In 1975, William Julius "Judy" Johnson became the first Delawarean elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. During his career, 1921 through 1936, Johnson was considered the best third baseman in the Negro Leagues. In 1935, Johnson served as captain of the Pittsburgh Crawfords, a team that also featured Hall of Famers Satchel Paige, Oscar Charleston, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell. Later he served as a scout for the Philadelphia Athletics, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Milwaukee Braves. The house in Wilmington where Johnson and his wife Anita lived for 55 years is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The field at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington, home of the minor league Wilmington Blue Rocks, is named in honor of Johnson.