Hilltop in Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
William "Judy" Johnson Park
Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, April 24, 2016
1. William "Judy" Johnson Park Marker
Inscription.
William "Judy" Johnson Park. . Regarded as one of the best third basemen to have played in the Negro Leagues, William Julius "Judy" Johnson (1899-1989) grew up nearby on the west side of Delamore Place. During his youth, Johnson played baseball at various sand lots in the city, including one located between 2nd and 3rd Streets and DuPont and Clayton Streets. Johnson was a member of the Hilldale Giants, Homestead Grays, and Pittsburgh Crawfords during his outstanding career (1921-1937). He also served as captain of the 1935 champion Crawfords, a team which included future Hall of Famers Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell. Upon retiring as a player at the close of the 1937 season, Johnson served as a spring training coach and scout for several major league baseball teams including the Phillies, Dodgers, and Braves. In 1975, he became the first Delawarean elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and shortly thereafter, the park located here was renamed in his honor.
Regarded as one of the best third basemen to have played in the Negro Leagues, William Julius "Judy" Johnson (1899-1989) grew up nearby on the west side of Delamore Place. During his youth, Johnson played baseball at various sand lots in the city, including one located between 2nd and 3rd Streets and DuPont and Clayton Streets. Johnson was a member of the Hilldale Giants, Homestead Grays, and Pittsburgh Crawfords during his outstanding career (1921-1937). He also served as captain of the 1935 champion Crawfords, a team which included future Hall of Famers Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell. Upon retiring as a player at the close of the 1937 season, Johnson served as a spring training coach and scout for several major league baseball teams including the Phillies, Dodgers, and Braves. In 1975, he became the first Delawarean elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and shortly thereafter, the park located here was renamed in his honor.
Erected 2015 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-212.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
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• Sports. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.
Location. 39° 44.751′ N, 75° 34.172′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Hilltop. It is at the intersection of 2nd Street and Clayton Street, on the right when traveling west on 2nd Street. Marker is to west of Clayton Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wilmington DE 19805, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Philadelphia. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 10, 2023
3. Mural across the street from the marker featuring William "Judy" Johnson
Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 973 times since then and 41 times this year. Last updated on March 19, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 25, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on March 11, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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