WASHINGTON — The first woman to ever pitch in the Negro Leagues, Long Branch High School graduate and youth sports advocate Mamie “Peanut” Johnson died Tuesday at the age of 82.

Johnson, who lived in a row house in Northeast D.C., was ceremonially selected by the Washington Nationals in 2008 as part of an MLB commemoration before that year’s draft. The team put out a message of remembrance Tuesday night.

https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/943255214399860739

The Indianapolis Clowns signed Johnson in 1953, and she played for three seasons through 1955. Despite going 33-8 on the mound, Johnson’s success didn’t open the floodgates for women in professional baseball. According to the Negro League Museum, she was one of only three female players in league history.

After her playing days, Johnson worked as a nurse and coached Little League Baseball. The Mamie Johnson Little League finished as D.C. runners-up last spring.