Evening star., 1921-01-16

The season or 192O was an extTdoF-
dinary one for johnson in many ways.
Although 4 veteran. he always is at
the top of his game in the spring. and
il seemed last season was to be no
execution. He looked good for time.
then contracted a cold that settled in
his back and interfered with his work.
Seemingly Regained stride.
After number of weeks in which
he was considerably off his game he
seemed to get back into ms strlde:
AS a matter of fact, he celebrated his
return by pitching a no-hit. no-run
game against Boston. If memory
serves me correctly. only one man
reached first and he, through an error
in the inheld: 1t was perfectly
game.
formance which is the ambition OF
every pitcher, and which. by the way.
to have little trouble with his arm.
The trouble seemed to increase. de
spite the usual treatments given to
remedy such ailments. 1t was finally
decided that absolute rest was best. so
Johnson was sent home for a long
stay. I understand he felt SO good
near. the close of the season that he
was eager to return and give the arm
q thorough tryout. However. 1t was
deemed best that he reserve the test
1871. DcileNlue thS ouoASAoAAe~>
rest through the winter would prove
ell the more beneficial.
Expects Walter to Come Back.
It is my belief that johnson will win
many ball game for Washington
next season. / cannot reconcile my
self to the belief that he is through.
Perhaps the thought that the game
can so i'll afford to lose players of the
Johnson type makes me the more GER
tain ne is bound to do a comeback. l
worked a number of ball games back
of Walter last year. and he showed
me too much stuff in those games TO
make me believe his good old right
arm has lost it's swift" as Nick AL
GocE puts it.
Just how serious the trouble really
was with his pitching arm, l really do
not know was as surprised as any
one when learned he was out OF the
game with a sore arm. johnson has
always taken such wonderful care of
himself that his condition is sure to
prove him in good stead. Unless his
'arm suffered an unusually severe
straih-and from what l can learn. it
didn't look for johnson to continue
to pitch good ball for the Nationals.
If rest was the tonic needed. the
Washington club has given him the
opportunity to reeuperate. The mo.
the club laid aside all selfshness and
sent Johnson home. thereby making
big difference with the club as
drawing card
Many Feats to His Credit.
No fan is pulling more for the re-
turn to form by johnson than ! am. +,
have always admired Johnson because {,
he is a real man. His work has fairly |
teemed with color. doubt if any !
pitcher ever performed more unusual |
stunts. In looking over my records I
note the following feats: In 1913. be-
tween April 10 and May Is. he pitched
fifty-six consecutive scoreless innings.
IN 1912 he won sixteen straight
games, a record equaled only by Joe
Wood. In that same year he won
nine from the White Sox. No other
major league pitcher ever won more
from the same team in a season. In
September. 1905. he pitched three con-
secutive shut-outs against the New
York Americans. l umpired those
three games and was in position to
appreciate his work. In 1910 he
struck out 313 men. No wonder fan
dom is interested in his chances to
come back.
Copyright. 1921