Judy Johnson

William Julius "Judy" Johnson (October 26, 1899 – June 15, 1989) was an American professional baseball third baseman, shortstop, manager and scout whose career in Negro league baseball spanned 17 seasons, from 1921 to 1937. He also played in the Cuban League. Slight of build, Johnson never developed as a power threat but achieved his greatest success as a contact hitter and an intuitive defenseman, and is regarded as one of the greatest third basemen of the Negro leagues.

From 1921 to 1929, Johnson was a member of the Hilldale Daisies and became an on-the-field leader respected for his professional disposition. His consistent swing and fielding helped the Daisies win three straight pennants in the Eastern Colored League and the 1925 Colored World Series. After serving as a player-manager for the Homestead Grays and then the Daisies in the early 1930s, Johnson signed with the Pittsburgh Crawfords; as part of the 1935 Crawford line-up, he contributed to a team widely considered the greatest in Negro league history. He retired in 1937.

In 1975, Johnson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame after being nominated by the Negro Leagues Committee.