Evening star., 1924-10-03

peering out into the hazy blue. For
of fate may be in store no one know
If the fans of the world could
translate their thoughts to deeds they
would carry Walter Johnson through
the series without ever tally scored
against him. The only doubt in the
minds of the fans is, HAS Walter S
day come too late?" UnqueStIonably
he is not the pitcher that he was
Johnson admits this as readily as
his own worst critic. Although the
records show that this is one of Wal
ter'S very best years, they also show
that out of 81 starts he has been re-
lieved no less than IS times. SO the
Giants naturally feel that they have
a $3.50 chance of knocking this
champion of American League twIrl
crs clean off the rubber.
Marvel of the Game.
Walter Johnson has been the
marvel OF modern base ball. In the
first place, he has defied all traditions
by becoming an idol of the fans all
around the American League circuit
without the aid of a nickname or a
diminutive. He was just plain, titan
tinted Walter Johnson when he came
into big league ball and he is just
Walter johnson as he goes into the
twilight zone of his long and hon
orable career.
Sport writer's have referred to him
as the "Cofeyville Cyclone" as the
Big Train" and as the Smoke Ball
King and even as Barney" but
Walter johnson has never been
known to fans as Babe" or as
Waite" or as Johnnie" He has
been too earnest, too dignitied, too
painst aking for that. There is no
flash" about Walter Johnson. When
he goes into the box there is no
smile upon his lips. Base ball has
been his profession, his career. 1t
has been a serious career. Walter
loves the game, but he loves it as a
lawyer loves his Blackstone and not
merely as a pleasant and profitable
diversion.
1t was the privilege of this writer
to meet and watch Walter johnson
work in his bush league days. He
stood in the center of diamond laid
out on lava dust and fringed with
sage brush. Legend had it that as
pitcher for the Weiser, Idaho, team,
Walter went something like 61 in
ningS without hit being made
against him. Certainly he went that
long without a run being scored. In
those days about the only way an op-
posing batsman could get to first base
was for the badly battered catcher to
miss a third strike.
Catching Walter Johnson out in the
desert brush when manhood's estate
still was three years in the ofting was
about as nice a job as sticking
gloved hand in front of d French
rs" Walter himself has forgotten
the names of some of these hero
backstops, but it is a safe bet that
they never will forget-possibly never
forgive-Johnson.
Trial Lasts for Months.
About two-score newspaper men
and ten constituted themselves into
big league scouts when they first
came in contact with Walter Johnson.
The Moyer-Haywood-P -Pettibone trials
at Boise, Idaho, had taken them from
the effete east into the heart of the
west. The trials lasted for months.
Then. were no court sessions on Sun
day--but there was base ball. No one
of the eastern writer's will ever let
fade the memory of the first Sunday
that Walter visited the Idaho me
tropolis" and the Unknown Walter
johnson took the mound. That was
in the early spring of 1907.
The writer. feeling Columbus
complex, ana being a resident of
Washington at the time, promptly
wired to the late Tom c. NoyeS, who
was president of the Nationals, tell
ing him here was a Cyclone" worth
giving the once-over. Sad was the
lot of the "discoverer' when Tom
Noyes. under whom he had labored
seven years as reporter, wired
back his thanks and the information
that Walter already had been OBJ
served and was about to sign on the
dotted line.
Late in the Summer of 1907 John
son reported to the Nationals. His
start in the big league was not
propitious one. He won only five
games in 1907 and lost nine. 1t was
not until 1910 that he was able to
win more games than he lost. He
climbed steadily then until his peak
was reached in 1913, when he won
the startling total of sc games and
lost only for a percentage OF .S3I.
The average of earned runs scored
against him was only 1.09. If in
1913 Walter Johnson had had the
present Nationals behind him 1T is
doubtful if he would have lost a
game And if he could have entered
the world series that year. he would
have carried his team to at least
three victories single handed.
Still Loves the Game.
Johnson is not old so far as the work
aday world is concerned, but sport. the
hard taskmaster, writes him down as
lust about to go "over the hill" He will
be 81 in November. Humboldt, kans..
gave Johnson to base ball. In his youth
he was attracted to the far West and
still loves it. His father-in-law is the
mayor of Reno. New, where the divorces
come from. Walter married Miss Rob-
erts when her father was congress-
man. so Washington may be said to
have served him kindly in many ways.
Mrs. Johnson is on hand to see her
husband pitch his first world series
game, and so is the strawberry blond
twirIer's mother-all of them fairly
bursting with family pride.
Two of the Johnson children also are
in the Capital, little Bobby, aged 3, and
Carolyn, a bright young miss OF 20
months The sad part is that Walter
Johnson, jr. aged s, and Eddie, who has
Just turned Z, will not be here to see
father on the mound.
Johnson's record in base ball is we'll
known. He has, in truth, been monu-
ment to the game. If integrity, honesty
and modesty amount to anything in this
world, Walter johnson has achieved
about all there is. A man of fine mental
and moral qualities, clear thinking,
clean living, he has deserved all the
popularity which has been his.
Tall, angular, with long arms that
have the most natural swing in base
ball. Johnson was built for long race,