Judy Johnson
Encyclopedia
William Julius "Judy" Johnson (October 26, 1900 – June 15, 1989) was an American
third baseman
in Negro league baseball
.
Johnson was born in Snow Hill, Maryland
. Although his father wanted him to be a boxer
, Johnson, who was 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and only 150 lb (68 kg), was far better suited for a career in baseball. After being a dock worker during World War I
, Johnson began his baseball career in 1918, reaching the top-level Negro leagues in 1921 with Hilldale
, a team for which he played through 1929.
In 1930 Johnson was a player-coach for the Homestead Grays
, and in that capacity he discovered Josh Gibson
. From 1935 through his last season in 1938, Johnson was the captain
of the Pittsburgh Crawfords
, one of the greatest franchises of all time. Although the Crawfords also included fellow Hall of Famers Gibson, Oscar Charleston
and Cool Papa Bell, Johnson was the glue that held the team together. His vital role on the team was most apparent in the Negro League World Series
, when he hit a clutch single to win the sixth game with the Crawfords down 3 games to 2 against the New York Cubans
. The Crawfords won the series in seven games.
Johnson was a precise contact hitter who batted an average
of .416 in 1929, but his greatest ability was his fielding. Along with Ray Dandridge
and Ghost Marcelle
, Johnson was one of the greatest fielding third basemen in the Negro leagues. He was also one of the smartest men in baseball, able to compensate for any physical shortcomings with an unsurpassed ability to think faster than his opponents, particularly in pressure situations.
Although Johnson retired nine years before the integration of the major leagues, he was eventually able to apply his baseball knowledge in the majors, becoming the first African American to coach in Major League Baseball
. He also was one of the most accomplished talent scouts in baseball, responsible for signing Bill Bruton
and Dick Allen
.
Johnson retired in 1973 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in , the sixth Negro leaguer so honored. Like Pop Lloyd
before him, he was known for his exemplary character off the field. In 1976, he was the first athlete ever inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
. The home field of the Carolina League
Wilmington Blue Rocks
minor league baseball
team is named in his honor. In 1994, Johnson was posthumously elected to the inaugural class of the Delaware High School Baseball Coaches Hall-of-Fame.
He died at age 88 in Wilmington, Delaware
.
Known statistics: .344 career batting average
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
in Negro league baseball
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...
.
Johnson was born in Snow Hill, Maryland
Snow Hill, Maryland
Snow Hill is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,409 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Worcester County.-History:...
. Although his father wanted him to be a boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, Johnson, who was 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and only 150 lb (68 kg), was far better suited for a career in baseball. After being a dock worker during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Johnson began his baseball career in 1918, reaching the top-level Negro leagues in 1921 with Hilldale
Hilldale Club
The Hilldale Athletic Club was an African American professional baseball team based in Darby, Pennsylvania, west of Philadelphia....
, a team for which he played through 1929.
In 1930 Johnson was a player-coach for the Homestead Grays
Homestead Grays
The Homestead Grays were a professional baseball team that played in the Negro leagues in the United States. The team was formed in 1912 by Cumberland Posey, and would remain in continuous operation for 38 seasons. The team was based in Homestead, Pennsylvania, adjacent to Pittsburgh.-Franchise...
, and in that capacity he discovered Josh Gibson
Josh Gibson
Joshua Gibson was an American catcher in baseball's Negro leagues. He played for the Homestead Grays from 1930 to 1931, moved to the Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1932 to 1936, and returned to the Grays from 1937 to 1939 and 1942 to 1946...
. From 1935 through his last season in 1938, Johnson was the captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of the Pittsburgh Crawfords
Pittsburgh Crawfords
The Pittsburgh Crawfords, popularly known as the Craws, were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Named after the Crawford Grill, a club in the Hill District of Pittsburgh owned by Gus Greenlee, the Crawfords were originally a youth semipro team sponsored by...
, one of the greatest franchises of all time. Although the Crawfords also included fellow Hall of Famers Gibson, Oscar Charleston
Oscar Charleston
Oscar McKinley Charleston was an American center fielder and manager in baseball's Negro leagues from to ....
and Cool Papa Bell, Johnson was the glue that held the team together. His vital role on the team was most apparent in the Negro League World Series
Negro League World Series
The Negro League World Series was a post-season baseball tournament which was held from 1924-1927 and from 1942-1948 between the champions of the Negro leagues, matching the mid-western winners against their east coast counterparts....
, when he hit a clutch single to win the sixth game with the Crawfords down 3 games to 2 against the New York Cubans
New York Cubans
The New York Cubans were a Negro league baseball team that played during the 1930s and from 1939 to 1950. Despite playing in the Negro leagues, the team occasionally employed white-skinned Hispanic baseball players as well, because Hispanics in general were largely ignored by the major league...
. The Crawfords won the series in seven games.
Johnson was a precise contact hitter who batted an average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .416 in 1929, but his greatest ability was his fielding. Along with Ray Dandridge
Ray Dandridge
Raymond Emmitt Dandridge was an American third baseman in baseball's Negro leagues. He was born in Richmond, Virginia. Dandridge was one of the greatest fielders in the history of baseball, and one of the sport's greatest hitters for average, but unfortunately his name is not familiar to the...
and Ghost Marcelle
Oliver Marcelle
Oliver Hazzard Marcelle , nicknamed "Ghost", was an American third baseman in the Negro Leagues for a number of teams around the league from 1918-1931. He also played shortstop. A Creole born in Thibodaux, Louisiana, he batted and threw right-handed.While the Negro Leagues had many statistics...
, Johnson was one of the greatest fielding third basemen in the Negro leagues. He was also one of the smartest men in baseball, able to compensate for any physical shortcomings with an unsurpassed ability to think faster than his opponents, particularly in pressure situations.
Although Johnson retired nine years before the integration of the major leagues, he was eventually able to apply his baseball knowledge in the majors, becoming the first African American to coach in Major League Baseball
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...
. He also was one of the most accomplished talent scouts in baseball, responsible for signing Bill Bruton
Bill Bruton
William Havon Bruton was a Major League Baseball center fielder who played for the Milwaukee Braves in 1953 through 1960, and for the Detroit Tigers in 1961 through 64. Bruton batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
and Dick Allen
Dick Allen
Richard Anthony Allen is a former Major League Baseball player and R&B singer. He played first and third base and outfield in Major League Baseball and ranked among his sport's top offensive producers of the 1960s and early 1970s...
.
Johnson retired in 1973 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in , the sixth Negro leaguer so honored. Like Pop Lloyd
John Henry Lloyd
John Henry "Pop" Lloyd was an American baseball player and manager in the Negro leagues. He is generally considered the greatest shortstop in Negro league history, and both Babe Ruth and Ted Harlow, a noted sportswriter, reportedly believed Lloyd to be the greatest baseball player ever.He was a...
before him, he was known for his exemplary character off the field. In 1976, he was the first athlete ever inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame
The Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame is a membership-based organization founded in 1976. The organization runs a museum with exhibits at Daniel S...
. The home field of the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
Wilmington Blue Rocks
Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Blue Rocks play in the Northern Division of the Carolina League.-Franchise history:...
minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team is named in his honor. In 1994, Johnson was posthumously elected to the inaugural class of the Delaware High School Baseball Coaches Hall-of-Fame.
He died at age 88 in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
.
Known statistics: .344 career batting average