Near Hall of Famer Grant “Home Run” Johnson is sometimes put on the Lincoln Stars’ roster for 1916. I haven’t seen any evidence he played for them, though. There was a “Johnson” or “Johnston,” who was listed for at least one game as “G. Johnson,” but based on the following, it’s clear it was not the veteran Grant:
From the Indianapolis Freeman, May 20, 1916:
Captain Pettus of the Lincoln Stars landed the find of the season when he signed this boy Johnston for shortstop. Johnston, who played on a high school team at Youngstown, Ohio, last year is the best looking shortstop seen in New York since Lloyd broke into fast company.
And, from another article:
Charleston and Johnston, the newcomers of the Stars, made a good impression with the fans…the latter fielding his position like a Honous [sic] Wagner or a John Lloyd. Watch these boys; they are there with the “hello stuff.”
Grant Johnson would have been 42 and quite well-known in the baseball world at this time; it’s very hard to believe that the Freeman or the Defender would not have commented on his presence in the Stars’ lineup when they traveled west in July and August. But there’s not a peep; just bland references to Johnston, the Lincolns’ second baseman, when he’s mentioned at all.
I’ve elected in my compilation to go with “Johnston,” as I think it’s likelier for the “t” to get lost occasionally, resulting in “Johnson,” than it is for the “t” to be added by accident. The initial he was given most often is “C.,” so I went with that for now. He also appeared once as “J. Johnson.” I’m fairly certain this was all one person, as Johnston appears regularly from June through August, without many interruptions, batting fifth until the end of July, then batting first the rest of the season. Also, two Johnsons or Johnstons, or a Johnson and a Johnston, never appear in the lineup at the same time. With small Negro League rosters, that’s pretty much a solid tipoff that this is a single person, and not multiple guys with the same or similar last names.
Anyway, the Youngstown connection might be a lead for somebody to pursue and try to pin down his identity.
Also: I’ve never seen this bit of slang before (the “hello stuff”). That’s one of the reasons I love reading old newspapers.
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