The Washington times., 1912-01-06


farmer boy, fresh from the everlast-
ing foothills of the Rockies, absolutely
ignorant /of the ways of the city, and
acquainted only with doings back
home" to one Of the highest salaried
players in baseball, known from
ocean to ocean, owner Of his own
farm, and quiet possessor of several
giant "sparklers," is the jump made
in Ave years by Walter Johnson. the
famed "smokeball hurler" of the
Washington Nationals. Five years
ago he was a mere backwoods
pitcher. Today he can hold up his
bosses for $500 year-and get 1t.
When johnson landed at the Union
Station here. he was truly one of the
rawest specimens ever seen In this
city, which has seen many Of them.
He stared and stared. He could not
seem to get used to things at all in
the Nations Capital. He was out Of
place and knew 1t. But he had an
arm, an arm that could propel a base
ball through the air with the speed
of a cannon shot. He had speed that
drove the most daring batters away
from the plate. He did not need any
thing else, to succeed.
Washington team, said Johnson to
suppose looked pretty green. I felt
ii, anyway. I had been In Los An
geles looking for job before, but /
had never seen such city as Wash
out Of my head 1 hunted up the
manager and told him ! was ready
to work. That's all the fuss was
made about me.
Had Just Speed.
II didn't know much about pitch
ing then. I had plenty of speed, but
that's all. / didn't know how to fool
the batter, except by shooting the
ball by his head with all my strength.
/ was lucky in having 'Gabby' Street
to catch me. for he knew most of the
batters and kept tipping me off about
them.
"At first I didn't know how to con-
troll the ball, but I worked hard every
day to learn this art of control. Now
have 1t down fairly well. I had
more n control TINS f I season tnan IAN
hard practice. think It'll be even
better next season"
Johnsons arrival four years ago
aan to sto ne moSDg SS hs
Marine Band greet him. but when he
arrived last spring on the opening
day OF the season, after being ordered
home by Jimmy ,s.nt for failure
friends and admirers were at the
Union Station to greet him, surround
ing him to shake his hand and wish
him well. That day he conferred with
year contract for the highest salary
figures ever given Washington
player.
Rises In Four Years.
In four years Johnson has become
one of the best-known pitchers In base
ball. Five years ago he was unknown,
pitching FOR $40 game out in Idaho.
Now, when the Nationals hit the road,
the hotel telephones are kept busy by
inquiries for Walter johnson. Every
body knows him all over the American
League and the announcement that he
will pitch Is worth hundreds of extra
dollars to the Golfers of the club.
Johnson's habits are simple. He has
two fads during the season. He likes
large diamonds and soft, silken pa
jamas. His largest diamond is a beauty
jamas are the envy Of his team mates
and quite the finest in major league
baseball They are all In good taste
being In soft, mild colors and denote
the artistic eye of their owner.
During the off-season Johnson's fad
is fancy chickens. He purchased a
number of the best breed in the South
last spring while at Atlanta and keeps
them on his farm at Coffevville, Kan.
his home town.
Prefers Country.
The writer asked Johnson one day
last summer If he preferred the city
to the country and the big twirler
waxed confidential, which Is strange
for him.
mo, ! don't care for cities, "he re-
piled. IL like the season to begin every
year because ! like to play ball. ] like
IL to end because I always long to get
back TO the farm again. New York 7
despise. Everything Is rushing along.
Nobody cares about anybody else.
When I'm In New York with the team,