Oscar Johnson (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oscar Johnson |
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Johnson at the 1924 Colored World Series.
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| Outfielder / Catcher / First baseman | |||
| Born: April 20, 1895 Atchison, Kansas |
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| Died: October 9, 1960 Cleveland, Ohio |
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| debut | |||
| 1920, for the St. Louis Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| 1933, for the Memphis Red Sox | |||
| Career statistics | |||
| Batting average | .370 | ||
| Hits | 647 | ||
| Home runs | 57 | ||
| Runs batted in | 423 | ||
| Stolen bases | 47 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Oscar "Heavy" Johnson (1895–1960) was an amazing baseball player in the Negro Leagues. He played as a catcher and an outfielder. Johnson was known as one of the strongest hitters in the Negro Leagues during the 1920s. He was famous for hitting many home runs. A famous umpire named Jocko Conlan once said that Johnson "could hit a ball out of any park!"
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Oscar Johnson's Early Career
Johnson was part of a special baseball team called the 25th Infantry Wreckers. This team was made up of all-Black soldiers. Some of his teammates, like Bullet Rogan and Dobie Moore, also became famous Negro League players.
Joining the Negro Leagues
In 1920, while he was still in the Army, Johnson played a few games for the St. Louis Giants. He hit very well, with a .300 batting average. After leaving the Army in 1922, he officially joined the Negro Leagues.
Rookie Season and Triple Crown
Johnson's first full season was with the Kansas City Monarchs. He had an incredible start, batting .406! He also played in a winter league in Cuba, where he batted .345.
In 1923, Johnson achieved something very special: he won the Triple Crown. This means he led the league in three important stats:
- Batting average (.406)
- Home runs (20)
- Runs batted in (120)
He was also the first player in Negro League history to win two batting titles in a row, leading the Negro National League in both 1922 and 1923.
Later Career and Achievements
Johnson continued to make history with the Kansas City Monarchs. He was the first Monarchs player to hit a home run at their new stadium, Kansas City Municipal Stadium.
World Series Champion
In 1924, Johnson helped the Monarchs win the 1924 Colored World Series. He batted .296 in that series. After this, Johnson played for other teams like the Baltimore Black Sox and the Harrisburg Giants. He kept hitting well, with batting averages of .345 and .337 with the Black Sox. In 1927, he played with other great players like John Beckwith and Oscar Charleston on the Harrisburg Giants.
Final Years in Baseball
In 1928, Johnson played for two teams, the Cleveland Tigers and the Memphis Red Sox, and still had a strong batting average of .315. He finished his baseball career in 1933. His lifetime batting average was an impressive .337.
Fun Facts About "Heavy" Johnson
Even though he was called "Heavy" because of his size, Oscar Johnson was surprisingly fast! People said he was a "remarkably fast runner for his bulk."
One time, a former pitcher named Bill "Plunk" Drake told a funny story. Johnson was sleeping on the bench during a game. He was woken up to pinch-hit (come in to bat for another player). He grabbed a special bat called a fungo bat and hit a home run! This shows how powerful he was as a hitter.
Legacy
In 2012, Oscar Johnson was honored for his amazing career. He was inducted into the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame, along with several other talented Negro League players.
