A mentor to Negro Leagues legends, Delaware's own Judy Johnson was one himself

William Julius "Judy" Johnson was a pioneer in many ways across his illustrious life.

Not only was Johnson the first Delawarean elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame (1975), he was also one of the greatest players in Negro Leagues history.

As his Hall of Fame plaque reads: “Considered the best third baseman of his day in the Negro Leagues. Outstanding as a fielder and excellent clutch hitter.”

Or as a fellow Negro Leagues legend, Buck O’Neill, said: “Johnson was a baseball player’s baseball player.”

Johnson’s journey in professional baseball began when he joined the semi-pro Bacharach Giants as an 18-year-old. In short time, Johnson worked his way up to the legendary Hilldale Giants, where he made a name for himself as part of a club that won three straight pennants from 1923-25. Johnson played in the first-ever Negro League World Series in 1924, when the Giants fell to the Kansas City Monarchs -- they’d flip the script the following season by defeating the Monarchs.

Johnson experienced much success with the Giants, culminating in 1929 when he was named the Negro Leagues Most Valuable Player by the Chicago Defender and the Pittsburgh Courier, considered two of the leading African-American newspapers. Following that season, Johnson became a player-manager for the Homestead Grays for the next two seasons.

His baseball journey was already intriguing enough by this point, but then Johnson and many other Grays players jumped ship to the Pittsburgh Crawfords, a team that ultimately fielded one of the best rosters ever assembled. Those Crawfords teams in the ‘30s were, justifiably, compared to the 1927 Murderers’ Row Yankees team.

With the Crawfords, Johnson played alongside Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Oscar Charleston and Satchel Paige, fellow future Hall of Famers and a group of players widely considered to be the best to ever play baseball together. It was, simply put, an embarrassment of riches that resulted in three pennants in the ‘30s.

Johnson’s career blossomed at a fascinating time in the Negro Leagues, as he burst onto the scene as a young player mentored by the legendary John Henry “Pop” Lloyd (inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1977). When Johnson captained that famous 1935 Crawfords team, he returned the favor by mentoring Gibson.

After Johnson retired, he scouted for the A’s, Braves, Phillies and Dodgers, signing players such as Richie “Dick” Allen and Bill Bruton. This was no small feat in a newly integrated MLB, and Johnson would continue to help Black players transition to the Majors in his role. Johnson later served on the Hall of Fame’s Committee on the Negro Baseball Leagues in the early ‘70s, shortly before he was elected into the Hall of Fame.

While he was born in Maryland, Johnson’s family moved to Wilmington, Delaware, early in his life, where he’d set down roots until he passed away in June of 1989. He is buried in Silverbrook Cemetery and Memorial Park in Wilmington. Judy Johnson Field at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, home of the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals’ High-A affiliate), is named after Johnson.