Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-16
Johnson Still
Holding His Own
Against Wear of Time

New York, Apr. 15.-(P)-Last of
five master craftsmen to defy with
undimmed brilliance the tides of
time and youth, Walter Johnson
presses on unfalteringly to complete
a 20 year pitching reign in the
same month that has marked the
passing of two notable contempora-
ries in the realm of sports.
Victor in a sensational opening
day mound duel with Eddie Rommel
of the Athletics, the veteran Wash
ington star, has resumed his place
on the firing line within a few days
after the passing of jay Gould as
court tennis king and the, defeat of
Willie Hoppe as ISL balk line bill
lard champion.
Gould and Hoppe came into the
arena Of American athletic. contest
| with Johnson-three perennial stars
, who entered upon regimes unequal
led in the history of sport. This
trio arose to greatness in the early
years of the twentieth century along
with two other supermen-Frank
Kramer, the cyclist, and Ty Cobb, he
of the mighty willow.
All but Johnson finally have
| slipped from the pinnacle. Cobb re-
mains to baseball, holding on tena-
ciously as leader of the Detroit Ii
gers. But he has indicated that his
appearances in the lineup this year
are tc be less frequent than ever.
His rame appeared only as pinch
, hitter in the Detroit lineup on the
! opening day.
Goulds retirement from the
court tennis left remarkable record
of achievement. The 50 year old
| veteran, who held his national title
| for IL consecutive years, was de-
! feated only once. F. NJ. Baerlin of
England, caught him out of condi-
, ton three years ago. But a year
! later Gould more than balanced the
account by defeating the European
player in straight sets.
| Kramer, who retired in 1922, after
| winning the American cycling title
IL times, and Hoppe, Is years a bill
lard champion, rank near Gould
! for length of period of their suprem-
| acy. To Cobb belongs the distinc-
| ton Of having led American League
| batsmen for eight consecutive sea-
sons and IL times in II years.
| Pugilism, tennis and golf have
failed to produce champions whose
careers match those of the five ath-
letic marvels of the twentieth CEN
fury. Johnny Kilbane's II year
reign on the featherweight throne,
| although punctuated by long
stretches Of inactivity during the
latter years Of his regime, marked
the longest term Of any fstic king
| in one division. He Is surpassed
| for length of championship reign,
however, by the achievement of
Tommy Ryan.
As welterweight ana rniddleweight
| monarch Ryan was a titlehoIder for
| IL years, presiding over the 145
| pound division from 1894 to 1896,
and over the 155 pound boxer from
the termination Of his welterweight
| reign to 1907.
Lawn tennis produces the next
ranking titleholder in length of rule.
WITH X. Sears. seven champion,
1Sol to 1887. inclusive. big BiIP'
tiioen can equal this mark by gain
ing another triumph this year.
Walter Hagen's career on the
links is studded with many chan .
pfonships in II year period hnt
golf records reveal only one cham
pfon, who was able to hold a ma
tional crown more than two straight
years. Willie Anderson won the
open title in 1903. 1904 and 1905.
Five amateurs have won the anna
tour title two years in succession.
~. j. Whigham, Walter j. Travis
H. Chandler Egan, Jerome Travers
and Bobby Jones, but Travers' record
is the best. After gaining the crown
in 1907 and 1908, he came back 70
win again in 1912 and 1918. "
Chick Evans held both open and
amateur golf titles through 1016
1917 and 1918, the war prec1udins
play after he won both crowns jn
1916 until peace had come.
New York. April 15.-fp,-Tha ~,
versity of Californias decision to send
It's varsity crew to the INTERCOLLEGIATE
championships this year virtually as
sures record array of eight shells
FOR the blue ribbon feature Of the re-
gatta at Poughkeepsie on June %
Washington. Pacific coast champion
this year for the fifth straight time
and the United States Naval Acaden,,,
winner of last years varsity race at
Poughkeepsie, already have signifed
their intention to take part. Wiscon-
sin. which finished third last ve.r
also Is expected back on the Hudson ~
increase the competition for the four
members of the intercollegiate Rowinr
oc1ation-Columbia, Cornell. Penn.
sylvania and Syracuse.