The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-30
BIGGEST THRILL
OF J0HNS0N'S
CAME IN 1924
Twas in Worlds Series, When
Washington Came From
Behind TO Win
PITCHED BRILLIANTLY
In 1925 Series Came His Big
gcst Disappointment, He
Tells Billy Evans
PITCHED BRILLIANTLY
EY BILLY EVANS


The greatest thrill of Walter John
sons remarkable career, he himsc
tells me. was centered in the las
-FOUR innings of the final game o
the 1924 world series.
After having waited 1S wears t
get chance to work in the base
ball classic. the opportunity FINAL,
arrived when Washington won tn
American League pennant in 1924
The fans. like Johnson, had been pull
ing for the chance TO see the smok,
ball king pit his stuff against tn,
cream of the National League.
After being beaten in his first TIVE
starts. losing the first game after /.
innings of play. in which he strucl
out an even dozen. it seemed as j,
the opportunity to strut his stuff
had come too lSa.
Was DiscOnsOlate
Prior 70 the seventh and final con.
test Of the series, with the games
standing at three ALL had lone
chat with Johnson in the dressing
room at the Washington club. He
was nightly disconsolate. Those two
defeats had created more sorrow in
his heart than all his other reverses
IN IL years of glorious victory. He
seer'"d to think that in the one big
test he had failed loyal fandom.
"A lot Of things may happen before
this ball game is over" was my
parting remark as left johnson
alone in the big dressing room
methodically packing his belongings
for the return to his home in the
west.
Maybe. At least I hope So" was
his rejoinder.
! could see by the expression on
his face and the way he spoke, that
he held out little hope for a CHARGE
to wipe out the reverses.
Things did happen in thu. ball
gam. Going into the. eighth inning
with Washington trailing 81. Man
ager Stanley Harris began rushing in
his reserves. in the hope of at least
evening the count.
Things Happened
With one out, Memo iiebold, bat
ting for Tommy Taylor, a minor
Lacquer who was filling in at third
smashed a line drive to left for two
bases. Ruel, who had not made a hit
n the series. broke in with nu~,ber
,ne. which put men on first and third
and still only one out. Tate, bat
ting for Pitcher Marberry, walked
filing the bases.
AS Tate went to bat in place of
Marberry, the Washington crowd got
% its feet almost as one person. at
he sight Of Walter Johnson rush
ne ont to the bull pen to warm up.
t was apparent that Manager Har-
is intended to put the game up to
Johnson If his club was able to tie
n go out in front.
The hopes of Washington faded as
McNeely flied out to left and the
'unners held their bases. 1t was up
o Manager Harris, the next hitter.
NTH two strikes on him, he singled
o left. the ball bounding over Lind
ltrom's head, Liebold and Ruel, scor-
ng. evening the count.
From this spot on, Walter John
on dominated the game. until Wash
ngton put over the winning run in
he 18th. In four innings he struck
,ut 5 men, most of them coming with
men on bases.
Gave Him Biggest Thrill
Those Our innings provided Wal
er johnson with the greatest thrill
# his long and brilliant career. In
our innings, after waiting Is years.
le did what the fans expected him
o do-shine brightly in world SER
es.
The greatest disappointment of his
career. Walter prefers not to dis
'uss that unpleasant happening.
However, it came in the following
world series, that of 1925, between
Pittsburgh and Washington. Fate
stacked the cards against him this
ime.
johnson opened against the Pirates
md pitched a wonderful game. He
allowed only five hits, struck out
o men and finished in front by the
score Of Al. He followed this up
~ 40 shutout in the fourth game
If the series, allowing six hits and
'snning six of the opposition.
Since the series went seven games,
he issue was put up to Johnson as
% whether Washington was to repeat
as a worlds champion. When his
teammates gave him a four-run lead
n the very first inning, the series
looked all over but the shouting from
a Washington standpoint. In the
previous Is innings Pittsburgh had
made only one run off his delivery
and that was a homer.
1t wasn't in the books for Washing
ton to win, however. johnson was
wretchedly supported and the strain
Of the other two games had robbed
nj, Of much of his stuff. Fate had
given him just the opposite break
Of the previous series.