Johnny Washington played for the Chicago American Giants

Chicago American Giants

Chicago American Giants were a Chicago-based Negro league baseball team, owned and managed from 1911 to 1926 by player-manager Andrew "Rube" Foster. From 1910 until the mid-1930s, the American Giants were the most dominant team in black baseball...

 and the Houston Eagles in baseball's Negro League.

Washington was born in Chicago and attended that city's Morgan Park High School, graduating in 1949.

In 1951 Washington joined the U.S. Marines, serving in Korea. He played on the Marine's national championship baseball team in 1952.

Washington received two Purple Hearts and a Silver Star. Doctors advised him to abandon baseball because of injuries he received during military service. He continued to play in minor leagues until 1959 and in the Chicago and Midwest League until 1963.

He was present at the 111th Birthday celebration from pre-Negro League player Silas Simmons

Silas Simmons

Silas Joseph "Si" Simmons was an American semi-professional and professional baseball player for African-American teams in the pre-Negro League era, and became the longest-lived professional baseball player in history. The previous record was held by Chet Hoff, who died at age 107 in...

 October 14, 2006, in Florida

Florida

Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...

.

External links

• Johnny Washington's page on The History Makers site

The Official Website of Johnny "LEFTY" Washington: http://www.leftyawarrior.net/