Life and Baseball, according to Chico Johnson

This is my dad.

His name was Charles Johnson, but nobody called him Charles.

He sometimes went by Chuck. I’m pretty sure his mom called him that.

But most people, including me, called him Chico. It was a nickname given to him by a coach he had while playing ball in the Markham Boys League. My dad was a shortstop, and this coach likened his play to that of former White Sox shortstop and four-time All-Star Chico Carrasquel.

I love that story. What a cool way to get a nickname.