Mamie "Peanut" Johnson grew up with a passion and talent for playing baseball. But, as a Black female, opportunities to play were limited. After being refused a try-out for the All-American Girls League, she turned that rejection into pure determination and became one of only three women to play baseball in the Negro Leagues, and the only woman to pitch. Tiny, but tough, Mamie once struck out an opponent who said she looked like a "peanut" on the mound. 
 
Mamie was recruited in 1953 by the Indianapolis Clowns, the team which featured Hank Aaron before he went on to Major League Baseball. In three seasons as a pitcher with the Clowns, Johnson posted a 33-8 record as well as a .270 batting average.
 
During the offseasons, Johnson attended New York University and received a nursing degree from North Carolina A&T State University. When her career ended, she raised her son and worked in nursing for 30 years.