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amead17 · 02-19-2026, 10:45 AM

JOHNSON HEADS SHORT LIST OF RETIREMENTS AS CLUBS CLING TO VETERAN TALENT
Player Ranks Thinned, Magnates Slow to Part with Proven Men

By George F. Winthrop, Sporting Times
October 16th 1917

The present offseason has unfolded with a noticeable scarcity of player retirements, a circumstance uncommon in recent years. With the reservoir of emerging talent running somewhat lean, the major clubs have shown reluctance to part with seasoned performers, preferring experience and tested ability over uncertainty.

Yet even in this restrained climate, a few familiar names have bid farewell to the diamond, foremost among them Grant Johnson, whose career has spanned the formative years of the modern game.

Johnson first affixed his signature to a contract with the Chicago Cubs in 1901, when the leagues united under the banner of Major League Baseball and resolved to integrate coloured players into their newly organized competition. For twelve seasons he wore the Cubs’ livery, establishing himself as a steady and dependable presence. In 1913 he was transferred across town to the Chicago White Sox, where he has remained until his decision to retire.

Over the course of his career, Johnson compiled a batting average of .279, crossed the plate 781 times, struck 34 home runs, drove in 796 runs, and pilfered 226 bases. Though not always the foremost star upon the field, he furnished his clubs with consistent production and demonstrated how dedication and longevity may together fashion a most respectable career.

Johnson’s retirement stands as the most prominent among the few departures this autumn. Also stepping away from active play are Frank Isbell and Jack Warner, both well-known figures to followers of the national pastime.

Thus, while the game’s leaders strive to conserve their remaining talent in a time of thinning ranks, the exit of such veterans reminds us that even in years of restraint, the march of seasons spares no player indefinitely.

02-19-2026, 10:45 AM	#780
amead17 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 9,288	JOHNSON HEADS SHORT LIST OF RETIREMENTS AS CLUBS CLING TO VETERAN TALENT Player Ranks Thinned, Magnates Slow to Part with Proven Men By George F. Winthrop, Sporting Times October 16th 1917 The present offseason has unfolded with a noticeable scarcity of player retirements, a circumstance uncommon in recent years. With the reservoir of emerging talent running somewhat lean, the major clubs have shown reluctance to part with seasoned performers, preferring experience and tested ability over uncertainty. Yet even in this restrained climate, a few familiar names have bid farewell to the diamond, foremost among them Grant Johnson, whose career has spanned the formative years of the modern game. Johnson first affixed his signature to a contract with the Chicago Cubs in 1901, when the leagues united under the banner of Major League Baseball and resolved to integrate coloured players into their newly organized competition. For twelve seasons he wore the Cubs’ livery, establishing himself as a steady and dependable presence. In 1913 he was transferred across town to the Chicago White Sox, where he has remained until his decision to retire. Over the course of his career, Johnson compiled a batting average of .279, crossed the plate 781 times, struck 34 home runs, drove in 796 runs, and pilfered 226 bases. Though not always the foremost star upon the field, he furnished his clubs with consistent production and demonstrated how dedication and longevity may together fashion a most respectable career. Johnson’s retirement stands as the most prominent among the few departures this autumn. Also stepping away from active play are Frank Isbell and Jack Warner, both well-known figures to followers of the national pastime. Thus, while the game’s leaders strive to conserve their remaining talent in a time of thinning ranks, the exit of such veterans reminds us that even in years of restraint, the march of seasons spares no player indefinitely.