_________________________________________________________ F A M E F O R U M N E W S L E T T E R N A T I O N A L W O M E N 'S B A S E B A L L H A L L O F F A M E National Syndicated Column (contents are protected) Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2008 TXU877085, TXU959430, TXU973266, TXU013972, TXU986753, TXU949885, TXU004037, TXU022893, TXU026161, TXU047111, TXU050230, TXU061149, TXU088068, TXU120937, TXU148132, TXU163784, TXU170668, TXU196853, TXU211917, TXU216769, TXU234252, TXU253116, TXU260664, TXU276615, TXU288273, TXU311442, TXU348663, TXU346055. Issue Number 00407 _________________________________________________________ Volume XI, Number 13 Publisher and Author June 12, 2008 Richard C. Jaffeson Washington, DC HallFame@usa.com http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame _________________________________________________________ 2007 NWB HALL OF FAME INDUCTION KRIS "LEFTY" RANISZEWSKI SEE THE WEBSITE FOR ALL "HALL OF FAMERS" http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame/albums DIDRIKSON, HOWARD, SCHILLACE, DANCER, FERGUSON, WINTER, WRIGHT, LUKASIK, MILLIKEN, BALLENTINE, GEYER, WALLACE, CIULLA, GUIDACE, MACURIO, SHELDON, BEAUCHAMP, HUDSON, BRENNEMAN, FERENO, SWEENEY, NELSON, DOMINGUEZ, TRIOLO TED WILLIAMS WEBSITE http://www.saveted.net _________________________________________________________ A. COLUMN: JUDY, JUDY, JUDY "STARRRS!" A consistent familiar shout of friendly recognition loudly reverberated throughout the main exercise room at the gym, and all those who understood that holler knew the reference was to the Philadelphia Stars and the call was directed to Don Short, pitcher, who in his youth during the 1950's made that team which was the last glorious breath from a historic all-star league. Don Short joined the Stars during spring try-outs in Delaware going one for three off Satchel Paige, who just happened to be there to help his friends and to see what kind of talent was developing and coming out of the eastern shore. I speculated he must have liked Don because even then no one could touch Paige, especially a pending high school graduate, unless he wanted them to connect. "ALL RIIIGHT!" Back on the gym floor that booming response was always the same accompanied by a victorious downward motion of Short's powerful right arm, as if he had just thrown a strike. Thus, everything was as it should be that morning, but I added one more expression before disappearing into the locker room. "BLUE ROCKS!" I called over my shoulder, and quickly departed leaving him to further contemplate that reference. When I returned several minutes later, there he was waiting at edge of the gym's indoor track. "What do you mean by Blue Rocks?!" "You know Wilmington's team," I responded and knew I caught him off guard this morning, a rare event which I was going to savor. "Where else are there Blue Rocks?" "Oh, sure, sure, I knew that! So, what?" he attempted to cover himself, but as planned, he would be obligated to continue with the topic to save his reputation and demonstrate some knowledge about baseball on his beloved eastern shore. And, that he did! "Then I assume you know the name of the field where they play?" I snapped right back with another question, not missing a beat. "Well, I can see it from the train on my way to Philly," he was hedging and guessing, but I had the upper hand at least for the moment with a 2-0 count. "William Julius Johnson," I calmly offered an obvious hint. "Judy, Judy, Judy!" he shouted and smiled. "Those Blue Rocks play at Judy Johnson Field," he stated with all the confidence in the world, like he just threw a no-hitter. Pitchers! "You're talking about something which I know first hand because I was there, so quiet down, and you might learn something." With those remarks, Don was ready to address a favorite topic. "Well, let me see," he began as we walked towards the small low partition which surrounded the gym's aerobics area where he could reflect and watch at the same time. Pitchers! "You know Johnson was born in Maryland down in Snow Hill country, the lower eastern shore, but his family moved to Wilmington when he started school. There was a baseball park on the other side of the family's backyard at 5th and Scott Streets." "His father, William Henry Johnson, liked sports and encouraged his youngster to play baseball. Although his dad worked at DuPont, like almost folks in Wilmington, in his spare time he organized fitness and boxing training for kids. He turned the backyard into a neighborhood gym, and parlayed that interest into becoming an athletic director for the city." "On weekends," Don Short continued, "his dad played baseball for the Royal Blues. His son Judy, they didn't call him that then, was the team's batboy, and his first paying job was scorekeeper." "Naturally, he played on the Howard High School baseball team, and also gained more experience on the Saint Thomas Church team. Judy Johnson remained a religious man, and only loved God more than baseball." "He was too young to serve in World War I, but started to play with local semi-pro teams in 1918, such as, the Chester Stars and Madison Stars. The powerful Philadelphia Hilldales called him up in 1921, and he stayed with them except for one year until 1932. Gus Greenlee built his new stadium in Pittsburgh for the Crawfords in 1932, and hired the best talent in the country such as Gibson, Paige, Bell, Charleston, Radcliffe, and Johnson." "Johnson was a smart third baseman and consistent hitter with a lifetime .302 average; and he had some great years, 1923 with .391 and 1929 with .390. After the Crawfords won the pennant once more in 1937, he finally retired from the playing field and returned to Wilmington. He drove for Continental Cab until 1954, and then the Philadelphia Athletics hired him as a scout, and sometimes he did the same for the Phillies until 1974." "Judy, Judy, Judy," Don Short again reflected thinking back upon an all-star career. "He inspired a lot of us young fellas coming out of the eastern shore." In 1975, Johnson was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame, an honor he cherished until his passing June 15, 1989 while at Tilton Terrace Nursing Home. At the induction ceremony, he said to Bowie Kuhn, "...I'll die with a baseball in my hand." Johnson's family was highly religious, and they were the longest active members of the Haven United Methodist Church at that time. Now playing third at Silverbrook and peacefully at rest, he never misses the ball near Lancaster and DuPont in Wilmington. WILLIAM JULIUS "JUDY" JOHNSON October 26, 1900, Snow Hill, MD August 18, 1975, Cooperstown, NY June 15, 1989, Wilmington, DE B. NWB HALL OF FAME PRODUCTS These baseball items are available from the NWB Hall of Fame: commemorative buttons (2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999), t-shirts, caps, and bats. Free commemorative ribbons are available. The website main page has an order form, and the photo page displays several items. http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame C. HISTORIC TIMELINE June 10, 1944 Joe Nuxhall youngest MLB pitcher (15 yrs 10 mon). June 10, 1982 Tara Lapinski birthdate, Olympic gold medalist. June 11, 1879 Roger Bresnahan birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. June 12, 1880 Lee Richmond pitches perfect game. June 12, 1939 MLB Hall of Fame building officially opens. June 13, 1851 Jim Mutrie birthdate, manager of the NY Mets, American Association, 1883-1887. June 13, 1912 Christy Mathewson 300th win. June 13, 1923 Yankee Stadium officially opens. June 14, 1876 George Hall first to hit for the cycle. June 14, 1906 Margaret Bourke-White birthdate, WWII photographer. June 14, 1916 Flag Day by Presidential Proclamation. June 15, 1938 Johnny Vander Meer first consecutive no-hitter. June 16, 1894 First squeeze play used in college game. June 16, 1917 Katherine Graham birthdate, Washington Post. June 17, 1865 Susan Picotte birthdate, physician to Omaha Indians. June 17, 1948 Dave Concepcion birthdate, MLB player. June 18, 1939 Lou Brock birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. June 18, 1986 Don Sutton 300th win. June 19, 1846 NY Knickerbockers first baseball game. June 19, 1903 Lou Gehrig birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. June 19, 1942 Paul Waner 3,000th hit. June 20, 1903 Glenda Vare birthdate, professional golfer. June 20, 1943 Andy Etchebarren birthdate, MLB player. June 21, 1731 Martha Washington birthdate, First, First Lady. June 21, 1964 Jim Bunning pitches perfect game. June 22, 1903 Carl Hubbard birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. June 23, 1963 Jimmy Piersall runs bases backwards. June 23, 1981 Longest professional game, 33 innings (Cal Ripken and Red Wings at Pawtucket). June 24, 1983 Don Sutton pitches 3,000th strikeout. June 25, 1906 Joe Kuhel birthdate, MLB player. June 26, 1819 Abner Doubleday birthdate. June 26, 1914 Babe Didrikson birthdate, NWB Hall of Fame. June 26, 1916 Cleveland originates use of uniform numbers. June 27, 1876 Davy Force first with 6 hits in one game. June 28, 1906 Marie Goeppert Mayer birthdate, Nobel Prize. June 28, 1910 Joe Tinker steals home twice in one game. June 28, 1949 Don Baylor birthdate, MLB player. June 29, 1905 Moonlight Graham plays only MLB game. June 29, 1936 Harmon Killebrew birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. June 29, 1990 Two no-hitters on the same day, Athletics in Toronto, Dodgers in Saint Louis. June 30, 1908 Cy Young at 41 pitches third career no-hitter. June 30, 1929 Bobby Jones wins US Open by 23 shots. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume XI, 2008 Season Publications Number 13, Judy, Judy, Judy (Johnson), June 12. Number 12, Tales of Narda: The Guessing Game, May 10. Number 11, Clifford Plays Some Hoops (Auerbach), April 21. Number 10, Tales of Narda: Lady with the Light, April 13. Number 09, Tales of Narda: Turning the War Club, April 2. Number 08, Playing for a Higher Authority (Natural), March 22. Number 07, Prayerful Pearl (Janis Joplin), March 14. Number 06, Reigning at Ringside in Ritchie (boxing), March 11. Number 05, Tales of Narda: Origin of the Magic Bat, February 28. Number 04, Clifford's Favorite Store (Ballentine), February 15. Number 03, Bases Loaded, Reel Two, (baseball movies) February 12. Number 02, Bases Loaded Remake (Sunset Boulevard), February 2. Number 01, That Was the Year That Was, January 2. http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame/handouts E. NWB HALL OF FAME PROGRAMS The National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame, an independent not-for-profit organization established September 1998, is situated in suburban Washington, DC. The objective is to recognize achievements of women in regulation baseball. The NWB Hall of Fame offers these programs for participants in regulation baseball with organized leagues. Managers are are encouraged to recommend recognition awards and suggest articles on their teams, players, or events. Applications are available through email and are posted on the website. NWB HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS Nominations for the NWB Hall of Fame are due September 30. Inductions may include four current and one previous players by formal application or candidate statement. NATIONAL MVP AND MANAGER AWARDS MVP player and manager award requests are due December 31. Season nominations should be by a manager or administrator. One MVP player per team may be selected annually. Membership covers transmission of newsletters, announcements, invitations, applications, and access to all website pages. Membership is $9.00 renewed annually, and an application is available on the NWB Hall of Fame website. _________________________________________________________ NATIONAL WOMEN'S BASEBALL HALL OF FAME Richard C. Jaffeson, Executive Director PO Box 15282, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20825 301-847-0102 HallFame@USA.com http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame "National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame" is a registered trade name with the State of Maryland. MD672265, October 19, 1998. Programs, articles, and contents presented herein are protected under provisions of the U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress. Fame Forum registrations are listed below. TXU877085, TXU959430, TXU973266, TXU013972, TXU986753, TXU949885, TXU004037, TXU022893, TXU026161, TXU047111, TXU050230, TXU061149, TXU088068, TXU120937, TXU148132, TXU163784, TXU170668, TXU196853, TXU211917, TXU216769, TXU234252, TXU253116, TXU260664, TXU276615, TXU288273, TXU311442, TXU348663, TXU346055. Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2008 __________________________________________________________