The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-05-24
WALTER JOHNSON
 ONCE GOT SIO PER
Washington Wonder Graduated from Bush Team to Big
 League


 mows down American League bats men, who confesses that he does not try the spitbaH because he does not think he could use it effectively with out long, trying practice; and who won three out of every four games he pitched for the Washington American League club last season, jumped from 8 job at .$10 week into the big league That was back in 1907, only six years ago. In those six years, the Is year old oupgster-Johnson is not yet 25, years old has stepped into the front rank of American baseball pitch CTS of the present genera ton, and so far as speed alone is concerne ed is compared with the great Amos Rusie of years gone by. When tales of young phenomenon out in Idaho were waited to the ears of. 'tPongo Joe'' Cantillon, present owner of the Min neapolis American Association club and at that time manager of the Washington club, Walter was hurltng for the serni-pro town team of Weiser, Idaho.
 Catcher BIankenship of the Senators was laid up by injuries, and was as signed by Cantillon to make a trip to Wichita, Kan, to look over Out fielder Clyde Milan, whom he signed. As 'Blanky'' started on his mission, Manager Joe added: And you might as well keep on right out to Idaho and
 
 of my friends is pestering me about" As soon as the catcher scout saw Johnson in action, he wanted him for the Washington club, desnite the youths immature years. Although tn e good citizens of Weiser offered to set Walter up in business with a small cigar stand if he would continue to pilot the town club to victory-for the baseball team was considered a good advertisement for the town-no trou- ble was experienced by BIankenship in. securing Johnson's signature to a Washington contract.
 Johnson. was born at Humboldt, Kan, on November 6, 1888, of Scotch Irish ancestry. That disposes Of the appropriateness of the nickname Big Swede'. which has become attached to that Washington speed merchant, no doubt because of his family name and 1 light hair. Walter was not a, baseball kid. In fact, he had no interest in | the game and never played a, game of baseball before be was IA years old, when his family moved to southern California, near los Angeles.
 Entering the local high school, John son found it was the custom to play ball Saturday afternoons. So he Joined the party at the solicitation of the enthusiasts, more because he did not wish to appear odd and different from the other boys. than because he an- ticipated any real pleasure from the sport which has made him famous. His companions picked Walter for a catch er because he had such a strong arm, reasoning that he ought to throw well to bases. Johnson was complaisant as he had no experience and no knowl- edge of what he could do. The re- cruit was able to throw them down to second all right in, fact, nearly to tear the hands off the tin1elderss@ but that constituted his sole and only qualification for the position.
 So after several games, by unani- nous vote of the outraged indelderS, and by a shaft of light permeating the manager, it was decided that man l wl1e, could throw like greased lightning from the home plate to second base might be able to. get the ball from the slab to the batsman. In his first game against a rival high school John son pitched a to D. IS Inning tie game That was in 1905. Barnett, a former big 1eaguer at that time play ing in Tacoma, recommended the youngster, and he was signed. only to be released after one game This re- lease touched Johnson's pride. and he | resolved to become professional ball player and to make the Tacoma skep- tics eat their doubts.
 Johnson was not then, nor has he ever been, considered a conceited play 1 er but he had confidence that he could make good among the big feI- lows. He was determined, too, and l in a measure stinate-perhaps from the Scotch strain in his ancestry. The following season the Tacoma club. sorely in need of slabmens offered a l handsome salary to it's discard to re- l turn, but Johnson refused to consider any offer from the club by+which he thought he had been badly treated So, | instead Of serving a baseball sappren- l t1cesflip in the minor leagues. Johnson
 
 at one step.
 l In eWeiser in 1906 Johnson won nine i games out of 10. With the. baseball bug now firmly Implanted, he applied to the Los Angeles club for a posi- l tion, so as to be near home, but like many another youngeter who is fg- nored at home only to attain fame elsewhere, Johnson's request drew only 1 a. smile, and he returned to Idaho. When Blankensaip appeared on the 1 scene, Walter had record for the season of 1S victories and two defeats, l had allowed only 25 hits and had g 1 strikeout record of IA per game On August 2, 1907, Johnson made his 1 big league inaugural against Detroit. but did not finish the game. Hughes replaced him in the ninth inning, with 1 the score tied at 2-2, Detroit winning, 1 3 to g. That year Johnson won five and lost eight games, allowing an av- | craze of seven base hits to 9 game, and striking out slightly over five men per game Tn. 1908 Johnson won 14 and lost 14 games on g, bad second I division club. Except in 1909, when he9won 13 and lost 25 games on club which finished a forlorn eighth with a team percenta ge of only .276. John son had won more than half of the l games he pitched every season, and Washington was a second division club I until last season
 
 JOE RIVERS AND WILLIE pra.u1rt rIfzI4zr II1IN 4