Former Negro League Star Johnson Dies

Defender staff report

CHICAGO - A memorial service is being planned for former Negro League star Charles Johnson, who died Saturday at the Manor Care Nursing Home in Oak Lawn.One of the oldest living professional baseball players at the time of his death, Johnson would have been 97 in August."Charles was not only an outstanding baseball player, but also an outstanding person," Negro League historian Gary Crawford told the Defender. "To his last days one of the smartest people I've met in my life."In addition to playing in the Negro Leagues from 1930 until retiring in 1944, Johnson also worked for the Illinois Central Railroad, where he
became an active member of the Pullman Porter union and helped file and
win a discrimination lawsuit against the railroad in 1965.
"Charles not only fought for the rights of Black ballplayers. He also
fought for the rights of the Black working class," Crawford added.
In addition, Johnson also battled for the rights of former Negro League
players to get a pension from the Major Leagues.
Born in Pine Bluff Ark., Johnson moved to Chicago in 1925 where he
became friends with the late Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe. Johnson began
playing with Radcliffe with the Chicago American Giants, where he pitched
and played the outfield.
 Johnson's wife Julia died in 1999.
Johnson was the second Negro Leaguer to die in the past two weeks. On
June 2, former Indianapolis Clown star Gordon Hopkins, Sr. died in
Philadelphia at the age of 71.
Hopkins was among the Negro League players who played in the league
after the breaking of the color barrier in the majors by Jackie Robinson
in 1947.
 A slick fielding second baseman, Hopkins played with the Clowns from 1952 to 1954.Among his teammates with the Clowns was Major League home run king Hank Aaron, who began his professional career with the Clowns in 1953.

Larry Gross
Sports Editor

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