Charles Johnson (pitcher) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charles Johnson |
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| Born: August 7, 1909 Pine Bluff, Arkansas |
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| Died: June 17, 2006 (aged 96) Chicago, Illinois |
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Charles Johnson (August 7, 1909 – June 17, 2006) was a talented baseball player. He played in the Negro leagues, which were baseball leagues for African American players. Later in his life, he worked to help former Negro league players get pensions. Pensions are like retirement payments.
Johnson also made history in another way. He filed a lawsuit against a company called Illinois Central Railroad. This happened in the mid-1960s. He was turned down for a special agent job because he was African American. Johnson won his case. He became the very first African American special agent for that company.
Early Life
Charles Johnson was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. This was on August 7, 1909. When he was 15, he moved to Chicago with his mother. Sadly, his mother passed away soon after they moved. Charles, who was an only child, had to learn to live on his own.
Playing Baseball
Charles Johnson had a good friend named Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe. Ted was a legendary player in the Negro leagues. He helped Charles get started in baseball. Johnny Washington, another former Negro league player, remembered this. He said that Ted lived on the same street as Charles. Ted really liked Charles and helped him out.
Johnson spent his time playing baseball all over. He traveled across the United States and Canada. This traveling to play games was called "barnstorming." In 1930 and 1931, he went on a barnstorming tour of Canada with a team called the Texas Giants. After that, Johnson came back to Chicago. He played for the Chicago American Giants as both a pitcher and an outfielder.
Later Life
Charles Johnson got married in 1942. His wife wanted him to stop playing baseball. So, in 1944, Johnson decided to leave the sport. He worked at different jobs for a few years. In 1951, he started working as a porter for the Illinois Central Railroad. This was the same company he later sued.
Charles Johnson passed away on June 17, 2006. He died from health problems related to prostate cancer. He is buried in Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.
