|
Walter “The Big Train” Johnson (1887 - 1946) was an amazing pitcher, not just because of the numbers that he put up during his 21-year career with the Washington Senators, but because he put up those numbers on Senator teams that were very rarely any good.
Despite winning 25 games twice in his first five seasons with the Senators, the team finished in last place or second-last place every one of those years. The team finally rallied around him in 1912 when they finished in second place, thanks in large part to Johnson’s 32 wins, 1.39 ERA, and 303 strikeouts. And just when people thought he couldn’t get any better, Johnson posted 36 wins and a 1.09 ERA the following season - but it was another second place finish for Washington. Unfortunately, it would be eleven more years until Washington made any noise again.
In 1924, with the long-overdue support of teammates, Johnson lead the Senators to their first pennant ever by leading the American League in four major categories that season: wins, winning percentage, ERA, and strikeouts. The Senators captured the World Series championship that season, thanks to Johnson’s game seven relief win.
The following season, Johnson posted 20 more wins and led his team to another pennant, only to have the Pirates beat him in game seven of the World Series.
Johnson retired in 1927. He finished his career with 416 wins, the most by any pitcher in the 20th century. His 2.17 ERA ranks seventh all-time, and he’s the only pitcher who pitched before 1960 that is in the top 10 in strikeouts. The Big Train was one of the first five members elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.
|
| |
