Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-01

johnson himself is at a loss to ex-
plain his failure to win onsistently.
He insists that he feels as good as
ever: that his speed is just as terrific
as of old; that his arm does not trouble
him in the least. johnson offers as the
argument for his failure to win the
fact that his club has not played con-
SlStently behind him-haS not made
the runs for him it did in past years.
In evidence he offers the record of his
games during the 1914 campaign. The
record shows that he has been beaten
IN majority of the games lost by a
one-run margin, in a number of cases
his teammates failing to get a single
run for him. In most of these games
he held the opposition to very low
score.
His Great Speed Made Him Famous.
On the other hand, fans and critics
point out that many more hits have
been made off Johnson this year over
previous seasons. They also dwell on
the fact that he no longer boasts of
the long string of strike-outs that
always in the past featured his
work on the pitching mound. In re-
buttal johnson says he no longer tries
for strike-outS, as he did when break
ing into the majors; that he depends
more on his fielders; that he uses a
/ umpired the first game of ball
Walter Johnson pitched in the Ameri-
can League. He opposed the Detroit
team, then at its best-a smuggling ag-
gregation feared by every twirler in
the organization. johnson lost a hard
luck game to 1, although he pitched
mastery ball. A few hunts, throw
that arrived fraction late on an in
tended force, an error and a fly tied
the Tigers enough runs to win. Dur
ing the entire game johnson relied en-
tirelyo on speed, because he didn't boast
OF a curve at the time, and slow ball
to him was unknown. The Detroit club.
to use the slang of the diamond, was a
team that simply murdered" speed.
That Johnson could hold a team al
most helpless that was noted for its
ability to hit speed was proof conclu-
Sive that the big recruit had something
on the ball.
For the first three or four years
Johnson was in the American League
he relied almost entirely on his speed
Every now and then he dished up
seriously by the opposing batters. His
success was marvellous, he was the
sensation of the base ball world. Play
ers regarded his fast ball with horror.
Sluggers who favored pitchers with
speed never enthused when Johnson
was announced the Washington
pitcher. Most of them insisted that it
was impossible to hit what you couldn't
see, and JOhnSOn'S last ball was listed
as one thing that couldn't be seen with
the naked eye. 1t was an unusual thing
for him in those days to go through
game without striking out five or more
men. OF late he has often pitched
games in which less than five men
were retired over the strike-out route.
Made Hit With Cy Young.
The very first day 1 watched John
son work l nlarveled at his free, easy
delivery. l recall what the veteran Cy
Young said the first time he watched
Johnson In action. What do you think
of the big fellow" / asked Cy as he
walked past me his way to the
bench from the coaching lines. John
son had just retired three of the hard
hitting BoStonians on strikes. No
greater pitcher, taking all things into
consideration, ever lived than Cy
Young. ! was curious to know just
how lie regarded Johnson
why, that fellow is faster than
Rusie- He gets up his speed without
any exertion. Those long sweeping
stuff on the ball. That fellow ought to
pitch big league ball longer than
have, Bill. and you know I've been up
here quite while remarked Cyrus
Johnson had impressed me just as he
did the veteran pitcher. He pitched
like a well-oiled piece of machinery
He made no fancy motions. common to