The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-28
Made Fools Of Detroit Slug
gers, Using Only Fast Ball
Was Greatest Exhibition
Have Ever Seen BY Any
Rookie Evans Says
RY BILLY EVANS

waiter johnson 5 DEBUT rs an
american League pitcher was moth
ing short Of a classic. During fis
long career filled with rcmarkabl"
performances, his first game stands
out in bold relief.
After he had gotten 'hc tinks out
Of his legs and tho knots on. Of his
long arms, as result Of his week If
travel from Wciscr, idaho, seeing
America from car windows, Manager
Cantilon asked him when he would
like to start ball game.
I've been ready every day since
arrived" was Johnson's laconc re-
ply.
The fact that Washington was in
last place and drawing poorly
made it seem wise to use Johnson as
the means Of stirring up little en-
thusiasm and getting out big crowd.
1t was decided to send johnson first
against Detroit, then leading the
league, the team that ultimately won
the 1907 championship.
! was the umpire in that game and
don't believe | will ever forget the
pitching Of Johnson in his major
league debut. The Detroit club was
a smuggling aggregation, boasting an
array of hard hitters led by such
noted batsmen as Ty Cobb, Sam
Crawford, and Claude Rossman. 1t
was Il club that liked nothing better
than fast ball pitching.
Tigers Helpless
Throughout the game, Johnson
pitched to the strength of the Detroit
club, using only fast ball. he had
nothing else in his repertoire. but be-
fore him the Tigers were helpless.
AS they would pop up, strike out or
hit puny grounders to the infield.
the battle cry of Catcher Charley
Street to the Detroit club was always
the same
Boys. you just can't hit what you
cant see"
He chantcd that line from the start
to the finish of the game. Late in
the contest, about the seventh inning
/ believe, the Tigers, unable to hit
began a bunting game that accom-
plished it's purpose of Temporary un-
setting Johnson and enabled Detroit
to put over two runs, enough to win
the game by one-run margin.
It was the greatest exhibition of
pitching, sheer ability alone consid-
! cred, that have ever seen any
rookie show in his major league de-
but. That one performance stamped
Johnson as a regular member Of the
none too strong pitching staff of the
tail end Senator'S.
The record Of JOhnnson's first year
in the American League stands out
as mute tribute to his greatness as
a pitcher. The cold statistics bear
out the many flattering things ! have
aready said about the youngster. des-
| tined to be the most famous pitcher
that has ever graced the national
pastime. AS turn back to my files
for 1907 find this data.
Is Effective
"In point Of effectiveness against
the batsmen as far as run-getting
was concerned, the young Washing
ton pitcher, Walter johnson, who
'broke into the American League, un-
known and unhcraldcd, except for
certain references to his strikeout
ability, was the most effective pitch
err in the American League for 1907
I'm his first year as big league,
he allowed only 33 runs in IA games
or 2.36 tallies per contest. Ever
more striking was the small numbe,
Of hits garnered off his delivery
| only 95, less than seven to a game
This. with . ball club that finished :,
bad last--and still he managed Il
7, win five games while losing nine"
/ To me the above data Of Johnson.
4 first year in the American Leagu,
i epitomixes his true greatness bette
than any other evidence might Of
Ter 70 substantiate my opinion thu