The Washington times., 1907-08-03

There are two topics Of conversation
among washington fans today-the
great showing made yesterday by
Walter johnson, the young phenom
from 'the Idaho State League in his
first appearance with a major league
team, and the sudden quitting of the
washington club and baseball forever
bv John Anderson, the first baseman.
Anderson is gone and Johnson is COM
ing. so we will consider the youngster
first.
Ho is the goods. Take it as a straight
tip. unless he shows some weakness not
apparent yesterday in the first game
against Detroit, he is going to be the
hnd OF the American League for the
season Of 1907. and one of the best
tUirlers in the league for years to come.
This is not only the judgment OF lIie
baseball writer's, but Of the Detroit
players who went against him, ana the
Washington players, who watched MS
every move. Old major leaguers are not
prone TO too much boosting or young
sters. They are rather lnclned 10
knock
Donovan Touts Him
Last night wild Bill" Donovan, Of
Detroit. hustled down TO the Regent 20
look up Manager Cantillon and praise
johnson. wild Bill is something Of
pitcher himself, and nobody ever ac-
cused him of not knowing his number.
He assured the Washington manager
that he had the best kid that has come
out Of tho bush leagues in his recollec-
tion, and craftily suggested that II Can
tfIlon did not have the time or the
money to spare developing talent. he
knew Just where TO place Johnson Tor
a large. fat sum. He was thanked, but
Heaken to Charley O'Leary, the De-
trOit shOrtstop.
When I was moseying around before
the first game 1 saw there was new
man in uniform. and began hoping Cam
tillon would pitch him, for we need
every game we can get and. the i'm
portations from the sage country are a
big help to teams running neck ana
neck with champions and to players
with ing-own batting averages Inc
cubs name was announced, ana TOOK
It as a gift from home
o'Leary's Experience.
SAY. after that fellow pitched me a
couple OF balls wished he had missed
the train. He sent one so fast
couldn't see it, and thought 1t was go
ing 10 take my block off. so 1 ducked,
and this foolish Sheridan umpire person
called it a strike. I got ready for an
other like IL and he switched over a
roundhouse curve that started like
wild pitch. Then he came back with a
spitball That was enough for me-
took a poke at the next one Tor luck
and popped TO Mil.
''He went through this same war dance
s+-t when i came up the next time,
and had me hopping around there unul
I thought Jennings would bounce me
out OF the game for being plumb nutty,
so ] Just took a wild swIpe at the pail,
and because I am good boy and don I
swear, luck was with me and maue
clean hit TO center. He's the greatesS
kid pitcher I ever saw in my life, and
he's going to get better all the time
Praise from experts in your own pro-
fession is praise indeed.
Cantillon's Opinion.
CantilIon was as enthusiastic as the
Tigers QuOth he.
years and began drawing salary from
in 1882 and in all that period never
saw such a promising young pltcher;
Just remember the conditions. He did
not come here after working his way
I'D by slow degrees In small leagues,
winding up with a finishing course IN
class A. leagues, where they pay al
most the same ball they do in the ma
jors- Nix he came from horse-ano-
buggy league in Idaho. where they play
every Sunday If the weather.s GOOD, ana
If it's bad they wait a week
a'In every thing except his abl1ty tc
throw and control the ball he showed
his baseball raising and proved that
am not Understanding his training
The bunts, the fast and tricky base run
ming, the taking chances, and the pat
tiers and runners working signals every
time the ball was pitched were all new
10 him. but you didn't see him falling
of in his throwing, did your NOT on
vour life. He was weak on fielding
Eobb and Rossman and such like lay
down teasers, but you can bet your
handbook money he viii get wise to that
line OF stuff after he has been up and
down the circuit a few trips
Wonderfully Long Arm
What made the real big hit was the
easy movement Of the young phenom
His arm Is astonishingly long, severa
Inches longer than Clymers, who Is
famous among ball players for th'
length Of his salary whip, and i
amounts almost TO a deformity. II
pitchinE he moves his wonderful wins
as freely and as untiringly as Cy Young
without the slightest laming or tirin5
motion. IL is the movement of mar
who could pitch three games with les
exertion than some of the big winners
could pitch one. And ne also has a spit
ball.
Yes. johnson certainly looks the good
and Cliff Blankenship viii hardly have
4 chance TO buy his contract for $500. a.
he ofered TO do before he went int
the box.
Concerning Anderson.
Now, concerning Anderson. Withou
the slightest warning he announced L
Captain Ganley yesterday about moor
that he was going to quit the Washing
ton club and baseball forever to go int,
business in Worcester, Mass, his hom,
town. 1t was a tremendous surprise t,
Ganley. and before that athlete hat
come out OF his trance John had hurrie,
for the train that was 10 carry hin
from the diamond for all time accord
ing TO his present intentions. Anderson
had tried to find Cantlllon in the morn
ing and failed. hence he dug up Ganlel
as the next best man 10 receive the It'd
ings.
Ganley says the big Scandinavia
quietly explained that he had no kicl
on the club or its mana gemene, but tha
he had closed a deal by telegraph which
would start him in a business career
2YInc rnnre than his 50 q IL hn