Tom Johnson (johnsto04)

Thomas Jefferson Johnson
(Schoolboy)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb.
• School Morris Brown College
• Debut 1920
• Final Game 1921
• Born April 22, 1889 in Bryan, TX USA
• Died September 22, 1926 in Chicago, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Tom Johnson pitched and umpired in the Negro Leagues.

Johnson was 0-2 for the Mohawk Giants and 3-0 for the Chicago American Giants in 1914; he may have taken another loss for the Mohawk club as the team had at least three Johnsons and one decision is attributed only to "Johnson".

In 1915, Tom was 2-1 for the Indianapolis ABCs and 3-5 for Chicago. He spent most of his remaining career with the American Giants. He went 4-0 in 1916 and 5-0 in 1917. On September 2, 1916, he pitched five innings of no-hit ball against the Cuban Stars; Dick Whitworth relieved him and added two more hitless innings before darkness ended the combination no-hitter at seven innings. Johnson missed 1918 and part of 1919 while serving in the US Army. With the 365th Infantry, he was sent to France and reached the rank of Lieutenant.

When the War ended, Johnson came back to Chicago, going 2-3 in 1919, 7-0 in 1920 and 7-7 in 1921. Johnson moved to the Pittsburgh Keystones the next year but spent much of the season in the hospital. He pitched for the semi-pro Chicago Giants in 1923. After his pitching career ended, Johnson was a Negro National League umpire before dying of tuberculosis.

Notable Achievements

• NNL Winning Percentage Leader (1920)

Sources

• The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley
• The Complete Book of Baseball's Negro Leagues by John Holway
• Seamheads

Related Sites

• Tom Johnson at the SABR Bio Project