Thomas P. Johnson

Thomas Phillips Johnson (June 8, 1914 – May 23, 2000) was an American attorney, businessman, philanthropist, Republican Party activist, and sportsman. He was probably best known for being a minority owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball franchise from 1946 through 1984.

Born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Johnson attended local primary schools and preparatory school in Washington, D.C. He graduated summa cum laude from Rollins College in 1934. Three years later he graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Four years later, in 1950, McKinney sold his controlling interest and Galbreath became majority owner. Johnson retained his share in the team until selling it to the Galbreath family in 1984 and, as a Pittsburgh resident and leading member of its business and legal circles, played a key role in ownership and management decisions through three Pirate World Series championship seasons (1960, 1971 and 1979). During his tenure as an owner, the Pirates moved from venerable Forbes Field to Three Rivers Stadium in 1970.

A committed Pirates' fan who attended 55 Opening Day games, Johnson remained passionate about baseball even after the sale and once again invested in the Pirates as part of a new ownership syndicate headed by Kevin McClatchy in 1996. He died in Pittsburgh from cancer-related respiratory failure at the age of 85 four years later, with his family trust maintaining a share in the baseball club.