Evening star., 1924-03-30


It is hard to believe, when you
look at him, that Walter Johnson is
starting on his eighteenth year in
the big league--all Of which years
were spent with the Washington club.
With a record of service such as
that it is small wonder that they
are whispering that Johnson has lost
his speed-that he is about through.
But how can you gauge a man 5
speed? Has there yet been invented
machine that can be attached to
pitchers arm which will measure to
an eXactitude the force he puts be-
hind the ball And even if there
were such d machine, what would 1t
prove
Pitchers as they become more ex-
pertenced and skillful rely more and
more on their heads To win ball
games. There are players 70 whom
a slow ball is more deadly than a
fast one So when Walter Johnson
serves UP 4 slow one maybe it means
something else than that he is
breaking. AnalyZe his pitching and
you'll say he wasn't through up TO
the end Of the 1928 season. Given
better support. that record would
have been even better.
Walt Took Care of HOrnsby.
AS for his 1924 form. it is, of course,
10 early to try 10 speak definitely.
But this much may be said. There
was great to-do in Florida recently
when Johnson faced Rogers Hornsby,
the National League batting cham
pion, in an exhibition game. II was
the first of the series between Wash
tngton and ST. Louis, and the question
of whether Hornsby would bat john
son out of the lot drew a lot Of Gus
toners.
What happened? Nothing much.
Hornsby faced Johnson twice and
both times he had, an opportunity 70
drive in runs. He hit twice to the in
fieIders One Of the two times he hit
into double play.
That sort of eYened old scores lot
johnson. for it was Hornsby who, on an
exhibition trip to the far west some
seasons ago, made d home run off
Johnson and won a game for his team.
johnson knew him better in Florida,
AS either his head or his arm-maybe
both-were working better.
Perfect Pitching Machine.
In form. Johnson still is the marvel
ously perfect pitching machine OF by
gone days. You can't criticize his de-
livery unless you want TO criticize ali
the experts have said about the proper
way to pitch He swings from his
shoulder with perfect grace. There
isn't a- lost motion from his shoulder to
his wrist No Iinking of the wrist
tendons 10 give the ball final snap,
which has ruined so many pitchers. No
Jerking at the elbow 10 stiffen and
weaken that joint No heaving from the
shoulder that means uprooted tendons.
Just a lazy, easy swing-the swing of
the man whom nature made pitcher,
with the face of a Greek athlete.
How does it feel to have made 1900
strike-outs and over johnson was
asked
Why" he answered, heSi itatingly, how
should 1t feel? ! just made them, that's
all. If the boys had not kept account
of them in their scores 1 never would
have known l had made that many.
"A strike-out is part of a pitchers
task but not all of it It's fun to strike
out a great batter at a critical moment.
but the main thing is to get him out in
any legitimate way, for you never know
when that fellow may trim you for a
home run with three on base Striking
batter out is all right. But getting
him out is the main thing"
How long will this grand old master
last? Well, you guess. Right now it
looks as if he had just tapped another
reservoir of strength.
Copyright, 1921)