Evening star., 1933-06-09
BIG TRAIN PLEASED
johnson Wont Take Charge of Team
Until After Seeing One Game.

Until After Seeing One Game.
Asserting he was glad to be back in
base ball and hoped to make the In
dians winner, Walter johnson, whose
appointment as manager Of the Cleve-
land club of the American League was
announced today. said he would formu-
late no plans regarding the team until
he had looked the situation over.
The 46-year-old veteran Of the ma
tional pastime, seen today at his home
at Alta Vista, Nd, suburb Of the Cap
ital, grinned happily over again being
Identified with the sport in which he
was a national figure for more than
two decades until relieved of his job as
pilot of the Washington club with the
close of last season in favor of the
youthful Joe Cronin.
Announcement of Johnson's appoint
ment to succeed Roger Peckinpaugh,
also q former Griffman, as field boss
of the Tribe was made on the return
to Cleveland today of Billy Evans, gen.
eral manager of the club, who motored
here from the Ohio city for series of
conferences that began Wednesday eve
ming and were concluded yesterday.
Leaves Capital Tonight.
johnson tonight will leave for Cleve-
land, where he will occupy the role OF
mere spectator at tomorrow's game with
st. Louis, taking charge of the In
dians for the first time in Sunday
game against the Browns.
I've been so busy on my place here, -
said johnson, surveying his 82-acre
homestead. that I haven't had any
time for base bail this year and haven t
even seen the present Cleveland club
in action. I intend to familiarize my
self with the players and the form they
have been displaying before deciding
whether any changes should be made.
I know the club has some good talent
and believe it can be whipped into a
winner. That's what Mr. Bradley and
I'm going to give the task my best
efforts"
Johnson is leaving his mother in
charge of his brood of five children
Walter, jr., Is years old; Eddie, l6;
Bobby, IL; Caroline, 8, and Barbara, g.
in addition to two small sons of his
sister, who make their home with him.
and will hire some one to do the chores
he has been performing on the minia-
ture farm. which is equipped with a
COW, horse, numerous dogs and large
flock of Rhode Island Red chickens.
johnson first joined the Washington
club. a gangling youth of 10, back in
1907, when Catcher Cliff Blankenship,
disabled at the time by an injury, went
to lock him over at Weiser, Idaho, where
he was playing with semi professional
team. His tremendous speed quickly
made him formidable pitcher, and he
rapidly developed into one of the great
est the game ever produced In his
stretch Of mound activity, extending
over 81 seasons, he set innumerable
records. some of which still stand, and
because of his uniformly admirable con-
duct, both off and on the field, consti-
tuted himself as something Of a ma
tional idol.
Griffith Is Pleased.
In 1928, after his pitching proves
had been impaired by a fractured ankle
due to liner from the bat of First
BaSeman Joe Judge in training the
previous Spring, he made his first man.
agerial plunge with the Newark club
of the International League, but made
a poor showing due to the fact he was
handicapped by a serious case of flu
that for a time threatened to prove
fatal.
The following season, 1929, he was
made manager of the Washington club
and, after landing the club at the TOP
of the second division that year
achieved commendable results by fin
jshing in the runner-up spot in 1890
third In 1881 and third again last sea-
son.
President Clark Griffith of the Wash
ington club, who was active all Winter
in an effort to find place in base bal
I'm Tnt rr.t1@ h ~.
compelled to discharge for business
reasons. plainly was pleased to learn oi
Walters new connection.
''As long as Peck had to go I an
mighty glad Walter got the job" Grif
asserted. He has plenty Of managerial
ability in addition to being a granc
fellow personally and I, along with
every other fan in Washington, will bt
pulling for him to make a great go o.
1t in Cleveland"
NAT PLAYERS GYAn