Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-16
EVANS O|SSERTATES
ON WALTER JOHNSON
Says He's the Greatest Twill
er That Ever Came Out of
the Bush Leagues.
By Umpire Billy Evans.

By Umpire Billy Evans.
Few really great pitchers are discovered
In the bushes.
Most Of the crack twirlers OF the two big
leagues began their careers in some small
league and gradually worked their way
up into fast company.
| Both major leagues are full of crafty,
scientific batsmen, who have made a care
full study OF how to hit all kinds Of skill
full. pitching. In order to win a place in
fast company the pitcher must make a
careful study Of the batters, and often a
pitcher doesn't prove his true worth until
he has seen a couple Of years service.
Few twirlers of the present day have
| the natural ability to Jump, from some
place not on the map and meet with in
| slant success in either the National or
American League. Even if they have the
ability, there are few managers willing to
take the chance.
Walter johnson is one of the very few
pitchers who have come from nowhere
and in short year proved the right to be
classed. as one of the greatest pitchers In
| the country.
wHen Joe CantlllOn signed JoNlSOl Hc
didn't have any idea what he was getting.
Numerous friends of Cantillon's out west
had touted the youngster to the skies,
and as Joe was a bit shy on twirlers and
always anxious to pick up good one, he
| decided to take long shot on the west
erner.
Among the players the signing of john
son was treated as a bit Of a joke. hap
pened to be working in Washington at
the time he was due to arrive. and his
%kA Toll oS IN
ever a pitcher would get hit a tribe hard
the other players would inform him that
he had better brace up. as johnson was
coming.
team at Weiser, Idaho, and he was the
wonder of that section He went some
thing like seventy-eight innings without
being scored on, and 1t was bad day Tor
him II he didn't strike out at least ten of
| his opponents ALI these records pre-
coded johnson. and pethaps no player
ever came into the big league with such
glowing press notices: His wonderful
feats were treated rather lightly. however.
as most of the fans and players figured
that most. any old pitcher could do the
same as Johnson against rube teams.
SO many things were written and said
| about Johnson that Cantillon was anx-
ious for the arrival of the western won
der. Joe sent him a message to join
Washington at once. and a few days later
received a reply from Johnson that he
was on the way Nothing was heard
from him for over a week and Cantliion
was just about convinced that johnson
must have refused the transportation
and started to walk.
One morning late in the season of 1907
a crowd OF players and fans was sitting
I'm front Of the Regent Hotel in Washing-
ton when a tall youngster wearing
big SLOUGH hat presented himself at the
hotel and asked for Cantillon. The
Washington manager who was In the
crowd had sized the big fellow up as
Johnson as he entered the hotei, ana ne
had him under his wing almost before
he had made known his identity to the
| clerk. soc. ..-
johnson looked like a great big boy
and acted the part. He answered all OF
Cantillon's questions in a few words. and
when asked about some Of the bush feats
credited to him only smiled and said any
body could have done the same against
the teams he pitched against. It's safe
to say that no mora unassumfngs.feiiow
ever broke into fast company. az :
Learning from Cantillon that ne intend
ed to have Johnson pitch to the boys In
practice, ! went out to the grounds early
| that afternoon and took a seat high up
| in the grandstand. l. heard SO much
about the western phenom that wanted
| to see Mr.. johnson act out in a. real big
| league uniform.
Chicago was the attraction at Wash
ington that day. and TOT real Iy our
| to both teams In the batting practice
that is always INDUCED in before
game. Knowing that Johnson hadn't
done any pitching for about two weeks.
Cantillon told him to be careful take
things easy and not to use too much
| speed:
tice looked like a small pea and the more
he pitched the smaller 1t seemed to get.
| Most of the players had to take couple
| of swings before they connected, and as
each walked away from the plate he
began to say things to the other players.
1t was evident that Mr.. johnson had
something on his ball. for the best hit. MT
tiers on both teams were having their
troubles in locating It,
Throughout the batting practice Can
tillon wore a happy smile: he was aware
that he had picked up real diamond
and ne wasn't very rough.
The schedule called for the appearance
of Detroit on the following day and Can
tillon decided to give Johnson something
to do right off the reel. ne had tn, the
had decided to use Johnson against De-
troit on the morrow. Detroit at that time
was fighting for the pennant. SO 1t can be
teen what johnson was up against.
johnson warmed up so fast that after
noon that I saw that my protector was
well filled before taking my pl"ce back
Of the catcher. Naturally the Detroit
players did everything possible to worry
the green youngster. but he refused to
| fall for their game. His speed was mar
yelous and the hard hitters of the De-
| troll team were at his mercy for the first
| six innings.
The score at this time was 1 to o in
favor of Washington. with Bill Donovan
| working like q clock for the Tigers. In
his desperation to win Jennings told mis-
PLAYERS to shift to the bunting game.
| DESPITE his great speed Crawford, Jones
and Cobb laid down three pretty hunts.
| one of which Johnson played late to sec
ond. An out and an error Melted the
Tigers two runs In the seventh, which
| proved to be enough to win.
It's questionable II ever young pitcher
made a better showing Under such diff
! cult circumstances.
| That game started Johnson on the road
| to success and ever since he has been the
pitching sensation Of the American
| League.
Last winter johnson played ball in Cali
| fornia and suffered an injury that pre-
vented him from joining Washington until
! ,oto. " Time 81 made him lea va