Player Profile

Biography / Info

• Walter Johnson played major league baseball from 1907 through 1927. He amassed all 417 of his career victories with a perennial losing team, the Washington Senators. Known in his era, and even today as possibly the hardest throwing pitcher to take the mound, he led the American League in strikeouts in 12 of his 21 seasons. Many pitchers of that time used the spitball or some other doctored pitch, but Johnson didn't. He relied on his blazing fastball which dominated hitters for two decades. Johnson was a reserved, humble man, who didn't drink, smoke or swear and was always a popular figure wherever he went.
• In the spring of 1902, the Johnson's moved to Olinda California hoping to strike it rich in the recently discovered oil fields. No oil came the Johnson's way but the strong, athletic Walter began playing baseball with the local oil field's junior team. By 1905, Johnson was by far the league's standout pitcher. 
• One day after the San Francisco earthquake on April 18, 1906, Johnson received an offer to play for the Tacoma club of the Northwest League. Amazingly he was released within 2 weeks after a reported 1-1 record. He went on to pitch and also work digging post holes for the Weiser Telephone Company's team in Idaho. By late summer he returned to the Olinda team to prepare for the winter baseball season. Again he was impressive and  he was chalking up strikeouts at a sizzling rate.
• In the early spring of 1907, Johnson headed back to Idaho to pitch for the Weiser team. Sketchy records and accounts show here that Johnson struck out 166 batters in only 99 innings pitched. In addition he threw 7 straight shutouts. This is where he was finally discovered as a big time prospect. Washington Senators manager Joe Cantillon received a tip on Johnson and ordered his injured catcher Cliff Blankenship to scout him. After one game, Blankenship was impressed and was given authorization to offer Johnson a contract for $350 a month, plus a $100 signing bonus. Johnson accepted and on July 22, he departed on a train headed for the big leagues. In 11 days, he would make his major league debut. 

His Playing Days

• 1907: In his big league debut, Johnson lost 3-2 to Ty Cobb and the Detroit Tigers. Even the great Ty Cobb was impressed with the rookie's outstanding pitching that day. Cobb even went to the Detroit brass to try and get the 19 year old. No such luck. 
• 1908: Shuts out the Yankees three straight games, all within 4 days.
• 1910: President Taft throws out the first pitch to start the season at a game in Washington.  This was the first time on record a President threw out the first pitch. The ball gets thrown to Walter Johnson and the Senators go on to win the game from the A's 3-0.  Johnson allows 1 hit, fans 9 and has a double and a run scored on the historic day. As it turns out, it became tradition and Johnson caught opening day balls from Presidents Wilson, Harding, Coolidge and Hoover. Went on to lead the league in games, complete games, innings pitched, and strikeouts.
• 1911: The Senators muster up only 64 wins, 25 of them by Johnson. Led league in complete games and shutouts.
• 1912: Johnson leads league in strikeouts and earned run average. He won 16 straight games during a 50 day stretch of the summer.  He finished second in wins and innings pitched as Washington improves to a 91 win second place season.
• 1913: The finest of all seasons for Johnson. Led league in wins, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, strikeouts and earned run average. Posted 14, 11 and 10 game winning streaks. 
• 1914: Now earning about $12,000 per year, Johnson led the circuit in wins, games, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched and strikeouts. The newly formed Federal League had offered Johnson $16,000 plus a bonus to jump to the new league and play for the  Chicago Whales the next season. He listened to the offer and nearly accepted. Only after part owner/manager Clark Griffith matched the offer and personally talked to Johnson did he stay in the Capital.
• 1915: Led league in wins, complete games, innings pitched, and strikeouts for his fourth place Senators.
• 1916: Outdueled in an August game 1-0 in 13 innings by a rising star pitcher from the Red Sox. That star's name was Babe Ruth. Despite that game, Johnson again led the league in wins, complete games, innings pitched, and strikeouts for his sub .500 club.
• 1918: League leader in wins, shutouts, strikeouts and earned run average in the war shortened season. 
• 1919: During one stretch of a 12 inning 0-0 tie against the Yankees, Walter retired 28 consecutive batters. The amazing game featured future football immortal George Halas who went 0 for 5 against The Big Train. Johnson led the league in strikeouts and earned run average.
• 1920: Walter picks up career win number 300 and tosses his only career no hitter as the 'live ball' era begins. A sore arm limited him to only 21 games.  
• 1921-1923: With his fastball still alive, he led the league in strikeouts in '21 and '23, and finished 5th in 1922. 
• 1924: With Johnson leading the league in wins, shutouts, strikeouts and earned run average the Senators captured their first and only World Series title. The additions of players like Joe Judge and Goose Goslin gave Johnson the support he so badly needed. Although he was 1-2 in the Series against the Giants, the one victory came in relief in the deciding game.
• 1925: Johnson and the Senators capture the American League pennant again, but lose to the Pirates in the Series in 7 games. Johnson was 2-1 with a 2.08 earned run average. The one loss came in game 7 as the Pirates rallied for 5 runs in the last two innings to win 9-7.
• 1926: Despite his fastball slowing down, Johnson does pick up career win number 400. . 
• 1927: During spring training, Walter suffered a broken leg off of a line drive off the bat of Joe Judge. He returned to get into 18 games and  in a final farewell, Johnson pinch hits and flies out to Babe Ruth, who had moments earlier hit his 60th home run of the season. 

Post Major League

• 1928: In the spring, a terrible flu took 35 pounds off of Johnson's large frame and Clark Griffith sent him down to manage the Newark club of the International League. Here he put himself into a game and walked the only man he faced. It was his only appearance in minor league baseball.
• 1929-1932: Managed the Senators to a fifth, second and then two third place finishes. Replaced after the 1932 season by Joe Cronin.
• 1933-1935: Managed the Cleveland Indians but was let go in August after a controversy over disciplining one of his players. 
• 1939: Became the radio announcer for the Washington Senators for one season.
• 1940: Dabbled unsuccessfully in politics and lost the congressional election.
• 1946: In April, a brain tumor and stroke left Johnson paralyzed. He'd live only a handful of months before passing away, ending the life of one of the greatest performers the pasttime has ever had. 

Hall of Fame

• 1936: Part of the first group of players inducted into the newly established Baseball Hall of Fame.

Career Statistics