Mamie Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mamie Johnson |
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Johnson in 2014
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 27, 1935 Ridgeway, South Carolina |
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| Died: December 18, 2017 (aged 82) Washington, D.C. |
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| debut | |||
| 1953, for the Indianapolis Clowns | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1955, for the Indianapolis Clowns | |||
| Negro leagues statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 33–8 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Mamie "Peanut" Johnson (born September 27, 1935 – died December 18, 2017) was an amazing American professional baseball player. She was one of only three women, and the very first female pitcher, to play in the Negro leagues.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Mamie Belton was born in Ridgeway, South Carolina on September 27, 1935. When she was young, her mother moved to Washington, D.C. for work. Mamie was raised by her grandmother until she was 8 years old. Then, she moved to Long Branch, New Jersey to live with her aunt and uncle.
Even as a little girl, Mamie loved baseball. She was very good at throwing things accurately, like hitting birds out of trees with rocks! She often played baseball with the boys in her neighborhood. Her mother told her that her good baseball skills came from her father, who was also a great player. In New Jersey, Mamie joined the Police Athletic League (PAL) to play sports. When she was 11, Mamie moved to Washington, D.C., and kept playing both baseball and softball.
Mamie went to Long Branch High School and graduated in 1949. After high school, she briefly attended New York University.
Breaking Barriers in Baseball
After finishing high school, Mamie played for a recreational team called St. Cyprian in Washington, D.C. When she was 17, Mamie really wanted to play baseball professionally. She tried out for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Even though she was a very skilled player with lots of experience, she wasn't allowed to try out. This was because of the color of her skin. At that time, many sports leagues were still segregated.
However, soon after this, Mamie got an exciting chance! She was offered a tryout for the Indianapolis Clowns, a team in the Negro Leagues. In 1953, she and another player named Connie Morgan were signed by the Clowns. Mamie played with the team from 1953 to 1955. She had an amazing record of 33 wins and only 8 losses!
Mamie was a right-handed pitcher. She had a very fast fastball that often surprised batters. She could also throw several other tricky pitches, like a slider, circle changeup, curveball, screwball, and knuckleball. A famous baseball legend, Satchel Paige, even gave her tips on how to throw a curveball! When she was batting, Mamie was also good, hitting between .262 and .284.
The "Peanut" Nickname
Mamie was called "Peanut" during her baseball career. This nickname came from her height; she was only 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighed just 98 pounds when she played. She got the nickname after a game where she was pitching against Hank Baylis of the Kansas City Monarchs. After Mamie threw a hard strike, Baylis stepped out of the batter's box and said, "Why, that little girl's no bigger than a peanut. I ain't afraid of her." But Mamie showed him! She then struck him out.
Mamie and Connie Morgan were very popular with the crowds. The team would play them at least once a game to help sell tickets. This publicity was important because the Negro League was becoming less popular at the time. But even though they helped sell tickets, Mamie and Connie were truly excellent baseball players.
Life After Baseball
Mamie Johnson retired from baseball when she was 19 years old. She then went to North Carolina A&T State University and earned a degree in nursing. She worked as a nurse for 30 years at Sibley Hospital in Washington, D.C. Before she played professional baseball, she had been accepted to attend New York University.
Mamie had a son named Charles before her baseball career. Her mother raised him until Mamie finished playing in the Negro Leagues. After her nursing career, Mamie helped manage the Negro Leagues Gift Shop, a store that sold baseball souvenirs in Maryland. She stayed involved in baseball in many ways, like appearing at tournaments and coaching little league teams.
Mamie Johnson passed away on December 18, 2017, in a Washington, D.C. hospital. She was 82 years old.
Honors and Recognition
Mamie Johnson's life story is told in the book A Strong Right Arm. This book describes her childhood and the challenges she faced to become a professional Negro league baseball player. There is also a children's book about her called Mamie on the Mound. She is even mentioned in the 1992 movie A League of Their Own.
In 1999, Mamie Johnson was invited to the White House by President Bill Clinton and his wife. She is also honored at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. On June 5, 2008, Mamie and other players from the Negro League era were chosen by Major League Baseball teams in a special draft. Mamie was picked by the Washington Nationals.
In 2009, Mamie spoke at a baseball event organized by the Library of Congress, sharing her experiences with other baseball legends. In 2015, a Little League team in Washington, D.C., was named after her. Mamie Johnson is also featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Her hometown of Ridgeway, South Carolina, even named a street in her honor.
See also
- Women in baseball
