Born
on November 11, 1928 in Clinton, Mississippi, Ernest (Ernie) Johnson first started as a right handed pitcher in his four years (1949 – 1953) with the Kansas City
Monarchs. But the 6’3” and 180 pounds hurler, a left handed batter, was such a good hitter he played mostly in the outfield beginning in 1950.
In 1953 he was selected to play in the Negro
League East-West All Star Game as an outfielder. By that time the Negro American League
consisted of only four teams. Johnson’s
West All Star squad, players selected from the Kansas City Monarchs and Memphis
Red Sox, defeated the East All Star squad, players selected from the
Indianapolis Clowns and Birmingham Black Barons, 5 – 1. Johnson knocked in two of his squad’s runs
with a single.
He
was signed as an outfielder to play in the Major Leagues. From 1954 – 1959 Johnson played in the minor
league systems of three Major League teams; the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White
Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. The highest
minor league level he played was Class AA, two years in the South Atlantic
League (Sally League).
Who was Ernest Johnson’s Monarch
teammate that signed with the Chicago Cubs shortly after the 1953 East-West All
Star Game?
Ernie Banks
ReplyDelete