Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-02
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

| have passed into oblivion or been
lost to sight in the obscurity OF the
minor leagues, Walter Perry John
son has achieved the fondest hope
of every hurler-a no-hit game.
The courageous kansan now IS
rapidly nearing the thirty third mile
stone of life literally dotted with
feats of skill and endurance on the
diamond. Records a plenty are en-
tered opposite his name in the
archives of base ball, but it was not
until Yesterday, in his fourteenth
season as a major Lacquer, that he
put the final seal of greatness on a
career with few parallels for bril-
lianoy by preventing a single base
hit in nineinning game. -
1t generally is agreed that any
hurler going through a contest alb
solutely unscathed must be the bene-
ficiary of luck in large degree. This
is undoubtedly true. and 1t may be
assumed that the goddess of fortune
smiled benignly on johnson yester-
day, but it was not apparent to the
meager assembIage of spectators who
Only one more than the minimum
number of twenty-seven players faced
Johnson
Hooper reached first base in the
seventh inning when Harris made q
fragrant tumble of his grounder, but
not no farther. McNally followed by
bunting a pop fly directly to the pitch
er and Harris shared Menosky's roller
to force Hooper at second with toss
to Shannon. Hooper and Menosky
were the only athletes to get on
the runway. The latter fingered no
longer than the Boston field captain,
Harris tossing out Schang. who fol-
lowed him.
Displays Great Speed.
With one exception. nothing APP
preaching sensational fielding was
required to give johnson his high
honor. He earned it solely on the
strength of his superb hurting. 1t
is doubtful if Walter ever displayed
more speed. He did not depend upon
of curves and also resorted to slow
balls upon occasion. but when he
chose to he lined the ball over the
plate with such velocity that it was
physically impossible for human to
gage it's flight.
seeker. He has established several
marks. but they have been the nat
ural result of his efforts to win
always until yesterday. Then. when
the opposing batsmen had come up
inning after inning and been sent
back to the bench with their efforts
frustrated. johnson conceived the idea
of actually trying for a record. He
gave but little thought to how close
he was to one until eight-ninths of
his journey had been completed. Then
he went into high" and showed the
Red Sox some pitching that for sheer
speed they probably never will wit
ness again.
Busts' EN- Through.
Eight of the Sox already had been
victimized on strikes and Manager
Barrow decided to send substitutes
up to hit for his batterymen who had
been numbered in the list Karr and
Eibel were given the assignment and
both struck out through inability to
swing their bats around in time
Walter just busted the ball by EN-
He had struck out Hooper earlier in
the battle, as he had all the other
Sox except Menosky. Foster and
Scott.
Once before, against the Athletics
several years ago, johnson stood on
the threshold of a no-hit game in the
ninth inning. Now only Hooper re-
manned between him and his goal.
Many of those in attendance believed
the Boston field leader purposely
would Whit to assure johnson his
record, but Hooper is one of those
fellows who never quits. With him
no game is over until the last man
is out. and he tried his mightiest.
The first pitcn to him was a ball.
The second he swung at and missed
and the third he fouled off With
the fourth he connected solidly, send
ing it toward right. close to the foul
line. Judge dashed over leaped and
clutched the ball in his gloved hand
and tossed it to Johnson. who COW
cred first, for the final out of game
that added the finishing touch to a
career that was lacking in only one
respect to entitle Walter to rank
ing high among the greatest of the
great in the pitchers hall of fame
Judges catch was smart bit of work,
but nothing greatly out of the ordinary
for him. especially as he has been per-
one other fielding bit that was worthy
of passing comment-a running catch by
Rice of a fly from McInnis' bat in the
eighth, and this chance. if not accepted,
would not have spoiled Johnsons rec
ord as it was a foul ball.
Beats Friend Harper.
Although Harris was responsible for
the fact that the words mo man reach
ed first cannot be added to Johnson's
no-hit entry, no criticism was directed
at him by his fellow players, for it was
Stanley who produced the hit that re-
suited in the only run of the game.
Harry Harper. former Griffman and
close. personal friend of Johnson. was
his opponent on the slab. and although
at times giving evidence of the wildness
that always has been his bane, pitched
remarkably effective game, allowing
only three scattered hits in the first six
innings In this period the Nationals
never looked really dangerous. although
they twice got within scoring distance
second base.
Rice, in the opener. did this when
he was hit by pitched ball and stole
| to register his thirty-first theft of
| the campaign. Roth then was called
out on strikes. Shanks died at sec
ond trying to stretch his single in