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Johnson, Walter

Walter Perry Johnson
Born: November 6, 1887, Humboldt, Kansas
Died: December 10, 1946, Washington, District of Columbia
Bats: 
Right
Throws: 
Right
Played For: 
Washington Senators (1907-1927)
Elected to the Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers: 1936
Biography: 

There were no sophisticated measuring devices in the early 1900s, but Walter Johnson's fastball was considered to be in a class by itself. Using a sweeping sidearm delivery, The Big Train fanned 3,508 over a brilliant 21-year career with the Washington Senators, and his 110 shutouts are more than any pitcher. Despite hurling for losing teams most of his career, he won 417 games -- second only to Cy Young on the all-time list -- and enjoyed 10 successive seasons of 20 or more victories.

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Induction Speech

 

Did You Know: 
that Walter Johnson's final Major League appearance came as a pinch-hitter in the same game in which Babe Ruth hit his then-record 60th home run of the season on Sept. 30, 1927?
He had a slingshot delivery with nice, easy movement, which didn't seem to be putting any strain at all on his arm. But he could propel that ball like a bullet.
Fred Lindstrom