woods Cemetery.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
to offer pensions to former Negro League players.
Johnson also filed an anti-discrimination suit against Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
in the mid-1960s after he was turned down for a special agent position. Johnson won the suit and became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
special agent.
Johnson was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Pine Bluff is the largest city and county seat of Jefferson County, Arkansas, United States. It is also the principal city of the Pine Bluff Metropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Pine Bluff, Arkansas Combined Statistical Area...
. At 15 he and his mother moved to Chicago. His mother died shortly after the move, and Johnson -- who was an only child -- was left on his own.
Johnson had a friend, legendary Negro League player Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe
Ted Radcliffe
Theodore Roosevelt "Double Duty" Radcliffe was at his death thought to be the oldest living professional baseball player , one of only a handful of major league players who lived past their 100th birthdays, and a former star in the...
, who helped him get into the league. Johnny Washington
Johnny Washington
Johnny Washington played for the Chicago American Giants and the Houston Eagles in baseball's Negro League.Washington was born in Chicago and attended that city's Morgan Park High School, graduating in 1949....
, a former Negro League player and friend of Johnson, said: "Duty lived on the same block as Charlie and really took a liking to him."
Johnson spent his time in the Negro League barnstorming the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He went on a barnstorming tour of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with the Texas Giants in 1930 and 1931. Johnson returned to Chicago and served as pitcher and outfielder for the Chicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants
Chicago American Giants were a Chicago-based Negro league baseball team, owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by player-manager Andrew "Rube" Foster. From 1910 until the mid-1930s, the American Giants were the most dominant team in black baseball...
.
Johnson married in 1942 and, at his wife's insistence, quit baseball in 1944. Johnson worked at various jobs until he became a porter on the Illinois Central in 1951.
Johnson died of complications from prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
. He is buried in Chicago's Oak Woods Cemetery.