The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-07-29
JOHNSON CALLED
WORLDS FINEST
BY A. l. UMPIRE
He Possesses Every Attri-
butte of Greatness Billy
Evans Says
is A STEADY PITCHER
Hurler Doesn't Pitch Such a
Speedy Ball Now, But
It's Puzzler
Is A STEADY PITCHER
Ry RTLLY EVANS

/ doubt it baseball will ever pro-
duce another pitcher just like Wal
ter Johnson. He possesses every at
tribute Of greatness.
Since his first year in the Amer
lean League, when as raw recruit
he led all the pitchers in point Of
effectiveness, his career has been
one continuous record-breaking per-
Torrance, even though records mean
little or nothing to him.
Johnson has pitched more years,
has taken part in more games, has
won more victories, has scored more
shutouts, has struck out more bats
men, and has worked more consecu-
tive scoreiess innings than any other
pitcher in the history of the Amer
lean League.
have been particularly fortunate
in umpiring a great many games in
which Johnson has established var
ious record-breaking feats. Nothing
offers a better method of compar
ison than observation, therefore l am
in a position to pass fairly sound
judgment on him.
One Shut-out Outstanding
While no one is thrilled by exactly
the same sort Of performance, it has
always seemed to me that one of
the outstanding feats Of Johnson was
accomplished in his second year in
the ma ors. 1t was the shutting out
Of the New York team in three con-
secutive games in the same series.
Now for just few personal rea-
sons why ! regard johnson. as the
greatest pitcher have seen in action
during the DaSt 25 wears
The speed of no modern pitcher
consistently compares with the steady
stream of "swift" that Johnson has
constantly poured at the opposing
batsmen. Nick Altrock, comedian of
the Washington club, is responsible
for the coming of the word "swift"
as applied to Johnson's speed. Nick
insists that "swift" alone describes
Walters fast ball. the mere word
speed" falls short.
He's Different Now
The Walter Johnson of the last
ten years, however, is an entirely
different pitcher from the Johnson
who for the first ten years of his
major league career won undying
pitching fame by throwing the ball
past the batters.
For those first ten years Johnson
would start the game with every bit
of stuff he had on the first ball
and he would continue to burn each
succeeding pitch over the plate with
that same dazzling speed, until his
team would obtain for him a lead
that appeared reasonably safe. Then,
and only then would he let down on
his fast ball.
recall "a game that Johnson
pitched against Detroit in which he
struck out ten men in the first five
innings. His club got him four.
run lead in the last Of the fifth.
With chance to break the modern
record of 16 strikeouts, he eased up
rerceptibly and my recollection isl
lnat he got only two men on strikes1
in the next four innings, making an
even dozen whiffs for the day.
Struck Out 313 In 1910
During the season of 1910, Johnson
struck out BIB men. He won PSI
games that year. venture to say
that in at least half Of those victor
les, the moment his lead became rea-
sonably certain, he cut down on his |
stuff and thus passed UP during the
season the opportunity of adding att
least SO more strikeouts to his credit. !
Had he done so, he would have
broken the record Of Amos Rusic of
345 made in the National League and
the American League best performs
ance Of 343 held by "Rube" Waddell. /
Speed when used exclusively by a
pitcher will finally exact its toll,
and while Walter Johnson still has
one Of the best fast balls in the
American League after 20 years of
pitching, it has lost considerable of
the "swift" that has always marked
him as the most feared pitcher in
the majors.
Today, Johnson has mighty afine
curve ball. He has an excellent
change of pace and at times slips up
slow ball that completely upse;s the
batsman. for even after 20 years,
rival hitters think first Of Johnson's
speed when facing him.