A story of one professional baseball player of the Negro Leagues, Judy Johnson, and the travel and acceptance difficulties he encountered. Presented as part of “Pennsylvania Profiles,” a weekly series produced for the Sunbury Daily Item, with the above number published on August 16, 1986.
Panel 1 – William Julius Johnson, known as Judy Johnson, was the greatest third baseman in the Negro Leagues. During the 1920s he played for the Madison Stars and Hilldale, both Philadelphia clubs. In the 1930s he was a player-manager for the Homestead Grays for his highest salary of $500 per month.
Panel 2 – From 1932 to 1937 he played for the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the most famous team in the Negro National League, whose lineup included Josh Gibson, Rap Dixon, and Jud Wilson. Johnson retired as an active player in 1937 at age 38.
Panel 3 – Life was tough in the Negro Leagues. Traveling conditions were poor. Often nine men squeezed into one car and rode all night to their next game.
Panel 4 – Many restaurants, especially in the South, refused to serve the players and would not let them use the rest rooms because they were Black. Lodging was always uncertain.
Panel 5 – Mr. Johnson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
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An explanation of the series “Pennsylvania Profiles” appeared in the Sunbury Daily Item, May 10 1985:
For the stories behind… forgotten but fascinating facts, you’ll want to read “Pennsylvania Profiles,” a weekly feature with vivid illustrations… in this newspaper…. Pennsylvania Profiles delves into the nooks and crannies of the Keystone State’s hectic heritage. [It] is researched, written and illustrated by Patrick M. Reynolds of Willow Street, a town in southern Lancaster County. He is a graduate of Pratt institute, Brooklyn, New York, and Syracuse University, New York. His features are available in books. Reynolds is a Vietnam War veteran and an Army reserve Infantry officer.
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Obtained through Newspapers.com.
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