New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-16
JOHNSON A REAL MARVEL
Washington Pitcher Stands Out
in American League.
HOLDS A SHUT-0UT MARK
Idaho Wonder Has Not Yet
Reached His Prime and May
Break All Records.
Copyright. 1918 Msclean kennedy.

(CONNrlRnt. 1915 M6tttdN henntfN.J
II may be said Of Walter Johnson. star
hurler OF the Washington Club In the
American League and. it might be added.
of the baseball world. that he. like Abou
Ben Adhem. leads all the rest" OF the
Younger generation of hurlers this can be
said without fear Of contradiction.
As the seasons roll by Walter Johnson
is building up record that is gradually
creeping up with the great ones made in
baseball II nothing goes amss with
this pitching marvel he will, no doubt
eclipse all pitching feats and records ever
made in the annals OF baseball.
Marty O'Toole. Ncne Gregg and Rich
ard de Marquis broke into the big snow
horalded by haring press notices ana the
blaring OF many trumpets They gradu-
ated from the minors with phenomenal
records and were credited with marvel
lous pitching fcats that sounded IKE ta'eS
from the Arabian Nights
But out Of the Far West came a lad
with a brilliant but abbreviated amateur
record lie slipped into the big league
circuit without much notice. Right from
the wilds Of Idaho to the hub OF Uncle
Sans domain came This stripping, call
from the purely amateur ranks To the
ma iors In the midseasons with the SLUG
cers Of the American League going Al
tonmost speed was Sir Walter given his
first test Twas Jennings's band of slug
gers from whom the "Weisor wonder
received his baptismal IN select society
Catcher Bankcnship. Of the Washing
ton club. during 1871 had been more or
loss of q bench warmer. Through injuries
and other causes "Blanky' had little or
NO chance to really earn his stipend
When reports reached the last 'ha'
hurler away out IN Idaho was pitch'h6
such marvellous ball that the d'heT'nt
teams in that section Of the country h"u
failed 10 nut score over IN seven con
secutiye games Catcher Blankenshlp Was
dressed into service as scout ana Or
dered 10 pack his grip ana take 'he "'S'
train westward.
Scout "Blanky" didn't let the grass
grow under his feet after h!s nrst glimpse
of Mr. Johnson. To get the name oil the
Western "phenom" hitched 10 contract
iust as quickly as possible was ms oh'''
desire. The young recruit hdd i"r wv"
seasons tried TO catch on Win dlH'ic"'
coast clubs. Manager Berry Of the la
coma club let him slip away without
fair trial. this was IN 1874. Johnson
caught ON with an amateur team ieIle'
scnting Welser. Idaho for the balance Oh
the season. winning nine games OUT OF
ten
In the early part 81 l%G he applied to
e.
for a position on the team. nut not even
trial was granted. 50 back 10 N'isef'
Idaho. went the future great. ana pro-
ceodcd To pitch such sensational ba'
over, II II were against amateurs or semi
rroe that Il attracted Widespread aiten-
lion II was the direct cause Of &. H.
Elankcnship speeding Go IN. staihp'h>
ground and the scene Of " Johnson
wonderful exploits. to sign the chap That
had won thirteen out OF fifteen games
where MS opponents only secured TWEEN
,v-nve hits in all. and 30 men had famed.
IAN average OF fourteen game Tn"
FIRST though, that fashed throNSn
Partnerships mind was. how any base
ball manager with eyes and JIdgmen,
who had a chance 10 size NJ Johnson
personally. even in the rough. could nave
n.ssed him w. so Scout "Blanky' got
busy and arranged everything for the
tourney eastward
on August ?. 1907 Walter Johnson got
into major league baseball "Davy' ..
has the honor Of being the hrst his
Lacquer 10 feel the zcphyrs caused by his
hail Walter didn't win that game. how
ever. He was replaced by Hughes in
the ninth. with the score 10 ,. the Scna
tors lost out by to 2 But the hie boy
from the Wcs, pitched great game. al
lowing only six hits.
Johnson made good from IN" start. In
his second game. which was against
cleveland he held the Blues 10 four SIN
cles and won his game. The crowd OF
fans" sized Walter right, and all claimed
him "A "phenom' from the jump. After
that game they wanted 10 carry him on
the field on their shoulders-an unusual
send-ofY for hurler to get. under ordi-
nary conditions. They hailed him as Il
! "Nattv." as a Joss He made big hit
with the fans" in that game-a and the
fans" called the turn right. From that
dav they never wanted the verdict
changed.
Walter Perry Johnson was born in the
year 1857 in the modest and retiring little
| burg of Humboldt. Allen County, that
lies well down in the southeast portion Of
that exceedingly dry commonwealth ~
| Kansas When a mere infant Walters
chief ambition was to hurl domicks across
the mighty waters Of Neosho River. that
flows gontly-at timcs-past the now
| famous hamlet OF Humboldt. Kan. There
| is absolutely no trace Of Swedish blood
| in Johnson: to this Walter Perry will tes-
| tify.
Here is Johnsons complete record In
| the American League up 10 date