The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-11
JOHNSON NOW IN
FAST COMPANY
Idaho Boy Pitches His First
Game for Washington
Against Detroit.

Walter Johnson, the Idaho pitching
phenom who recently Joined the ranks
of the Washington club in the Ameri-
can League, pitched his initial game
during the week, and although his nine
was beaten by a score of to 2, his
work was extremely satisfactory and
the Washington fans were delighted.
In the eight innings Johnson pitched,
the Detroits made two runs, and in the
one inning when Hughes was in the
box they sent one man over the plate.
Johnson was taken out in the eighth
inning, so Blankenship, the big stick
er of the Washington, could bat in his
place, as the team was in a tight
place. The Weiser boy showed re-
markable control and got himself out
of some hard pinches. The Detroits
were waiting for him to go in the air
in the seventh, when there We're men
on second and third, and the heavy
batters coming, but the lad steadied
himself and struck the other men out.
AS Johnson walked to the center of
the field at the start of his initial con-
test he was given a hearty reception.
He famed the, first man to face him.
He was greeted with applause when
ever he struck out one of the batters
of the leaders.
Idaho, where he was twirling for the
Weiser team in the Snake Valley
League. Here he brought himself into
prominence by establishing a worlds
record of eighty-five consecutive inn
inSs without a run being scored
against him. The score that broke the
ice was made in the game with Cald-
well i'm the eleventh inning. Two men
were out and man on third when the
third baseman made a rank throw and
let the man score. He then began an
other shutting-out streak that was
broken by his being bought by the
Washington American League team.
For 100 innings he averaged one and
two-thirds strikeouts an inning. John
son is only 10 years old, and is one OF
the native sons of the northwest.
Speaking of his first appearance
Washington paper says:
Notwithstanding the double defeat of
yesterday, there was a bright hue to
the Nationals rainbow in the develop
ment of Pitcher Walter Johnson. It is
not often that a manager is able to
corral such strong group of players
as Cantillon has done this season I'm
Ganley, Delehanty, Clymer, Shipke.
Gehring and johnson, and from pres
ent indications the greatest of the
bunch is the big lad from the wilds of
Idaho. The other players named are
exceptionally clever, but johnson gives
evidence of being a "phenom," and
they bloom only once in ten years In
yesterdays game johnson faced an ag-
gregatiOn Of the most aggressive play
ers now playing ball, and every effort
was made to get him ratified, but he
kept on his way as if he was playing
in his home league. But one adverse
ha 10 Toh 4
that is his fielding. Being a big man,
he is naturally slow on his feet, but he
is so very young that he can easily
overcome this defect and be a first
class man in every department. 1t
may be that Johnson was backward
yesterday in going after the ball for
fear of interfering with the other play
ers, and after he gets better acquaint-
ed he will go still better.
Johnson's physique and easy swing
should keep him in the pitching bust
ness for at least fifteen years. as there
Is nothing in his delivery to wear him
out. This opinion was expressed by
George Muliin, Bill COughlin and Bill
Donovan last night at the Arlington
hotel and all three are good judges.
Johnson is a modest lad and. being
willing to take advice from Manager
CantillOn, there is a splendid chance
of a great player being developed, both
at the bat and in fielding. Nothing
need be taught him in the pitching
line, as all he needs is experience.
Not clean hit was made off John
son yesterday until the fifth inning.
when Charley O'Leary slammed a line
single into center. In the sixth inning.
Johnson laid down what appeared to
be a perfect bunt toward first. but he
got away so quickly from the plate
that he ran irto the ball, and was called
out. That he can bunt is another
thing in his favor, as we have several
men on the local team who can't do
even that In the seventh inning there
were hungry Tigers on second and
third, with two out, and every effort
was made to send Johnson into the
air. but he refused to take the Jour
ney. Instead, he put on more steam
and struck out Sieyer to the mighty
shouts of the multitude. Manager
Cantillon and the Washington club are
to be congratulated upon signing john
son, as they have practically picked up
a jewel, worth at least $4,000 and only
for the trouble of going after him. In
cidentally, it might be remarked that
Cliff Blankenship said the Idaho Kid
was all right, and the clever catcher
knew what he was talking about.