Home Run Johnson
Encyclopedia
Grant "Home Run" Johnson (September 21, 1874 - September 4, 1963) was an American
shortstop
in baseball
's Negro Leagues
. He played for many of the greatest teams of the deadball era. Born in Findlay, Ohio
, he died at age 88 in Buffalo, New York
.
Johnson began his career as a shortstop with the semipro Findlay Sluggers in 1894. He supposedly earned his nickname "Home Run" by hitting 60 home runs that season. In 1895 he and Bud Fowler formed the Page Fence Giants
in Adrian, Michigan. Johnson was the shortstop and the team's captain. After 1898 the Page Fence Giants were unable to continue playing, so Johnson and most of the other players moved to Chicago where they played for the Chicago Columbia Giants
in 1899. The next season he played with the Chicago Unions
.
In 1903–04 Johnson played with the Cuban X-Giants
, who were the eastern champions in 1903. From 1905–06 he played for the Philadelphia Giants
, and they won championships both seasons.
Findlay, Ohio’s celebrated contribution to African-American baseball history turned 31-years-old in 1905. His hitting and pitching so electrified the 1905 Philadelphia Giants that many assumed he spent more than one full season with the team. The unselfish qualities of Johnson’s power-packed swing helped him to lead the team in such auspicious categories as hit-by pitches, sacrifice hits and, of course, home runs with twelve. An honorable man of exemplary character, he hustled out ground balls and seldom disputed an umpire’s questionable call. It was equally rare for him to strike out. In one reflective moment Johnson told a reporter, "when I did [strike out] I surprised myself." Slowed by an injury that occurred early in the season, he missed thirteen days of play. Johnson was rushed back into the team’s starting line-up, and as a consequence his home run totals slumped dramatically. He also was used as a starting pitcher. A submarine pitcher of exceptional ability, he was essentially the Philadelphia Giants’ fourth starter in 1905. His gutsy mound appearances continually kept everyone questioning why he did not pitch more often. Prior to joining the Philadelphia Giants he had teamed with Bill Monroe
and Mike Moore in 1900 as members of the Chicago Unions. In 1903 Johnson was captain of the Cuban X Giants when Charlie Grant
and Rube Foster were on the team.
He then moved to Brooklyn Royal Giants
, where he was captain and led them to a championship in 1909. In 1910 Johnson signed with the Leland Giants
and hit .397.
From 1911–13 Johnson played with the New York Lincoln Giants, hitting .374, .413, and .371. In 1913 the Lincoln Giants won the eastern title and beat the Chicago American Giants
in the championship playoff. Later he played with the Pittsburgh Colored Stars of Buffalo and managed the Buffalo Giants.
He continued to play with lesser teams until finally retiring in 1932 at the age of 58. After retiring from baseball he lived in Buffalo, where he worked for the New York Central Railroad Company.
(There is some dispute about his actual birth year, since the 1900 census states that Grant V. Johnson was born September 1872. However, census records have been known to be incorrect, so the 1872 date can't be considered definitive.)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
's Negro Leagues
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
. He played for many of the greatest teams of the deadball era. Born in Findlay, Ohio
Findlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
, he died at age 88 in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Johnson began his career as a shortstop with the semipro Findlay Sluggers in 1894. He supposedly earned his nickname "Home Run" by hitting 60 home runs that season. In 1895 he and Bud Fowler formed the Page Fence Giants
Page Fence Giants
One of the top black baseball teams of the 1890s, the Page Fence Giants were based in Adrian, Michigan and named after the Page Woven Wire Fence Company. The team was sponsored by the company's founder, J. Wallace Page....
in Adrian, Michigan. Johnson was the shortstop and the team's captain. After 1898 the Page Fence Giants were unable to continue playing, so Johnson and most of the other players moved to Chicago where they played for the Chicago Columbia Giants
Chicago Columbia Giants
The Columbia Giants were a professional, black baseball team based in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century, prior to the Negro Leagues.- Founding :...
in 1899. The next season he played with the Chicago Unions
Chicago Unions
The Chicago Unions were a professional, black baseball team that played in the late 19th century, prior to the formation of the Negro Leagues.- Founding :...
.
In 1903–04 Johnson played with the Cuban X-Giants
Cuban X-Giants
The Cuban X-Giants were an African-American professional baseball team for about ten seasons around 1900. Originally most of the players were former Cuban Giants, or ex-Giants....
, who were the eastern champions in 1903. From 1905–06 he played for the Philadelphia Giants
Philadelphia Giants
The Philadelphia Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played from 1902 to 1916. From 1904 to 1909 they were one of the strongest teams in black baseball, winning five eastern championships in six years. The team was organized by Sol White, H. Walter Schlichter, and Harry Smith.- Founding...
, and they won championships both seasons.
Findlay, Ohio’s celebrated contribution to African-American baseball history turned 31-years-old in 1905. His hitting and pitching so electrified the 1905 Philadelphia Giants that many assumed he spent more than one full season with the team. The unselfish qualities of Johnson’s power-packed swing helped him to lead the team in such auspicious categories as hit-by pitches, sacrifice hits and, of course, home runs with twelve. An honorable man of exemplary character, he hustled out ground balls and seldom disputed an umpire’s questionable call. It was equally rare for him to strike out. In one reflective moment Johnson told a reporter, "when I did [strike out] I surprised myself." Slowed by an injury that occurred early in the season, he missed thirteen days of play. Johnson was rushed back into the team’s starting line-up, and as a consequence his home run totals slumped dramatically. He also was used as a starting pitcher. A submarine pitcher of exceptional ability, he was essentially the Philadelphia Giants’ fourth starter in 1905. His gutsy mound appearances continually kept everyone questioning why he did not pitch more often. Prior to joining the Philadelphia Giants he had teamed with Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe (baseball player)
William S. Monroe was an American infielder in baseball's Negro leagues. He was also known by the nickname of "Money." During a 19-year career from 1896 to 1914, he played on many of the greatest teams in black baseball. He was a good hitter and slick fielding third base and second baseman who was...
and Mike Moore in 1900 as members of the Chicago Unions. In 1903 Johnson was captain of the Cuban X Giants when Charlie Grant
Charlie Grant
Charles Grant was an African American second baseman in negro league baseball. Grant nearly crossed the baseball color line decades before Jackie Robinson when Major League Baseball manager John McGraw attempted to pass him off as a Native American named "Tokohama".-Background:Grant was born in...
and Rube Foster were on the team.
He then moved to Brooklyn Royal Giants
Brooklyn Royal Giants
The Brooklyn Royal Giants were a professional baseball team based in Brooklyn, New York which played in the Negro Leagues. They were one of the premier professional teams before World War I, winning multiple championships in the East.- League play :...
, where he was captain and led them to a championship in 1909. In 1910 Johnson signed with the Leland Giants
Leland Giants
The Chicago Union Giants, the top black baseball team in the Midwest or West in the first decade of the 20th century, changed its name in 1905 to the Leland Giants, after manager and owner Frank Leland....
and hit .397.
From 1911–13 Johnson played with the New York Lincoln Giants, hitting .374, .413, and .371. In 1913 the Lincoln Giants won the eastern title and beat 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...
in the championship playoff. Later he played with the Pittsburgh Colored Stars of Buffalo and managed the Buffalo Giants.
He continued to play with lesser teams until finally retiring in 1932 at the age of 58. After retiring from baseball he lived in Buffalo, where he worked for the New York Central Railroad Company.
(There is some dispute about his actual birth year, since the 1900 census states that Grant V. Johnson was born September 1872. However, census records have been known to be incorrect, so the 1872 date can't be considered definitive.)