Biography

Oscar "Heavy" Johnson was a prominent power hitter in the Negro Leagues during the 1920s, known for his massive build at around 6 feet tall and 250 pounds, which fueled his reputation as one of the era's top sluggers. He began his professional career with the Kansas City Monarchs in 1922, quickly winning batting titles in his first two seasons and achieving a retroactive Triple Crown in 1923 with a .406 average, 20 home runs, and 120 RBIs while helping the team secure pennants in 1923 and 1924. In 1924, he reportedly hit over 60 home runs against all competition and contributed to the Monarchs' victory in the inaugural Colored World Series against Hilldale. Despite his offensive prowess and a career batting average around .337 to .370 in league play, Johnson was not a strong fielder, though he made a memorable defensive play in the 1924 World Series, and he later played for teams like the Baltimore Black Sox, Harrisburg Giants, and Memphis Red Sox before retiring in 1933.

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