2019 Female Player: Clare B. Johnson, PhD

Clare B. Johnson, Ph.D.

Softball has been a part of most of Clare “Bear” Johnson’s life. Her dad was instrumental in introducing the game to her when she was young. He taught her to hit left-handed, and he hit ground balls and fly balls to her until it was too dark outside to continue. She played varsity softball in high school, lettering each year, which led to being recruited for summer ball and then college ball. After an injury, her freshman year at the University of Arizona (U of A) she decided to concentrate on her studies. Clare earned engineering degrees from the U of A (Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering with Distinction) and Northwestern University (Master of Science in Industrial Engineering). Each summer she returned to the Midwest to rejoin various USSSA softball teams.

While attending The Pennsylvania State University and working toward a Ph.D. in Kinesiology, she was co-lead investigator on two softball studies. The first was determining the efficacy and validity of a pitching trainer developed by Jenny Finch and her father. The second was testing the titanium bat for safety. This latter study was championed by Laura “Flip” Fillipp. Clare was Flip’s assistant softball coach at high school and college levels concentrating on hitting skill analysis utilizing the Peak Motion Analysis system. An infielder/outfielder, Clare “Bear” Johnson excelled on both women’s and mixed competitive teams. Clare played Women’s Class A softball with EDS and Hub South and Class B with the Racine Royals and Maury’s for more than 15 years. In mixed softball, she played in the Competitive Division with JCJ’s and IMSL.

Clare earned the Triple Crown award in 1979 with the Racine Royals (batting average, RBIs and HRs). She was named MVP in 1982, and twice named to the All-Tournament Team/Mixed Competitive Division in 1985 JCJ’s and 1980 IMSL. Her lifetime batting average was .558. 

In addition to playing USSSA softball, Clare was selected from the state of Illinois to represent the USSSA during the first goodwill trip to Russia in 1990. She was also recruited to be an instructor for USSSA Youth Softball Clinics in Norman, OK and Richmond, VA by the late Mildred Burrell from Virginia, Youth National Director.

Welcome Dr. Clare B. Johnson into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame and for giving so much back to the sport!