Professional Baseball Player. Johnson pitched for several clubs in the pre-Negro leagues and Negro leagues from 1911 to 1923, including a seven-year stint with the Chicago American Giants from 1914-17 and 1919-1921. Having attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, he earned the nicknames "College Boy" and "School Boy." He began his professional career appearing for multiple clubs, including the New York Lincoln Giants, Cuban Giants, Schenectady Mohawk Giants, and Louisville White Sox, before joining the Chicago American Giants in 1914. He played for both the American Giants and the Indianapolis ABCs in 1915. Pitching full-time for Chicago in 1916, Johnson won 14 games with only four losses in 24 documented games. He won seven more in 1917 before being drafted into the U.S. Army during World War I in 1918. After serving in the 365th Infantry and reaching the rank of lieutenant, he rejoined the American Giants in 1919 and also pitched for the Detroit Stars. With the formation of the Negro National League in 1920, he appeared for both Chicago and Detroit that season, finishing the year with a league-leading .867 winning percentage in 20 documented games, going 11-0 for pennant-winning Chicago and 2-2 in Detroit with a 2.42 earned run average with both teams. Johnson had less success in 1922, despite Chicago again finishing first, and ended his pitching career shortly after. He later umpired in the Negro National League.
Professional Baseball Player. Johnson pitched for several clubs in the pre-Negro leagues and Negro leagues from 1911 to 1923, including a seven-year stint with the Chicago American Giants from 1914-17 and 1919-1921. Having attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta, he earned the nicknames "College Boy" and "School Boy." He began his professional career appearing for multiple clubs, including the New York Lincoln Giants, Cuban Giants, Schenectady Mohawk Giants, and Louisville White Sox, before joining the Chicago American Giants in 1914. He played for both the American Giants and the Indianapolis ABCs in 1915. Pitching full-time for Chicago in 1916, Johnson won 14 games with only four losses in 24 documented games. He won seven more in 1917 before being drafted into the U.S. Army during World War I in 1918. After serving in the 365th Infantry and reaching the rank of lieutenant, he rejoined the American Giants in 1919 and also pitched for the Detroit Stars. With the formation of the Negro National League in 1920, he appeared for both Chicago and Detroit that season, finishing the year with a league-leading .867 winning percentage in 20 documented games, going 11-0 for pennant-winning Chicago and 2-2 in Detroit with a 2.42 earned run average with both teams. Johnson had less success in 1922, despite Chicago again finishing first, and ended his pitching career shortly after. He later umpired in the Negro National League.
Bio by: Adam Penale
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