Ralph Johnson (Negro Leagues)

Ralph Johnson
(Big Cat)

• Bats Right, Throws Right

• Born November 24, 1924 in Bartow, FL USA
• Died January 29, 2007 in Atlanta, GA USA

Biographical Information

Ralph Johnson was a shortstop, third baseman and outfielder in the final years of the Negro American League. He played for semipro teams in Florida before joining the Birmingham Black Barons in 1950, where he was a teammate of Willie Mays. He moved on to the Indianapolis Clowns, playing alongside Hank Aaron and Toni Stone and then the Kansas City Monarchs. In 1954, the last year of the NAL, he hit .296.

After his baseball career ended, Johnson returned to the semipro game and became a truck driver. He retired from that line of work in 1983 to manage a poolroom.

Sources:

• NLBPA.com
• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley