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Lefty Johnson

1861 – 1942

American baseball player

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About Lefty Johnson

Lived 1861 – 1942 (aged 80). Lefty Johnson was an American baseball player.

William F. Johnson (September 28, 1861 – July 17, 1942) was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or parts of five seasons in the majors.

Nicknamed "Lefty" and "Sleepy Bill", Johnson made his debut with the Philadelphia Keystones of the Union Association in , playing just one game in left field and going 0-for-4. He did not play in the majors again until , when he played in 11 games for the Indianapolis Hoosiers. He played all 11 games in right field, batting just .190. He was one of 19 different players to appear in right field that season for the Hoosiers.

Once again, Johnson spent two seasons out of the majors, returning in for the American Association's Baltimore Orioles. After batting .295 in 24 games that season, he would be one of the Orioles' primary outfielders in , playing at least 24 games at all three positions while batting .271 with 79 RBI. However, after the Orioles moved to the National League in , Johnson got off to a slow start. He went just 2-for-15 in his first four games and was let go, ending his major league career.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Also known as
William F. Johnson

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Lefty Johnson's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Lefty Johnson?

American baseball player

When was Lefty Johnson born?

Lefty Johnson was born on 28 September 1861 in New Jersey.

When did Lefty Johnson die?

Lefty Johnson died on 17 July 1942 in Chester.

What was Lefty Johnson's occupation?

Lefty Johnson was a baseball player.

What nationality was Lefty Johnson?

Lefty Johnson was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Lefty Johnson

· Wikidata: Q6517085

· DBpedia: Lefty Johnson (outfielder)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Lefty Johnson. https://biography.guide/lefty-johnson/

MLA: "Lefty Johnson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/lefty-johnson/.

Chicago: "Lefty Johnson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/lefty-johnson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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