Walter Johnson

From SoSH

Walter "Big Train" Johnson

Born:	November 6, 1887
Birthplace:	Humboldt, Kansas
Height:	6' 1"
Weight:	200 lbs
Bats:	Right
Throws:	Right
Drafted:	1907: Free Agent by the Washington Senators
College:
High School:
Teams:	Washington Senators 1907 - 1927

1 Overall Career
2 Awards
3 Achievements
4 MLB Records
5 Quotes
6 Trivia
7 Transactions
8 External Links

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Overall Career

Walter Perry "Big Train" Johnson (November 6, 1887 - December 10, 1946), pitched when there were no sophisticated measuring devices in the early 1900s, but 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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Awards

Elected to Hall of Fame by Baseball Writers in 1936 (83.63%)

2-time American League Most Valuable Player (1913 and 1924)
3-time American League Triple Crown (1913, 1918, 1924)

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Achievements

Member of the 300 Win Club (417 Wins)
Member of the 3,000 Strikeout Club (3,509 Strikeouts)

5-time AL ERA Leader (1912, 1913, 1918, 1919 & 1924)
6-time AL Wins Leader 91913-1916, 1918 & 1924)
2-time AL Winning Percentage Leader (1913 & 1924)
2-time AL Games Pitched Leader (1910 & 1914)
5-time AL Innings Pitched Leader (1910 & 1913-1916)
12-time AL Strikeouts Leader (1910, 1912-1921, 1923 & 1924)
6-time AL Complete Games Leader (1910, 1911 & 1913-1916)
7-time AL Shutouts Leader (1911, 1913-1915, 1918, 1919 & 1924)
15 Wins Seasons: 16 (1910-1919 & 1921-1926)
20 Wins Seasons: 12 (1910-1919, 1924 & 1925)
25 Wins Seasons: 7 (1910-1916)
30 Wins Seasons: 2 (1912 & 1913)
35 Wins Seasons: 1 (1913)
200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 18 (1908-1919 & 1921-1926)
300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 9 (1910-1918)
200 Strikeouts Seasons: 7 (1910-1916)
300 Strikeouts Seasons: 2 (1910 & 1912)

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MLB Records

Shutouts, career, 110
Shutout losses, career, 65
Seasons leading league in strikeouts, 12
Most innings pitched without allowing a HR, 371, 1916
Hit batters, career, 203
Triples, career, pitcher, 41
Batting average, pitcher, season (50 at bat minimum), .440, 1925

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Quotes

"He was the only pitcher I ever faced who made the ball whistle. You could actually hear it as it crossed the plate. Sounded like a bullet from a rifle, sort of a zing, and it made you shaky in the knees." ~ Ty Cobb

"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

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Trivia

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, September 30, 1927.

Originally signed with the Tacoma Tigers, but was released without playing in an official game. The Tigers' manager thought that he'd be able to sign more experienced players after the Pacific Coast League was disrupted by the 1906 San Franciso earthquake, and decided to drop Johnson after he had pitched in one exhibition - a benefit for earthquake survivors.

Pitched shutouts in three consecutive games (on Friday, Saturday, and the first game of a Labor Day doubleheader on Monday) against the New York Highlanders in 1908.

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