Evening star., 1924-11-18

Nio' ~ AoPhuiS itS III 81 lCdkuS pSll1
sensational efforts in the final co
New York Giants, which made the
universe.
The fact that the season recently
ended, when Johnson, in his eight
zenith campaign a major league
performer, and at the age of 81. won
% games and lost :. for percentage
OF LEX, was the second best OF his
erltire career, enables him to make
mis- exit in much the same manner as
title-holding pugilist who voluntar-
ally quits the ring with the distinction
OF being the retired undefeated
champion" In only one other season.
mat of 1918, when he annexed &c VIC
fories, offset by only.7 setba acks for
u mark OF .S37, did Johnson excel his
work OF the past Summer.
1t would have been something OF &
Srasedy had Walter stayed IN harness
sander the main tent and finally met
She fate that ultimately must come TO
All athletes OF being reduced to me-
N1ocrltS as moundSman through the
roll IneSorably taken by Father Time.
Will Be Made Free Agent.
Dispatches from the Coast are to
Che effect that Johnson, in partner
ship with George Weiss, owner of
me New Haven club Of the Eastern
sLeasue, practically has completed ne
EQUATIONS for the acquisition Of the
oakland club from J. Cal Ewing for
u financial consideration Of close to
@teo,OOO, the only formalities remain
1hS being the actual signing Of the
mecessary legal papers and the OBJ
tanning by Johnson of his release
from the Nationals
This Walter is assured Of for Pres
adent Clark Griffith announced some
time back that he would put no
obstacles in the way OF Johnson get
t1ng the opportunity of striking cut
Tor himself, and he reAerated today
ahst much as he regretted losing
Walters services, he would gladly
give him his release to grasp the
opportunity of bettering himself
should the deal be satisfactorily
swung.
consent OF all the other clubs in
the American and National League
also is necessary before johnson will
he free to take his first fling as a
mosul, but there is no question that
this viii be forthcoming.
ft was with mixed emotions that
manager Stanley Harris learned that
the lons-pending deal which means
tho passing Of Johnson as a cog in
the local base ball machine has been
virtually completed Harris natu-
rally was impressed with the extent
or the loss in strength. the team will
--ASA 11OiAh INC PdSS4HB Oh Il DlCcner
VINO turned in more than q score of
victories last season, and fully real
fses how much more difficult this will
make his task Of giving the CAPITAL
a winner in 1926, but feels sincerely
sratfied that Johnson at last has OBJ
famed the chance he has been seek
Ing for many years.
Set Two Great Records.
In fading from the major league
picture Johnson will leave several
pitching records for those to come to
shoot at, and at least two that prob
ably never will be approached. Some
pitcher some day may pitch more
than IS seasons for one club as John
son did, but It seems unlikely, to- saw
rhe least. Old Denton Decumseh
tC) Young was a big league hurler
for 22 seasons, but he appeared in
two leagues and with three teams in
that stretch.
johnson's most notable achieve
ment undoubtedly was in estab
ing the high-water mark in the mat
ter OF shut-out victories al 1G7, which
goal he achieved on August 20 last, !
when he blanked the ST Louis
Browns in this city for his sixth
white-wa shing effort of the 1924
campaign. Little less remarkable is
the record he holds of having struck |
out 3,225 batsmen, which is exactly |
22s more than the total compiled by |
,ths illustrious Christy Mathewson |
with the New York Giants in Il
eeasona
Another record held by Johnson
That Is likely to balz all comp petitors |
FOR years to come was that in 1913 !
of pitching 56 consecutive scoreless !
innings and still another, that of
twi-ling shut-out victories on three !
consecutive playing days which |
Walter did in September 1908, with |
fhe New York Yankees as his victims. |
Entered Hall of Fame.
Johnson entered the pitchers hall |
OF fame at Boston on July 1, 1920
when he turned back the Boston Red |
Sox without a single hit OF run, and |
1ls came CLOSE TO duplicating this /.
feat only this year when he blanked |
the st. Louis Browns in this city on |
August 90 without a bingle or tally |
for seven innings, only to have rain |
khd the contest.
Johnson is the joint holder with |
Hooks Wiltse OF the Giants and Guy
Morton of the Indians of the record |
of -four strike e-outs for a single in |
ming, and Walter shares with Joe
Wood Of the Boston Red Sox the |
American League record for consecu-
tive games won, at 16, both having |
accomplished this mark in the same |
year-1912. Striking evidence that |
he RETAINED his potent power far be-
yond the period when q, hurler Ia ex- !
peoted to remain efficient is found in |
the fact that johnson in 1924. a doz-
endseasons after that notable effort, |
Sad' his league in the matter of
straight wins with IS.
JohnsOn's All-tfme Record.
When it IS borne in mind that for
a. great majority OF the time he spent
with the Washington club Johnson
received only Indifferent and some |
times outright weak support from his
teammates, his lifetime record for
games won and lost is a most re-
markable one. Following are the
figures, compiled from unofficial rec
ords:
Year. Won. Lost fct.
YeOS .357
1898 IL a 500
lSos s.................. Is % $40
40lV 50 - 'SCs