Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-02
Walter Johnson.

waller JOuuSOu.
Today's base ball game in the
National Capital is an event Of ex.
ceptional importance to the sport.
1t Is the anniversary of the advent
into the organized professional ranks
Of a player who has done perhaps
more than any other single man to
raise the standard of performance and
character Of the personnel of the ma
tional pastime. This day, twenty
years ago. a young man from the
West, a tall STRIPPING, stepped into
the box for the Northumberland lost
his first contest. But his losing was
in itself a victory, for 1t showed
that he possessed the qualities OF real
greatness. He had come from little
bush league" team in the foothills
Of the Rockies, where his work had
attracted the attention Of some of the
scouts Of the big-time clubs, league
in which games were played only two
or three days in a week. where the
teams UOdSteu VI dpouI t"o PAs~hSA~'
each. One of these scouts, directed
by the then leader Of the Washington
club, Joe Cantillon, best remembered
perhaps for this achievement, sought
him out and signed him up for the Ma
tionals. He came East, and proved to
be green in every department OF his
speciality Of pitching. but the master
of binding speed. An apt pupil, he
developed rapidly, being eager for In
struction and advice, and though, as
said. he was beaten on his first trip
to the slab on that August 2, 1907,
he was recognized then by the doughty
batsmen Of the Detroit team as a
foeman of exceptional quality. One OF
them remarked to the Washington
manager: Joe, that fellow will be
pitching long after you and I are
out Of the game"
Today he Is pitching again, and the
prediction Of twenty years ago has
been verified. Gone are nearly all
the players whom he faced then.
Only one Of them, now playing on
another team after years of sensa.
tional success. Is in active service.
And Walter Johnson, though no longer
as unbeatable as he soon became after
that initial performance In 1907, Is
yet the master mind Of the pitchers
box.
It is altogether appropriate that he
should be honored by special ceremony
on this the twentieth anniversary Of
his debut. He has himself honored the
game not only by his remarkable serv-
ice, but by his character, his demeanor
in action, his upright conduct on and
off the ball field. He has contributed
richly to the prosperity Of the game
and to its prestige. He has given
the newer Corners in the sport an
example.
Walter johnson has shown the
younger generation of ball players
that clean living and scrupulous de-
votion to the task Of winning the
game pays well. He has shown them
that skill alone is not the essential
Of success, but that fair sportsman
ship is required. He has demonstrated
that Grabbing" against real or mag
ined inju tice in decisions is In the
long run a losing Indulgence. 1t Is
an axiom Of the game today that
Walter never 'kicks" at ruling. and
the consequence is that he always
gets all that is coming to him from
the umpires, who, after all, are HUI
man. with the weaknesses Of human
ity, including gratitude for acquies'
cence in their mistakes.
Statistics are being adduced in great
volume to show the wonderful record
Of this player. His career has been
marked by many notable accomplish
ments. But the greatest Of them all
is his winning Of high repute, not
merely as a player, but as a man.
He has prospered and his prosperity
is a matter of pride to all his asso.
ciates in the game. He has won count
less friends, and their friendship Is
an inspiration to the thousands OF
others who are toiling on the diamond.
He has honored the game that has
become an institution in America, and
| for that he is today the hero OF a
celebration that partakes Of national
rejoicing in the high standard of the
sport and the remarkable success and
career Of this wonderful player, who
retains after twenty years the mod.
esty that marked him when he pitched
his first ball.
May Walter Johnson remain long
in action, as he will remain for all
time in the hearts Of the patrons OF
the sport. a gentleman and an artist
| In his chosen line Of LIES work.
| RI Y,