The Washington times., 1912-08-04

Walter Johnson, the Nationals great
pitcher. is due to break his own strike.
out record made in 1910, and stands
an excellent chance of not only topping
the American League pitchers, in his
present form, but of breaking the league
strikeout record hung up by Rube Wad-
dell in 1904.
This fact taken into account with the
records hung up by the peerless slab
man, is gaining him the title, Of the
best pitcher of the league, II not the
best the world has ever seen.
Claim will no doubt be made that Joe
Wood. of the Boston team, is Johnson s
equal, but Wood has not pitched under
the same conditions, Boston always hav-
ing, UP to the present year. a team far
superior in every way to the teams
which johnson formerly worked with.
Wood has good record, as good in
many respects as Johnson's, but he has
always had better hitting behind him.
Johnson's record for strikeouts, fewer
number of hits of him, and fewer bases
on balls has been exceeded by Wood but
once, and the records of the two totaled
in this respect today Is slightly in john
sons favor. -,
pitchers say that johnson has more
''stuff" than the Red Sox hurler, and
batsmen say that the Nationals star
is the better picher, and Is more diff
cult to hit than Wood. Alva Williams,
who has caught both pitchers, says that
johnson has more speed than Wood.
and that he is convinced that Walter
johnson has more in every way as u
pitcher than his Boston rival.
Sick Three Weeks.
Upon his record this year. and for
three weeks he was practically out of
commission with sickness. Johnson bids
fair to break his own strikeout record
Of 313 made in 1910, when he led the
pitchers in both leagues in this respect.
: and looks good enough to wipe out
Rube Waddelrs famous 1904 mark of
A3. In the number or victories for the
year the big Swede should win thirty
five, for he appears to be well-nigh in
Vincible in his present form.
established this year, which, barring
accidents. he should do, there are few
who will gainsay the fact, after a glance
at his marvellous work, that he Is the
greatest pitcher in the world. While in
a measure. 1t is matter of opinion as
to who Is the best, under all circum-
stances, and with a team the caliber Of
Washington teams in the past Johnson 8
record in his five seasons in the league
Is unquestionably better than that of
any other pitcher in the world.
johnson reported to Cantillon in 1907, and
Immediately made good. His record at the
end OF the season stood at 1857, having
won five and lost nine with a tail-end
club. The marvel allowed but ninety
five hits in the fourteen gamesS an av-
erage of 6.S hits per game, and famed
sixty-four batters. He gave eighteen
bases on balls and hit three batsmen.
The average number of strikeouts for
the star is 46 per game.
Started Going Right.
During the year of 1908 Johnson
pitched twenty-seven games, winning
thirteen and losing fourteen, for an
average of .4S0. The big twirler was
second in the league in strikeouts.
trailing Ed Walsh with 147. He allowed
1f5 hits in the twenty-seven games and
gave fifty-one bases on balls.
In 1909 Walter johnson came into his
own. At the close of the season the
giant smoke ball artist had partici-
pated in thirty-eight games OF which he
had won 13 and lost 25 with a club
which stood seventh. During the
season johnson was taken out four
times. He allowed but liz hits. gave
eighty-one bases on balls and famed
l64 bstsmen. being third in the league
I'm this respect. Pitching in approx
mately thirty-five games, for he relieved
and was relieved enough to make the