Hall of Famers MVPs Negro Leaguers Historical Hitter Matchups Historical Pitcher Matchups

Today in Baseball Rules in Baseball 1849-1899 Rules in Baseball 1900-Present

American League National League Federal League

Sam Abady Gene Carney Richard Lally John Shiffert Our Readers' Submissions Vault Baseball Library Vault of Lists

Jim Gerard

Today

New Additions

The Way Home is Longer Most Recent Excerpt Archived Excerpts

Jump to:

 

Recent Jumps
John Castino
Red Ruffing
John Anderson
Fred Schulte
John Costello

Walter Johnson from the Chronology

Mar 31, 2006 - The ball that Babe Ruth hit for his last HR at Yankee Stadium is sold for $86,250 at auction. The ball was hit in an exhibition game off Walter Johnson on August 23, 1942.

Jul 19, 2001 - Arizona defeats San Diego‚ 3-0‚ in the completion of a game that was suspended after 2 innings on July 18. Randy Johnson strikes out 16 batters in his 7 innings of relief of Schilling to break the ML mark set by Walter Johnson on July 25‚ 1913. He allows just 1 hit-C Wiki Gonzalez' 8th-inning single-for the Padres only hit in the contest. In addition to setting the record for SO in a game by a reliever‚ Johnson also sets the NL reliever record with 7 consecutive SO. Johnson was 1 shy of the major league mark‚ set by Ron Davis‚ on May 4‚ 1981.

Apr 2, 2001 - The Yankees defeat the Royals‚ 7-3‚ as Roger Clemens records 5 strikeouts and ties (or beats) Walter Johnson as the all-time leader in strikeouts in AL history with 3‚509. According to Total Baseball‚ Clemens has 3‚509 but the Elias Sports Bureau has him with one fewer. The extra strikeout was first discovered in the early 1990s by John Schwartz and it came on September 12‚ 1907. The Rocket makes it moot in his next outing.

Nov 13, 1995 - Atlanta P Greg Maddux wins the NL Cy Young Award for an unprecedented 4th straight time. Maddux had a remarkable 19-2 record with a 1.63 ERA‚ the 2nd year his ERA is below 1.80. Only he and Walter Johnson have done that.

May 20, 1983 - In a 5-0 loss to the Padres‚ Steve Carlton strikes out 4 batters to move past Walter Johnson into 2nd place on baseball's all-time strikeout list. Carlton's 3‚511 strikeouts leave him 10 behind Nolan Ryan‚ who broke Johnson's record earlier this season.

Apr 27, 1983 - In a 4-2 win over the Expos‚ Nolan Ryan strikes out Brad Mills to move a strikeout ahead of Walter Johnson and become baseball's all-time leader at 3‚509. Ryan will finish the season at 3‚677‚ with Carlton leading at 3‚709.

Apr 5, 1983 - In his first appearance as a Met since 1977‚ Tom Seaver combines with Doug Sisk to shut out the Phillies 2-0 on 5 hits. It is Seaver's 14th NL Opening Day assignment‚ tying Walter Johnson's record with Washington.

Oct 26, 1982 - Steve Carlton wins the NL Cy Young Award for the 4th time‚ a record unmatched by any pitcher. The Phils 37-year-old lefthander‚ who led the NL in wins (23)‚ innings (2952?3)‚ strikeouts (286)‚ and shutouts (6)‚ was a previous winner in 1972‚ 1977‚ and 1980. He joins Walter Johnson and Willie Mays as the only players to be voted MVP or Cy Young winner 10 or more years apart.

Aug 31, 1968 - Steve Blass gets the first out against the Braves‚ and then moves to LF as Roy Face relieves. Face retires Felix Millan and ties Walter Johnson's ML record of 802 pitching appearances with one club. Blass comes back to pitch and the Pirates go on to win 8-0. Blass will not get credit for the shutout but will still lead the NL in shutouts with 7. Late in the game‚ the Pirates announce the sale of Elroy Face to the Detroit Tigers.

Jun 8, 1968 - Don Drysdale works 4 scoreless innings against Philadelphia before finally allowing a run‚ after 58 2?3 shutout innings‚ on Howie Bedell's sacrifice ?y. Bedell has no other RBI in 1968. Drysdale breaks the ML record of 56 consecutive scoreless innings set by Walter Johnson in 1913. The Dodgers win 5-3.

Jun 15, 1965 - Tigers P Denny McLain makes a first-inning relief appearance and fans the first 7 batters he faces‚ setting a ML record. He has a remarkable 14 strikeouts in 62?3 innings‚ tying the NL relief record (Marquard‚ 1911‚ 8 innings) and one shy of Walter Johnson's ML record (15 in 11 1/3 innings‚ 1913). Detroit rallies to beat Boston 6-5 as Bill Freehan records a record-tying 19 putouts at catcher.

Oct 4, 1964 - Larry Jackson's 9-2 victory over the Giants is his 24th win for the Cubs‚ the most ever for an 8th-place team. He also sets a ML record for pitchers by fielding 109 chances during the season without an error. Walter Johnson fielded 103 chances without an error in 1913.

Aug 9, 1963 - Roger Craig's NL record-tying 18-game losing streak (broken by teammate Craig Anderson) ends thanks to Jim Hickman's 9th-inning grand slam off Lindy McDaniel. New York beats the Cubs 7-3. Craig will be on the wrong end of a shutout 9 times this year: only Bugs Raymond (11 in 1908) and Walter Johnson (10 in 1909) have had more shutouts thrown at them in a year.

Apr 18, 1960 - In the AL opener at Washington‚ a week later than the NL start‚ President Dwight D. Eisenhower throws out the first ball‚ then watches Camilo Pascual strike out 15 batters to tie Walter Johnson's record. Boston's only run in a 10-1 loss is a Ted Williams HR.

Sep 8, 1946 - With the Red Sox running away with the AL race‚ attention closes in on Bob Feller's strikeout pace. After a 4-1 Browns opening win‚ Feller tops the Browns‚ 3-2‚ on six hits and 8 strikeouts and reaches 300 today‚ a number reached by Walter Johnson and Rube Waddell twice each. Can Feller beat Waddell's 347 of 1904? Boudreau finds plenty of innings for Feller to work as the season comes to an end and statisticians discover an error in the Aug. 24th box score that shorted the fireballer one strikeout against the A's. Counting that one‚ Feller ends with 348. Alas! Waddell's old record of 347 was apparently based on the compilations of George Moreland‚ an early baseball historian‚ and listed in Little Red Book. TSN researchers later revise Waddell's total to 349. Feller's 348 strikeouts will lead the AL‚ while Johnny Schmitz will lead the NL with a pedestrian 135. The 213 K difference between the 2 league leaders is a ML record that will not be topped this century.

Sep 2, 1946 - Red Sox pitcher Boo Ferriss win his 12th straight game in the opener and his 24th of the year as Boston sweeps two from the Yankees‚ 5-2 and 3-1. It is the Bosox 10th straight win over New York this year and their 14th twinbill sweep. Boston split 13 doubleheaders on the year and lost none. Dom DiMaggio and Nick Etten have HRs today. Ferriss‚ who earlier in the season had a 10-game win streak‚ joins Walter Johnson (10 and 14 in 1913) as the only pitchers with 2 winning streaks of 10 or more games in one season.

Aug 4, 1944 - In Philadelphia‚ 29‚166 ignore a transit strike and jam Shibe Park to help Connie Mack celebrate his 50th anniversary as manager of the A's. Even the Yankees 1-0 win doesn't diminish the enthusiasm of the evening. Mack receives a check for $5‚000 as well as other gifts. On hand are members of Connie Mack's All Time All Star team‚ each of whom he called to the center of the diamond. These include George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ Frank Baker‚ Honus Wagner‚ Lt. Bill Dickey‚ Lefty Grove (introduced by Mack as "Groves")‚ Walter Johnson‚ Tris Speaker‚ Babe Ruth‚ and Al Simmons. Ty Cobb and Lt. Commander Mickey Cochrane‚ two members of Mack's club‚ did not appear. In the pre-game Abbott and Costello dressed in uniforms of the A's and Yankees respectively‚ take batting practice. The Yankees score on a fumble in the 9th to beat Bob Newsom. Hank Borowy wins his 14th.

Aug 23, 1942 - Walter Johnson pitching to Babe Ruth is the pregame attraction that draws 69‚000 for the New York-Washington game at Yankee Stadium that provides $80‚000 for Army-Navy relief. Ruth hits the fifth pitch into the right-field stands‚ and then adds one more shot before circling the bases. Sixteen relief games contribute $523‚000 during the season. In the doubleheader between the Senators and the Yankees‚ the Senators win the opener‚ 7-6 and New York cops the nitecap‚ 3-0‚ in 5 1/2 innings.

Apr 2, 1942 - Publisher A.J. Spink‚ in TSN‚ reports on the result of a poll of 100 former major leaguers and managers as to who their choice is as best player of all time. Ty Cobb is the overwhelming pick‚ getting 60 of the votes cast. The remaining 42 votes are divided among 14 players: Honus Wagner (17): Babe Ruth (11); and Rogers Hornsby and Ross Youngs (2 votes each). The following players each received one vote: Lou Gehrig‚ Ed Delahanty‚ Tris Speaker‚ Joe DiMaggio‚ Mel Ott‚ George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ Christy Mathewson‚ Walter Johnson‚ and Jerry Denny. Among those who reveal they voted for Cobb are Speaker‚ Collins‚ Sisler‚ Johnson‚ Al Simmons‚ Connie Mack‚ and Jack Coombs.

Nov 5, 1940 - Former Washington hurler Walter Johnson‚ who won 416 games for the Senators‚ goes down in defeat as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland.

Jun 12, 1939 - The greatest gathering of members and future inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame assembles in Cooperstown‚ NY‚ for the dedication of the museum. A 6-inning game at Doubleday Field showcases lineups studded with players who will be elected in the future. Honus Wagner's lineup defeats Eddie Collins' squad‚ 4-2. Babe Ruth‚ Ty Cobb‚ Honus Wagner‚ Walter Johnson‚ Grover Alexander‚ Nap Lajoie‚ George Sisler‚ Eddie Collins‚ Tris Speaker‚ Cy Young‚ and Connie Mack accept their plaques. Cobb‚ angry at Commissioner Landis‚ shows up after the ceremony and photo taking to accept his plaque. Other inductees‚ all deceased‚ include Cap Anson‚ Charles Comiskey‚ Candy Cummings‚ Buck Ewing‚ Hoss Radbourn‚ Al Spalding and Wee Willie Keeler.

Jun 6, 1939 - In Cleveland‚ three Red Sox players throw a baseball 122 feet a second into a new photo-electric pitching meter (as noted by historian Dick Thompson). Three Cleveland Indians can only do 119 feet. Pitchers are not included in the test but 'unofficially‚' Bob Feller of Cleveland fires three balls into the meter from a distance of 20 feet. The best mark he recorded was 119 feet. His less-touted teammate‚ pitcher Johnny Humphreys‚ recorded 127 feet. There will be a contest for pitchers later. Jimmy Foxx‚ Jim Tabor and Roger Cramer made it a clean sweep with a first-place tie in the contest. The Indians best is a tie at 119 feet by Ben Chapman‚ Moose Solters and Jim Shilling. The Cleveland men who developed the speed meter said the only comparable scientific marks were made in 1917. Walter Johnson threw the ball 134 feet a second‚ Christy Mathewson 127 and 'Smoky Joe' Wood 124. Their speeds were shown by a gravity drop interval recorder. In the contest that counts‚ the Indians edge the Red Sox‚ 8-7.

May 15, 1937 - Walter Johnson Jr. m akes his professional debut pitching for Des Moines.

Feb 2, 1936 - The baseball writers vote for the first players to be named to the new Baseball Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb‚ Babe Ruth‚ Honus Wagner‚ Christy Mathewson‚ and Walter Johnson each receive the requisite 75 percent of ballots cast. Active players also are eligible in this first election‚ with Hornsby finishing 9th‚ Cochrane 10th‚ Gehrig 15th‚ and Foxx 19th. Tainted former star Hal Chase receives 11 votes for 25th place‚ and Joe Jackson has 2 votes to tie for 36th place.

Aug 4, 1935 - Cleveland president Alva Bradley announces the "Voluntary resignation" of Walter Johnson as Cleveland manager. He is replaced by Steve O'Neill.

May 23, 1935 - Cleveland has an internal problem between manager Walter Johnson and two veterans‚ 3B Willie Kamm and Glenn Myatt. Judge Landis refuses to intervene‚ and Kamm is eventually made a scout while Myatt is released. Johnson continues his shaky tenure‚ which will not last the season.

Sep 30, 1934 - In Cleveland‚ in between halves of the Indians-White Sox doubleheader‚ Cy Young‚ 67‚ and his fellow "Antiques" take on Walter Johnson's "Has-Beens." A Johnson pick off attempt on Nap Lajoie in the 2nd and last inning turns into a near-riot and "umpire" Martin Lavelle has to be escorted off the field by police. In the field events Al Simmons hits a fungo 428' 6" while Hal Trosky wins the throwing contest with a toss of 376'2". Evar Swanson circles the bases in 14 and 4/5 seconds. The Sox win 9-5 behind Ted Lyon's pitching and Al Simmons' hitting as he goes 5-for-5. The Sox then lose 5-3 in 5 innings.

Aug 25, 1934 - In Washington‚ Schoolboy Rowe‚ Detroit's sensational rookie pitcher‚ defeats the Senators 4-2 for his 16th win in a row‚ tying the AL record held by Walter Johnson‚ Joe Wood‚ and Lefty Grove. Rowe allows 9 hits in 9 innings‚ and is behind 2-1 entering the 9th. He wins the game with a 9th inning single.

Aug 2, 1934 - Walter Johnson is hospitalized with pleurisy‚ and Willie Kamm takes over as interim Cleveland manager.

Mar 25, 1934 - In New Orleans‚ Babe Didrickson takes the mound again‚ this time for the New Orleans Pelicans against a split squad of the Cleveland Indians. She throws two scoreless innings and lines out in her only plate appearance. In nearby Lafayette‚ Louisiana‚‚ manager Walter Johnson pitches for the other Indian squad against the KC Blues.

Aug 9, 1933 - The Indians‚ with manager Walter Johnson on the mound‚ face the Toledo Mud Hens in an exhibition night game in Toledo. Johnson gives up no hits in a 3-inning outing.

Jul 2, 1933 - Carl Hubbell pitches an entire 18-inning shutout for the Giants over the Cardinals to tie Walter Johnson's ML record for the longest 1-0 victory. He strikes out 12 and walks none‚ allowing only 6 hits in a duel with Tex Carleton‚ who goes the first 16 innings. Jess Haines relieves in the 17th and in the 18th gives up a single to Joe Moore‚ a sacrifice bunt to Gus Mancuso‚ and an intentional pass to Travis Jackson. Hubbell then forces at 2nd‚ and a single by Hughey Critz ends it. In game 2‚ played in semidarkness‚ Roy Parmelee matches Hubbell and wins 1-0 on a Johnny Vergez HR. The notoriously wild Giants' pitcher does not issue a walk and strikes out 13 to beat Dizzy Dean‚ who is pitching on a day's rest. The Cards go a record 27 innings in the two games with no walks. Not until 1950‚ will the Cards be shut out again in a twin bill‚ and again it'll be NY.

Jun 7, 1933 - Cleveland GM Billy Evans fires manager Roger Peckinpaugh and hires Walter Johnson to take over. Bibb Falk manages for one game until Johnson arrives. Johnson's contract is for this year and next.

Oct 4, 1932 - Clark Griffith announces that Walter Johnson will not be the manager of the Senators in 1933.

Sep 25, 1932 - Jimmie Foxx hits his 58th HR in the last game of the season to finish 2 short of Ruth's 1927 record of 60. Foxx adds two singles but the A's lose‚ 2-1‚ to the Senators Alvin Crowder. Alvin Crowder wins his 26th and 15th straight game‚ one short of the AL record held by Walter Johnson‚ Smoky Joe Wood‚ and Lefty Grove. Foxx finishes with 169 RBIs while teammate Al Simmons ties for 2nd with 151. The Athletics set a since-topped ML record of 172 home runs in a single season.

Aug 19, 1931 - At Chicago‚ Lefty Grove (25-2)wins his 16th consecutive game‚ 4-2‚ tying the AL record set by Walter Johnson and Joe Wood in 1912. Grove holds the Sox scoreless till the 9th‚ while the A's score in the 2nd‚ 3rd and 8th off Red Faber. Grove has completed all but one of the wins.

Aug 3, 1930 - At Washington‚ the Senators divide a pair with Boston‚ winning 11-2 and losing 7-1. Joe Judge manages the Nats with Walter Johnson in mourning‚ Senator players will act as pall bearers at Mrs. Johnson's funeral tomorrow.

Jun 15, 1930 - The Senators sends its best reliever Garland Braxton along with Benny Tate to the White Sox for self-promoting first sacker Art Shires. Manager Walter Johnson will later say the trade made better pitchers of his starters‚ since they were not looking to Braxton to bail them out of trouble.

Apr 20, 1930 - In today's issue of the Chicago Tribune‚ writer Irwin Howe names his all-time all-star team based on his 42 years of observing baseball: Babe Ruth‚ RF; Tris Speaker‚ CF; Ty Cobb‚ LF; Cap Anson‚ 1B; Eddie Collins‚ 2B; Honus Wagner‚ SS; Pie Traynor‚ 3B; Ray Schalk‚ C; Cy Young‚ P; Walter Johnson‚ P.

Oct 15, 1928 - Walter Johnson signs a 3-year contract to manage the Senators‚ Griffith having secured his release from the 2nd year of his contract to manage Newark. Tris Speaker will take over as Newark's manager.

Apr 10, 1928 - The Senators open a day ahead of the other teams as President Calvin Coolidge throws out the first ball. On the mound for the Senators is Milt Gaston‚ replacing Walter Johnson who misses the start because of a bout of influenza; he missed the last Opener because of a broken ankle. The Red Sox win 7-5 behind Danny MacFayden. First baseman Joe Judge has 4 hits for the losers.

Oct 14, 1927 - Walter Johnson retires as a player. In two weeks‚ he will sign a 2-year contract to manage Newark (IL).

Sep 30, 1927 - With the score tied at 2-2 in the 8th‚ Mark Koenig triples and moments later Ruth launches his historic No. 60 off Washington's Tom Zachary for a 4-2 win. The ball is caught by 40-year-old Joe Forner of Manhattan. Ruth‚ who had singled in his first two at bats‚ walked‚ and scored three runs is greeted with a handkerchief salute by the fans as he makes his way to his right field position. In the 9th Walter Johnson makes his final appearance as a player‚ pinch-hitting for Zachary and flying out to Ruth. Ruth hit 17 HRs in September‚ the highest month's HR output till Rudy York's 18 in August 1937. The Babe is the first player to hit 30‚ 40‚ 50‚ and now 60 homers.

Aug 22, 1927 - Harry Heilmann goes 4-for-6 in a Detroit doubleheader sweep of Washington. In the 2nd game‚ Heilmann and Marty McManus hit 4th inning homers off Walter Johnson‚ the last homers the Big Train gives up in his career‚ and the only time he's allowed 2 in an inning. It is also Johnson last career loss. The Tigers have now won 13 in a row (one tie) to overtake the Nats in the battle for 2nd place‚ with the Yanks in front by 12 1/2 games. Heilmann is now hitting .390.

Aug 2, 1927 - Washington celebrates Walter Johnson Day on the 20th anniversary of his joining the team. He receives $14‚764.05‚ a silver service‚ and a Distinguished Service Cross from the AL The cross is made of gold with 20 diamonds. Billy Evans‚ who was behind the plate of Johnson's 1st game‚ is there again‚ though on crutches. He leaves after calling the first inning. The Tigers kayo Johnson in a 3-run 9th to win 7-6‚ the loss going to reliever Garland Braxton. Under today's rules‚ the runners he inherited (and the loss) would be charged to Johnson. Harry Heilmann‚ enroute to his 3rd batting crown‚ is 3-for-4 against Johnson.

Jul 4, 1927 - Before an estimated crowd of 75‚000 at Yankee Stadium‚ the Senators are pounded in both games by the first-place Yankees. In the opener‚ the Yanks quickly put to rest the Senators 10-game win streak by scoring 8 runs in 4 innings off Sloppy Thurston. New York is scoreless against reliever Walter Johnson until the 8th‚ when they score 4 runs‚ 2 on a HR by Gehrig‚ to win‚ 12-1. Gehrig adds another in the nitecap‚ a 21-1 cakewalk for New York. Every starter collects a hit in both games‚ except for the 2nd game winner Wilcey Moore. George Pipgras is the opening game winner. New York gets 5 safeties from Babe Ruth and Joe Dugan for the afternoon.

Jun 26, 1927 - In Washington‚ the Senators make it 3 straight over Boston‚ winning 8-7‚ scoring all of their runs in the 4th inning. Former Senator Buddy Myer belts a homer off Walter Johnson‚ who lasts 5 innings and gets credit for the win. Johnson will serve up six gopher balls to the Red Sox in his career‚ all in Washington. Goose Goslin homers‚ off Tony Welzer.

Jun 9, 1927 - Walter Johnson (1-2) loses his 2nd game in a row as the Indians pound him 7-1‚ knocking him out in 5 innings. Johnson allows 6 hits and 2 strikeouts.

Jun 4, 1927 - Pitching his 2nd game of the year‚ Walter Johnson is pounded by the Browns‚ who win 5-3. Johnson finishes the game‚ striking out 6 and allowing 9 hits‚ including a homer by Schulte. Elam Vangilder is the winner.

May 30, 1927 - Finally making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a broken foot sustained in spring training‚ Walter Johnson hurls the last shutout of his career‚ No. 110‚ winning 3-0 over Boston. Johnson faces just 29 batters‚ giving up 3 hits. The Senators take the 2nd game of the holiday twinbill‚ 105‚ behind recruit Bump Hadley.

Apr 12, 1927 - President Calvin Coolidge throws out the first ball in Washington before the Red Sox win 6-2. Walter Johnson‚ sidelined with an injury sustained March 10th‚ misses his last chance to pitch an opener‚ after winning 9 of 14‚ including 7 shutouts. Tris Speaker‚ playing his first game for the Senators‚ is 2-for-5.

Mar 9, 1927 - In a practice game in spring training‚ Joe Judge hits a line drive that hits Walter Johnson in the foot‚ breaking a small bone in the ankle and sidelining him for over two months. The 38-year-old will never completely recover from the injury.

Sep 25, 1926 - In the first of two games in Chicago‚ Sox RF Bill Barrett breaks a 1-1 tie with a 9th inning solo homer of Washington's Walter Johnson to give the win to Tommy Thomas‚ 2-1. The Senators take the 2nd game‚ 3-2‚ behind Firpo Marberry.

Sep 19, 1926 - Detroit edges Washington‚ 8-7‚ on Ty Cobb's pinch single in the 9th‚ beating Walter Johnson.

Sep 11, 1926 - Cleveland sweeps two from the Nationals‚ winning 8-1 and 3-2. In the opener‚ Walter Johnson serves a two-run homer to Tris Speaker in the opening inning.

Aug 30, 1926 - At the Stadium‚ the Senators rack up nine runs before the Yankees get on the board‚ and Walter Johnson paces himself to a 12-6 win. Big Barney strikes out 8. The Senators outhit the Hugmen‚ 12-11‚ but errors hurt the Yankees. Two hits and an error in the first inning is followed by a Joe Judge grand slam off Sam Jones‚ and the Nats add another 4 in the 3rd. Tony Lazzeri hits a 2-run HR off Johnson in the 8th.

Aug 13, 1926 - The only game played today is in Washington‚ where Lou Gehrig clouts homers in the 4th and 5th innings off Walter Johnson‚ only the 2nd time in his career that the Washington star has surrendered 2 homers to one player. The Yankees win‚ 7-5.

Aug 9, 1926 - Cleveland's Tris Speak belts a 3-run homer in the 4th‚ off Walter Johnson‚ and the Indians trip the Senators‚ 7-5. Sherry Smith is the starter and winner.

Aug 5, 1926 - Detroit beats Washington‚ 6-4‚ handing the loss to Walter Johnson. Heinie Manush‚ the eventual batting champ‚ is 1-for-4 with a run scored for Detroit.

Jul 31, 1926 - At St. Louis‚ the Senators win‚ 9-0‚ behind Walter Johnson's 112th career shutout. Goose Goslin has a homer in the 5th.

Jul 21, 1926 - The Tigers take the first of 2 over Washington‚ 7-6. Off Washington's Walter Johnson in game 2‚ Heinie Manush cracks a double‚ triple and three-run homer but the Big Train still wins over Detroit‚ 10-7.

Jul 1, 1926 - In the first of 2 at Yankee Stadium‚ Lou Gehrig's solo homer in the 6th‚ off Walter Johnson‚ is the difference as the Yankees win‚ 3-2‚ over the Senators. Urban Shocker takes the win. Washington comes back to win game 2‚ 12-5.

Jun 20, 1926 - A delegation of Coffeyville‚ KS‚ fans comes to St. Louis to see their hometown hero‚ Walter Johnson‚ pitch against the Browns. Unfortunately‚ the Big Train cannot hold a 4-0 lead and loses his 7th game in a row 5-4. The big blow for the Browns is a 3-run pinch HR in the 7th by Ken Williams.

May 23, 1926 - In Washington‚ Al Simmons hits a solo HR‚ off Walter Johnson‚ into the CF stands. The A's beat the Big Train‚ 5-3‚ behind the pitching of Slim Harriss.

May 12, 1926 - Walter Johnson defeats the St. Louis Browns‚ 7-4. He is now 6-1‚ but will lose his next 7 in a row as the Senators go into a tailspin.

May 2, 1926 - Walter Johnson wins his 4th victory‚ a 4-3 victory over the A's. Slim Harriss is the loser.

Apr 28, 1926 - The AL allows the use of the rosin bag by pitchers but discourages its use by other players. Walter Johnson states that he thinks the "resin bag" is of no use to a pitcher. It is strictly mental.

Apr 27, 1926 - Walter Johnson wins his 400th career victory‚ and his 3rd win in 4 starts‚ as the Senators beat the Red Sox‚ 9-1.

Apr 20, 1926 - The Yankees batter Washington 18–5. Among their 22 hits are a HR, 2 doubles, and 2 singles by Babe Ruth, who scores 5 runs and drives in 8. The Babe's home run is a 2-run shot in the first inning off Walter Johnson. Rookie Bill Morrell debuts in relief for the Senators and this is noteworthy only because contemporary accounts list his age at 26, and his birth year as 1900. In fact, Morrell was born in 1893, making him off by seven years, a possible ML record. Later encyclopedias will carry his correct birth date. (as noted by Dick Thompson)

Apr 13, 1926 - In the last of his 14 Opening Day starts‚ Walter Johnson takes on A's knuckleballer Eddie Rommel in baseball's greatest Opening-Day pitchers' duel‚ a 15-inning battle won by the Senators 1-0. Johnson gives up 6 hits‚ fans 12‚ and allows no runner past 1B in a game he considers his greatest. Rommel allows 9 hits will fanning 5. Bucky Harris singles and scores the lone run‚ coming home after a Goslin double and a Joe Harris single.

Oct 15, 1925 - A steady downpour yesterday and today has left the field a muddy mess as the 7th game is played in the rainiest conditions ever. It's a short day for Vic Aldridge: 3 walks and 2 hits‚ and he's out of there with one out in the first. Walter Johnson takes a 4-0 lead to the mound. The Bucs clobber him for 15 hits‚ good for 24 total bases. Max Carey's 4-for-5 gives him a Series-high .458. The Senators make the most of 7 hits‚ scoring 7 runs‚ including Roger Peckinpaugh's HR‚ the 12th of the Series‚ a WS record. Johnson would have fared better but for 2 more errors by SS Peckinpaugh‚ the MVP's 7th and 8th‚ still the WS record for any position. The Senators made only one other error. Ray Kremer picks up his 2nd win with a 4-inning relief effort‚ as the Senators lose 9-7. The Series breaks all financial records‚ grossing almost $1.2 million. Winning shares are $5‚332.72; losers' $3‚734.60.

Oct 11, 1925 - Before a home crowd of 36‚000‚ Walter Johnson wins his 3rd straight WS contest over 2 years. He blanks the Bucs on 6 hits‚ only 2 out of the infield‚ and fans just 2. A 3-run HR by Goose Goslin in the 4th followed by Joe Harris's round-tripper-the first back-to-back HRs in WS history-give the Senators a 4-0 win and 3-1 Series advantage. Veteran Babe Adams gives up 2 hits but pitches a scoreless 9th for the Bucs: Babe's last WS appearance was winning game 7 in the 1909 World Series.

Oct 7, 1925 - Walter Johnson (20-7) opens the World Series in Pittsburgh. A 5th-inning HR by Pie Traynor is the only damaging blow, as Johnson fans 10 of the heavy-hitting Bucs for a 4-1 win over Lee Meadows (19-10). Sam Rice, Joe Harris, and Ossie Bluege‚ with 2 hits each, drive in the Washington Senators' runs. The Pirates' charity ball sign, which during the year totaled how many fans had returned foul balls for $1, remained at 829 as no fouls were turned in today.

Sep 17, 1925 - The Tigers beat Walter Johnson‚ handing Washington a 12-9 loss.

Aug 22, 1925 - The first place Senators‚ behind Walter Johnson‚ romp‚ 20-5‚ over the Tigers. Johnson‚ hitting .432 going into the game‚ has 2 hits including a homer while pitching 5 1/3 innings. He walks 7. Detroit pitchers hand out 10 walks and 19 hits.

Aug 2, 1925 - Walter Johnson‚ who has been ailing with the flu‚ recovers to give the Senators a 5-1 win over the Tigers on the 18th anniversary of his first appearance‚ also against the Tigers.

Jul 28, 1925 - In a Chicago sweep of the Senators‚ 10-5 and 6-2‚ White Sox' Spencer Harris hits his first ML HR‚ a grand slam off Washington's Curly Ogden. He'll hit just 2 more homers in the majors‚ but he will end up as the career minor league leader in runs‚ hits (3‚617)‚ doubles (743) and TB (5434). Incomplete records give him the high in walks as well. Ted Lyons is the winner over Walter Johnson in game 1 and Sarge Connally wins game 2.

Jun 30, 1925 - Walter Johnson blanks the A's 7-0‚ allowing just 2 scratch singles and no walks‚ to knock the A's out of the lead. The A's take just one of 5 games in the series. Philadelphia drops out of 1st place for the first time since May 7th‚ but will soon be back on top.

Jun 26, 1925 - Before 30‚000 fans in Philadelphia‚ Walter Johnson and rookie Lefty Grove square off in a battle of the AL leaders. Grove‚ a winner of 108 games in 5 years at Baltimore‚ was Mack's high-priced purchase last October. Al Simmons slams a 2-run HR in the 3rd for the A's‚ but Goose Goslin rips a 3-run HR off Grove in the 7th to give Washington a 5-3 win.

Jun 16, 1925 - The Senators top the Browns 3-0‚ as Walter Johnson becomes the first AL pitcher to win 10 games this year.

Jun 11, 1925 - In pre-game ceremonies‚ the World Series flag is raised in Washington. Then Ty Cobb drives in 2 runs in the 1st inning off Walter Johnson to lead the Tigers to a 7-4 win.

Jun 1, 1925 - At a Monday game at Yankee Stadium‚ 18‚000 are on hand to see the Babe make his first appearance of the season. He goes 0-2 with a walk against Washington's Walter Johnson before leaving in the 6th inning. The Nats win 5-3. In the 9th inning‚ Lou Gehrig begins a consecutive-game streak that will surpass Everett Scott's mark by pinch-hitting for Pee Wee Wanninger‚ the SS who replaced Scott in the Yankees lineup.

May 19, 1925 - In the top of the 9th at Cleveland‚ pinch hitter Walter Johnson clouts a 2-run HR over the 45-foot right field wall at League Park to give the Senators a 4-3 win. The only other RH hitter to clear the wall is pitcher-turned-outfielder Smoky Joe Wood. Johnson‚ a good hitting pitcher‚ will have an extraordinary year at the plate‚ hitting a ML record .433.

May 11, 1925 - Walter Johnson blanks the White Sox 9-0 for his 108th shutout‚ and he runs his strikeout total to 3‚232.

Apr 23, 1925 - Yankee ace Herb Pennock holds a 1-0 lead into the 9th when Washington loads the bases. Nats manager Harris wants Walter Johnson to pinch hit‚ but the Big Train is in showering when he gets the call. It takes him ten minutes to dress and enter the game‚ all the while Yankee manager Huggins is screaming about the delay. Johnson justifies the wait by hitting the first pitch for a 2-run single to win the game for Washington‚ 2-1. Six weeks late‚ Ban Johnson will rule that only players on the bench or sidelines may be used as substitutes.

Apr 22, 1925 - The Senators play their home opener with President Coolidge throwing out the first ball.‚ caught by Walter Johnson. Behind Johnson trounces the Ruth-less Yankees 10-1. Rookie Lou Gehrig is in RF in place of the ailing Babe. Coolidge stands in the top of the 7th‚ despite the sleeve tugging of Mrs. Coolidge‚ who eventually stands as well. The President's entourage then stands. Coolidge rises for the bottom of the 7th also.

Apr 18, 1925 - In the A's home opener at Philadelphia‚ Bill Lamar belts an 8th inning 2-run HR off Walter Johnson and the A's whitewash the Senators‚ 3-0. Slim Harriss fires the shutout.

Apr 14, 1925 - With Ben Paschal filling in for the ailing Babe Ruth in RF‚ the Yankees defeat the Senators‚ 5-1 before 45‚000 at Yankee Stadium. Paschal fills the Babe's shoes by belting a two-run homer and an RBI single. Urban Shocker‚ back with New York after 7 years‚ is the starter and winner for New York. Because of the cold weather‚ the Nats go with George Mogridge‚ instead of Walter Johnson‚ and he allows 9 hits in 7 innings while taking the loss.

Nov 18, 1924 - Oakland Oaks (PCL) owner Cal Ewing announces that he has sold the team to Washington Senators star Walter Johnson‚ represented by George Weiss‚ who deposited a check for $5‚000 towards the purchase. Last month‚ Ewing announced that the sale price was an enthusiastic $450‚000 (the St. Louis Cardinals recent sale was for $275‚000). Nothing will come of all the talk‚ and Johnson will return to the Washington team.

Oct 10, 1924 - President and Mrs. Coolidge and 31‚665 others thrill to the 2nd 3-hour battle of the Series. Bucky Harris starts 23-year-old righthander Curly Ogden (9-8) against Virgil Barnes (16-10)‚ then pulls him after he fans Fred Lindstrom and walks Frisch. In comes lefty George Mogridge (16-11)‚ a move intended to keep lefty Bill Terry on the Giants bench. Bucky Harris lifts one into the temporary seats in LF for a 1-0 lead. In the 6th a single ties it at 1-1‚ and Harris brings in Firpo Marberry for his 4th appearance. A base hit and 2 costly errors give the Giants a 3-1 lead. In the 8th‚ PH Nemo Liebold doubles and C Muddy Ruel singles. A walk loads the bases and up comes Harris‚ who hits a hard bounder to 3B that strikes a pebble and skips over Lindstrom's head and down the LF line as the tying runs score. Walter Johnson‚ pitching on one days rest‚ then comes in to hold New York. With one out in the last of the 12th‚ Giants reliever Jack Bentley gets Muddy Ruel to pop up near home plate‚ but veteran C Hank Gowdy steps on his discarded mask‚ which he cannot shake from his shoe‚ and the ball falls to the ground. Ruel then gets his 2nd hit‚ a double. Walter Johnson reaches 1B on SS Travis Jackson's error. Earl McNeely hits a grounder at Lindstrom‚ and improbably‚ the ball again takes a bounce over his head. Ruel tears home with Washington's first WS championship.

Oct 8, 1924 - Walter Johnson tries for a WS win again‚ but he's far from invincible. Fred Lindstrom is 4-for-5 with 2 RBI‚ and Johnson's pitching opponent Jack Bentley (16-5) clouts a 2-run homer for a 6-2 New York win.

Oct 4, 1924 - For the 4th straight year‚ the Giants are in the Series. At 3B is Fred Lindstrom‚ at 18 years‚ 10 months‚ the youngest ever to play in a WS. President Calvin Coolidge is among 35‚760 who jam the DC stands in game 1 as an Army band greets the two teams by playing Sidewalks of New York and Dixie. George Kelly drops a HR into the temporary bleachers in the 2nd‚ and Terry does the same in the 4th for a 2-0 New York lead. Art Nehf (14-4) gives up one in the 6th. In the last of the 9th‚ the Senators score to send the game into extra innings. The Giants net 2 runs in the 12th. In the last of the 12th‚ Washington scores one‚ but the rally falls a run short‚ and Walter Johnson (23-7) loses his WS debut. Johnson strikes out 12 in the loss. Nehf becomes the 5th pitcher to get 3 hits in a WS game‚ a feat that will not be repeated until Orel Hershiser does it in 1988.

Sep 26, 1924 - With the Yankees beating the A's‚ Boston tightens the race by edging the Senators 2-1. September call-up Wade Lefler drives in Nemo Leibold in the 8th with a pinch double for the Nats only run. Washington now leads by a game. For the Senators‚ the loss stops Walter Johnson's 13-game win streak and Sam Rice's 31-game hit streak.

Sep 22, 1924 - The Senators open a 2-game lead as Walter Johnson wins his 13th in a row‚ 8-3 over Chicago. It's his 23rd win of the year. Washington will take the next two games in Chicago to sweep.

Sep 20, 1924 - Pitching on 2 days rest in St. Louis‚ Walter Johnson is pounded out of the box by the Browns and pinch hit for in the 2nd. Each team collects 18 hits as the Browns prevail 15-14. Goslin gives the Nats a 14-13 lead in the 10th with his 2nd HR of the game‚ but a wild throw to 2nd by reliever Firpo Marberry gives the win to the Browns.

Sep 13, 1924 - Detroit's Emory Rigney hits a 7th inning solo off Walter Johnson‚ but the visiting Senators chug their way to a 6-4 win. Hours later‚ Johnson receives word he's been elected AL MVP with 55 points. White Sox 2B Eddie Collins is a distant 2nd. He was runner-up to Ruth last year.

Sep 8, 1924 - Washington‚ with a 2-game lead in the AL‚ beats the A's 8-4. Despite giving up solo HRs by Joe Hauser and Bing Miller‚ Walter Johnson's wins his 10th straight and his 20th of the year‚ For Hauser‚ trailing Babe Ruth in the home run race‚ it's his 3rd four bagger of the year off Johnson.

Aug 29, 1924 - With most of the 30‚000 fans at Yankee Stadium cheering the underdog Senators‚ Walter Johnson holds New York scoreless for 7 innings. In the 8th‚ a line drive clips his pitching hand and he is lifted‚ but still wins 5-1. Goslin has another three hits and scores 3 runs as the Nationals now lead by 1 1/2 games.

Aug 25, 1924 - Walter Johnson hurls his 6th shutout of the year‚ a 7-inning rain-shortened no-hitter against the Browns‚ winning by a score of 2-0. For the Nats‚ it is their 9th win in a row and they are now even with New York. The scheduled nitecap is postponed.

Aug 17, 1924 - Walter Johnson beat the Tigers 8-1 as Washington reclaims second place in the AL by taking 4 out of 5 games in Detroit.

Jul 20, 1924 - In Washington‚ George Sisler hits 1st inning solo off Walter Johnson‚ but the Senators come back to win‚ 5-4. Allan Russell is the winner in relief.

Jul 5, 1924 - Babe Ruth is 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored to lead New York to a 2-0 win over Walter Johnson and Washington.

Jun 26, 1924 - President and Mrs. Coolidge are on hand in Washington as Walter Johnson shuts out the A's‚ 5-0. For the front-running Nationals‚ it is their 10th straight win.

Jun 21, 1924 - In Philadelphia‚ the A's Joe Hauser hits 2-run HR in the 1st‚ his 2nd homer off Walter Johnson in 3 weeks. Rookie Al Simmons solos in the 4th off Johnson-he hit his first ML homer off the Big Train last month-but that's all the scoring for the A's as Washington wins‚ 11-3. A's OF Tilly Walker‚ hitting .275‚ quits the team after 52 games to go back to Kentucky where he'll be a state trooper and ump in the Appalachian League. Walker hit 37 HRs and 100+ RBI in 1923‚ but Mack benched him for a faster outfielder.

Jun 16, 1924 - In Chicago‚ reliever Walter Johnson is nicked for his 2nd career grand slam‚ a 7th inning shot by Sox star Harry Hooper. The Sox win over Washington‚ 9-8.

Jun 2, 1924 - In Philadelphia‚ Joe Hauser hits a 2-run HR off Walter Johnson in the 6th‚ but the Nationals coast to an 8-3 win.

May 23, 1924 - Walter Johnson strikes out 14‚ a career-high‚ including 6 in a row‚ in a 4-0 one-hitter over the White Sox for his 103rd shutout. Harry Hooper‚ who had the lone hit in a 1915 game against Johnson‚ does it again. Johnson will have his best season in 5 years‚ going 23-7.

Apr 25, 1924 - In Philadelphia‚ the A's Al Simmons hits his first ML homer‚ a 3-run shot in the 6th‚ off the National's Walter Johnson. The A's win‚ 6-5.

Apr 20, 1924 - In Washington‚ Walter Johnson picks up an easy 12-3 win over the Yankees. Babe Ruth scores 2 of the New York runs on a triple and an 8th inning home run.

Apr 15, 1924 - After President Coolidge tosses out the first ball‚ Walter Johnson shuts out the A's 4-0 on Opening Day‚ his 99th shutout. Slim Harriss‚ who topped Walter in last year's Opening Day game‚ is the loser. One of the 4 hits off Johnson is a single by rookie Al Simmons‚ who hit .360 at Shreveport (Texas) and .398 in Milwaukee (AA) last season. Another A's rookie (of sorts)‚ Paul Strand‚ goes 0-for-4. Strand‚ the PCL's top hitter the past two seasons‚ collected 325 hits in 1923‚ still an all-time record‚ and then was a high-priced purchase by Connie Mack. Strand last appeared in the majors in 1915 as a pitcher with the Boston Braves‚ and he'll play just a third of the season before he and his .228 average will go back west.

Mar 22, 1924 - In a spring training game‚ Rogers Hornsby faces Walter Johnson for the second and last time in his career‚ this time popping up and hitting into a DP.

Oct 5, 1923 - In his season finale‚ Walter Johnson K's 12 Red Sox to win his 17th‚ 4-2. The 12 strikeouts are the highest in the majors this year and boosts Johnson's total to an AL-high 130.

Sep 17, 1923 - At Washington‚ Walter Johnson notches two wins against the Browns‚ winning one game in relief‚ and the other as a starter. Game 1 is 5-4 in 10 innings and game 2 is 12-2 in 7 innings.

Sep 13, 1923 - The Senators win 7-3 over Detroit‚ with Walter Johnson picking up the victory. Harry Heilmann is 2-for-4 and scores a run for the Bengals.

Aug 13, 1923 - In the 2nd game of the afternoon in Washington‚ Chicago's Earl Sheely hits a 2-run homer in the 8th inning to beat Walter Johnson‚ 3-2. Dixie Leverett is the winning pitcher. Washington wins game 1‚ 5-4.

Jul 22, 1923 - Washington's Walter Johnson notches his 3‚000th strikeout on the way to 3‚508. He fans 5 in beating Cleveland 3-1. The Tribe has to pack‚ ending their extended 31 game home stand which began on June 23. Their record for the stay was 16-15.

Jul 4, 1923 - In the 2nd game in NY‚ the Yanks Fred Hoffman hits HR off Walter Johnson as the Yankees veto the Senators‚ 12-2. Dave Danforth is the winning pitcher. New York scores 12 in the opener as well‚ winning 12-6.

Jun 15, 1923 - In Washington‚ Bibb Falk of the White Sox pinch hits a 3 run HR off Walter Johnson‚ in relief‚ in the 7th. But Washington holds on for an 8-6 win with the victory credited to Cy Warmoth.

Jun 12, 1923 - In Washington‚ Browns Jack Tobin hits a lead off HR off Walter Johnson and St. Louis goes on to beat the Nationals‚ 3-1. Dave Danforth is the winning pitcher.

May 30, 1923 - In 1st of 2 games in New York‚ Ruth's homer in 1st inning off Walter Johnson propels the Yankees to a 6-4 win over Washington. Herb Pennock is the winner.

May 19, 1923 - At Chicago‚ the Senators edge the White Sox‚ 6-4. Walter Johnson slams a decisive 2 run single in the top of the 9th‚ then allows 3 runs in the bottom of the 9th before getting relief help from Allan "Rubberarm" Russell. Johnson fans 6. Ossie Bluege homers for Washington.

May 2, 1923 - Walter Johnson gets his 100th shutout‚ and New York SS Everett Scott gets a gold medal from the AL for playing in his 1‚000th consecutive game. Scott's skein began on June 20‚ 1916. Washington defeats the Yankees 3-0‚ as Big Train allows just 3 hits.

Apr 22, 1923 - The first Sunday game at Yankee Stadium draws an estimated 60‚000‚ but the Yankees‚ despite an 8th inning HR by Everett Scott‚ suffer their first loss of the year‚ 4-3 to Washington's Walter Johnson.

Apr 18, 1923 - In Philadelphia‚ the A's beat Senators‚ 3-1. The big blow is Jimmy Dykes' 2-run HR off Walter Johnson in the 2nd inning to give Slim Harriss the win. Johnson allows six hits in 8 innings of work.

Sep 19, 1922 - Against the Senators Walter Johnson‚ Ken Williams hit his 39th HR of the year in the 4th‚ and Pat Collins‚ subbing for Sisler at 1B‚ adds another solo HR in the 7th to give the Browns a 2-1 lead. But the Senators rally to win‚ 4-3‚ with Walter Johnson earning the win over Elam Vangilder. Sisler pinch hits and strikes out. Washington will win again tomorrow‚ 5-0.

Sep 8, 1922 - The Yankees go back on top‚ this time to stay‚ beating the Senators‚ 8-1‚ behind Carl Mays. while the Browns lose to Detroit‚ 8-3. New York's win is triggered by Wally Pipp's 6th inning 3-run homer of Walter Johnson‚ the 2nd homer Wally has dinged off the Senator's ace in 9 days.

Aug 29, 1922 - In Washington‚ Wally Pipp in the 3rd and Babe Ruth in the 4th‚ hit solo HRs off Walter Johnson as New York wins‚ 3-1. Sam Jones is the winner.

Aug 16, 1922 - The Browns beat Walter Johnson and the Senators again‚ 11-2. Brownie star George Sisler is 1-for-5 with a run scored.

Aug 9, 1922 - With the score even at 6 apiece‚ the Browns score 2 in the 7th off reliever Walter Johnson to beat the Senators‚ 8-6. The Browns finish an 11-5 home stand.

Aug 6, 1922 - In St. Louis‚ Walter Johnson gives up the first grand slam of his career‚ a 3rd inning shot by Jack Tobin‚ as the Browns top the Senators‚ 8-4. George Sisler is 2-for-2 against the Big Train‚ as Urban Shocker picks up the victory.

Jul 16, 1922 - George Sisler drives in the first run with a sac fly against Walter Johnson and the Browns top the Senators‚ 2-0.

Jun 28, 1922 - Walter Johnson wins another 1-0 battle‚ this one over the Yankees‚ for his 3rd straight shutout and 97th in all. Johnson strikes out 9. Waite Hoyt losses a tough one‚ allowing just 2 hits in the first 8 innings. Earl Smith's double in the 9th drives home the winner.

Jun 14, 1922 - At St. Louis‚ the Browns spot the Senators' Walter Johnson a 5-0 lead‚ then come back on Sisler's grand slam to win‚ 7-6. Bill Bayne takes the loss while Rasty Wright is the winner.

Apr 12, 1922 - President Warren Harding throws out the first ball in Washington‚ and the Senators beat the Yankees 6-5. Former Yank George Mogridge starts for the Nats against Sam Jones‚ making his Yankee debut‚ as rookie manager Clyde Milan passes over Walter Johnson as starting pitcher. The Nats star has been ill most of the spring. Both Ruth and Bob Meusel are out of the Yankee lineup‚ suspended by the league for barnstorming‚ and the Babe watches the game from the presidential box. Washington outhits New York‚ 15-9‚ and comes from behind to win in the 8th.

Oct 2, 1921 - At Philadelphia‚ Walter Johnson coasts to an 11-6 win over the A's and Roy Moore. Johnson gives up a 6th inning solo homer to Jimmy Dykes‚ his 17th homer of the year.

Sep 24, 1921 - Harry Heilmann is 3-for-4 against Walter Johnson‚ but Washington wins the game over Detroit‚ 5-1. Ty Cobb is so incense by the umpiring of Billy Evans that he challenges him to a fight. The two future Hall of Famers go at it with Cobb getting the best of Evans. George Hildebrand‚ the 2nd ump assigned to the game‚ reports the incident to AL prexy Ban Johnson. When Johnson fails to act‚ Commissioner Landis steps in and suspends Cobb‚ but allows him to continue as a non-playing manager.

Sep 14, 1921 - Washington's Walter Johnson gives up 4 hits but still faces just 27 batters in edging the Browns 1-0. Following 2 singles in the 4th‚ George Sisler's line drive to Donie Bush is turned into a triple play. For Bush‚ it is the 9th time he has taking part in a TP as a fielder‚ a ML record. He hit into one once‚ tying him with Sisler for the all-time mark of 10 triple plays (Sisler: fielded 7‚ hit 3). Jack Tobin singles in the 7th‚ but Johnson picks him off. Tobin will set the AL record this year with 179 singles‚ a mark that Sam Rice will top in 1925. The Senators only run today comes when Dixie Davis hits Picinich with a bases-loaded pitch‚ forcing in a run.

Sep 13, 1921 - Walter Johnson wins the AL MVP with 55 out of a possible 64 votes.

Sep 5, 1921 - Walter Johnson breaks Cy Young's career strikeout mark by fanning 7 A's to run his total to 2‚287. But he loses to the A's Bob Hasty‚ 4-3. Washington takes game 2‚ 7-1‚ behind George Mogridge.

Aug 8, 1921 - In his first at bat‚ St. Louis Browns rookie Luke Stuart hits a home run‚ the first AL rookie to accomplish the feat. His 9th inning blast‚ good for 2 runs‚ comes off no less than Washington's Walter Johnson. Johnson‚ leading 16-3 after his teammates score 7 runs in the 8th‚ cruises home with a 16-5 win. Stuart‚ who appeared in one game on July 28 but did not bat‚ will play one more game and then leave the majors with this HR as his only hit. The next AL rookie to connect for a homer on his first at bat will be Earl Averill in 1929.

Jul 27, 1921 - Before the start of Washington's game with the White Sox‚ a 5-4 victory‚ Senators manager George McBride is knocked unconscious by a thrown ball and when he is revived his lower jaw is temporarily paralyzed. McBride will be sent home to recover from the concussion and‚ suffering vertigo‚ will not return full time. Team captain Clyde Milan will take over most of the managing duties assisted by Walter Johnson‚ and next year he takes the managing job.

Jul 24, 1921 - Walter Johnson gives up 6 runs to Detroit but Washington scores 14 to makes his win an easy one. Harry Heilmann is 4-for-4 with 3 doubles for the losers.

Jul 5, 1921 - The Red Sox drop their AL record 4th straight doubleheader since June 29th. The Yankees beat the Bosox on the 29th and July 2; It Washington's turn again today‚ winning 7-5 and 4-2. Walter Johnson wins the nitecap against Myers.

Jun 25, 1921 - In Washington‚ Babe Ruth hits a 2-run HR in the 5th off Walter Johnson‚ but Washington beats the Yankees‚ 6-4. Bob Shawkey is the loser.

Jun 13, 1921 - In Cleveland‚ 6 Indian batters reach first‚ 5 on hits‚ against reliever Walter Johnson‚ and roll to a 10-6 win over Washington.

May 15, 1921 - Walter Johnson starts for Washington but Detroit batters light him up. Harry Heilmann drives in 2 runs on a single and Johnson departs. Detroit wins the slugfest‚ 13-10‚ though Walter is not the loser.

May 7, 1921 - Bob Meusel of the Yankees hits for the cycle. He hits a 2-run third inning HR off Walter Johnson and his triple with 2 on beats the Senators 6-5 in the 9th. Ruth strikes out 3 times against Johnson‚ then poles a HR in the 8th that lands in a tree outside of right field. Former President Wilson witnesses the exciting game in Washington.

Apr 25, 1921 - In New York‚ Washington's Walter Johnson survives a first inning solo shot by Babe Ruth to top Carl Mays‚ 5-3‚ for his 307th career win‚ breaking Eddie Plank's AL mark.

Apr 13, 1921 - With former president Woodrow Wilson‚ new president Warren G. Harding‚ and VP Calvin Coolidge watching‚ the Senators lose their home opener 6-3 to the Red Sox and Sam Jones. Walter Johnson leaves after 4 innings and nine hits‚ the second time in a row he has failed to finish an Opening Game.

Jul 16, 1920 - In the first of two games‚ Red Faber and the White Sox top Washington‚ 4-1‚ handing Walter Johnson his 10th loss of the season. The Washington ace‚ suffering from a sore arm‚ will not pitch any more this season‚ and will appear only as a pinch hitter in a few September games. Faber allows five hits and stops Sam Rice's hitting streak at 28 games. Eddie Cicotte wins the 2nd game‚ 8-5‚ when Joe Jackson hits a grand slam in the top of the 9th. It's a birthday present to himself.

Jul 1, 1920 - Walter Johnson pitches a no-hitter‚ his first‚ against the Red Sox at Fenway. An error by Bucky Harris costs him a perfect game‚ but Harris's hit drives in Washington's only run. Johnson strikes out 10 and gets 6 Red Sox on foul flies. Tomorrow‚ Johnson comes up with a sore arm again and is useless for the rest of the year‚ finishing 8-10. Harry Harper is the loser against his old teammates.

Jun 27, 1920 - Walter Johnson uses just 72 pitches in topping the A's 7-0. For the Athletics‚ who manage just 3 hits in the game‚ it is their 18th straight loss. Washington‚ in winning its 7th straight game‚ moves ahead of the Red Sox into 4th place in the AL.

Jun 8, 1920 - The Senators beat the Browns‚ 5-3‚ with the help of some ragged St. Louis fielding. Walter Johnson is the winner over Al Sothoron‚ putting the Nationals ahead in the 7th with a home run into the RF bleachers. Ken Williams and George Sisler hit homers for the Browns off Johnson.

May 31, 1920 - At the Polo Grounds‚ the Yankees outslug Washington‚ winning 7-6 in the morning game and 10-7 in the afternoon match. New York wins the opener with three runs in the 9th to pin the loss on reliever Al Schacht. George Mogridge is the winner. New York scores 5 in the 6th when Duff Lewis and Truck Hannah hit back-to-back homers‚ and the Yanks get a single and two triples to knock out Shaw. In the afternoon game before 38‚000 fans‚ Walter Johnson pitches 4 2/3 innings of ineffective relief for the Nats and gives up a tremendous HR by Ruth in the 8th that hits the facade on the upper deck in right field. A bright spot for Washington is Braggo Roth‚ who swipes four bases‚ including 2B and 3B in the 4th inning‚‚ then swiping home on the front end of a double steal: Braggo will swipe another 4 on June 12. Peckinpaugh has four hits in game 2‚ including a pair of doubles and a triple.

May 29, 1920 - The Senators take two from the A's‚ winning 11-5 and 5-0. Against the A's‚ Walter Johnson plunks the first two batters‚ then easily beats the gun-shy Philadelphia lineup to win 5-0. Val Picinich has a homer‚ off Roy Moore‚ in the Nats' 4-run 4th.

May 26, 1920 - The Senators knock the Indians out of first place‚ winning 13-9. Tom Zachary is the winner with Walter Johnson pitching four innings of relief. Joe Judge has 5 singles in five at bats for the Nats‚ his 2nd 5-for-5 day this month.

May 20, 1920 - With the White Sox and Washington tied 3-3 at the end of 14‚ both teams score twice in the 15th. Chicago then piles on with 8 runs in the 16th on a double‚ 2 triples‚ 2 singles and 4 errors to beat Walter Johnson. The 8 runs is a ML record for the 16th.

May 14, 1920 - Pitching 3 2/3 inning of relief‚ Walter Johnson wins 9-8 over visiting Detroit for his 300th victory. Johnson will beat Detroit 66 times in his career‚ the most wins over one team by an AL pitcher.

May 5, 1920 - The Yankees beat Walter Johnson and the Senators‚ 7-1‚ racking up 11 hits. Only one of the runs off Johnson is earned as Carl Mays is the easy winner. The Babe is 2-for-2‚ both doubles‚ draws two walks‚ and drives home two.

May 4, 1920 - At Griffith Stadium‚ the Senators edge the Tigers‚ 9-8‚ as Walter Johnson‚ in relief‚ records his 300th win. He pitches the last 3 2/3 innings‚ allowing 9 runs and going 2-for-2 at the plate. The Nats score a run in the 9th for the win.

Apr 15, 1920 - In Boston‚ the Sox jump on Washington ace Walter Johnson and score 5 runs on four hits before the Big Train is lifted after 2 innings. Johnson 's sore arm will limit him to an 8-10 record this year. The Sox hang on to win 7-6 with Allan Russell picking up the win.

Mar 26, 1920 - Walter Johnson is wild and hittable in his first intersquad game‚ hitting 3 batters and walking 2. One of the batters he hits is Bucky Harris who takes a pitch that glances off the side of his head. Johnson gives up 7 runs in 3 innings.

Aug 28, 1919 - Fighting a cold‚ Walter Johnson gives up 19 hits in 14 innings and loses to New York 5-4. Bucky Harris‚ playing his first ML game‚ allows a pop fly to fall between three players and the winning run scores.

Jul 18, 1919 - At Chicago‚ Sox pitcher Lefty Williams shuts out the Senators‚ 3-0‚ beating Harry Harper. Walter Johnson pinch hits for Harper in the 8th‚ fouling out‚ but does not stay in the game.

Jun 25, 1919 - The Senators and Red Sox split a twinbill‚ with the Nats pummeling starter Babe Ruth in the opener‚ 8-3‚ and collecting 9 hits and 5 walks off Babe. For the Nats‚ Clyde Milan collects 3 hits and Sam Rice cracks a HR‚ the only Hall of Famer to go deep on the Babe. Walter Johnson allows 5 hits in the nitecap but takes a 1-0 loss. Ruth plays LF in the 2nd game and has a single. After the twinbill‚ Ruth issues an ultimatum to Barrow: pitch me or play me but don't do both. Barrow will give him tomorrow off.

Jun 9, 1919 - Browns 1B George Sisler beats Washington 2-1 with 2 hits off Walter Johnson‚ driving in one run and scoring the other. He also makes an assist and putout when he gets a glove on a ground ball hit wide of 1B. The ball bounds toward 2B‚ and Sisler gets back to 1B to take the throw in time.

May 25, 1919 - White Sox CF Happy Felsch starts a triple play in the 8th inning to stop the Senators scoring threat‚ then the Sox score a pair in the bottom of the frame off Walter Johnson and derail the Big Train‚ 5-4.

May 11, 1919 - In the first legal Sunday game in New York for the Yankees‚ and after a 12 inning duel between Washington's Walter Johnson and New York spitballer Jack Quinn‚ neither team score. The Big Train allows a single in the first and then retires the next 28 batters before giving up a walk in the 10th. In a misinterpretation of the new rules‚ the game is called at 6 p.m. by New York owner Jacob Ruppert.

May 4, 1919 - The A's collect 18 hits‚ but lose to Washington‚ 12-6‚ leaving an AL-record-tying 17 on base. Walter Johnson‚ walks 2 and allows 10 hits in 7 innings to win.

Apr 28, 1919 - Behind Carl Mays the Red Sox edge Walter Johnson‚ 6-5. Ruth doubles‚ triples and takes an intentional pass in 5 appearances.

Apr 23, 1919 - The season opens in Washington with General Peyton C. March‚ Army Chief of Staff‚ throwing out the first ball. Walter Johnson wins a magnificent 1-0‚ 13-inning duel with the A's Scott Perry‚ scattering 9 hits and striking out 6. Johnson will beat the A's three times this year by a 1-0 score‚ tying the AL and ML record. For the second time in his career he'll win a total of five 1-0 games‚ tying the ML mark.

Aug 19, 1918 - Walter Johnson beats St. Louis‚ 4-3‚ in 14 innings. The Big Train will work in 15 extra-inning games‚ including 2 of 18 innings‚ one of 16 innings‚ and another of 15 innings.

Aug 16, 1918 - The Tigers score 6 runs in the 9th inning against the Senators to tie the game at 6 apiece. The Motor Citymen are shutout in the next 6 innings by reliever Walter Johnson‚ but score 2 in the 16th to win‚ 8-7. Reliever George Cunningham scores the deciding run to beat Johnson.

Aug 4, 1918 - In the nitecap at Detroit‚ Walter Johnson goes 17 1/3 innings‚ his 2nd longest outing ever‚ and faces 64 batters in losing to the Tigers‚ 7-6. Detroit collects 16 hits and 8 walks against the Nats' ace. Detroit ties the score 6-6 in the 7th inning when Ty Cobb drives in a run‚ and wins it in the 18th on a Cobb double. Cobb‚ in CF‚ also throws out a Milan at home in the 13th‚ while SS Donie Bush nails two Nats at home in the 14th. Hooks Dauss is the winner with 10 innings of relief. In the first game‚ the Nats score 6 runs in the 1st three innings off rookie Rudy Kallio and coast 7-0 behind Doc Ayers. Ayers scatters 7 hits and shuts out Cobb. Johnson is now 1-1 in 18-inning games this year!

Jul 31, 1918 - Washington is a 3-2 winner over the White Sox as Walter Johnson strikes out 11 in recording the win over Frank Shellenback. Johnson is 2-for-3 with a triple.

Jul 25, 1918 - Walter Johnson gives up one hit (a triple by George Sisler) in the first 11 innings of a 15-inning‚ 4-hit 1-0 win over the Browns.

Jul 20, 1918 - In Washington‚ Walter Johnson goes the distance in beating the White Sox‚ 6-1. The Nationals score four runs in the 4th off Frank Shellenback‚ who takes the loss.

Jul 11, 1918 - At Washington‚ the Tigers overcome a 6-run deficit to beat Walter Johnson‚ 8-6. Detroit scores 5 runs in the 7th and 3 in the 9th for the win. Cobb is 2-for-3 with a sac fly and 2 runs scored.

Jul 7, 1918 - The Browns beat the host Washington Nationals‚ 3-0‚ as the Nats manage just 3 hits off Allen Sothoron. Browns SS Jimmy Austin triples in the 9th off Walter Johnson‚ then steals home.

Jul 4, 1918 - In Washington‚ the Yankees split with the Senators while Cleveland is winning twice from the Browns. Cleveland (43-32) takes over first from New York (38-29) and Boston (40-31). The Yankees win the morning game‚ 7-0‚ behind the pitching of Bob Shawkey and the slugging of Frank Baker. Baker collects a homer‚ double‚ and 2 singles and adds 2 singles in the afternoon contest. The Yankees rap 9 hits off Walter Johnson in the p.m. game‚ but shoddy fielding gives the Nats a 4-3 win.

Jun 30, 1918 - In the 10th inning in Washington‚ Babe Ruth‚ playing CF‚ hits his 11th HR to beat Walter Johnson 3-1 and boost the Red Sox back into first place. Ruth also cracked a HR off Johnson on May 7‚ the only home runs the Washington ace gives up between September 1917 and May 1920. Carl Mays is the winner‚ striking out 6‚ while Johnson K's one. Ruth will hit no more homers this year‚ but his 11-in just 95 games-will be good enough to share the ML lead with the A's Tilly Walker.

Jun 21, 1918 - Walter Johnson wins his 12th straight‚ though it takes him 13 innings to do it‚ as he beats New York‚ 3-2. Clyde Milan‚ whose muff in the 9th with 2 outs allowed the tying run to score‚ drives in the game winner with a single.

Jun 9, 1918 - Washington's Walter Johnson allows one hit-a single by Oscar Vitt-in beating the Tigers‚ 2-0.

Jun 3, 1918 - Washington scores in the top of the 9th to beat Cleveland‚ 3-2‚ with the win going to Walter Johnson in relief. Eddie Foster is 0-for-4 against Coveleski to stop his 21-game hitting streak.

Jun 2, 1918 - At Washington‚ Cleveland's Jim Bagby and Walter Johnson square off‚ and both are there 11 innings later when Cleveland pushes over a 2-out score to win‚ 1-0.

May 26, 1918 - In a Sunday game in Washington‚ the Senators and Tigers finish off a 2-2‚ 16-inning tie that opened their series on May 24. Walter Johnson wins‚ 4-0‚ allowing 4 hits in 9 innings and extending his scoreless inning streak to 40. The Big Train also has a single‚ triple and a walk in 3 plate appearances‚ to raise his average to .323. The Red Sox will score in the 1st on Johnson on May 29‚ snapping his streak.

May 15, 1918 - In a game that features no substitutes and no errors‚ White Sox pitcher Lefty Williams and the Senators Walter Johnson hook up for an 18-inning shutout marathon. The Nats finally push across a run in the 18th when Williams gives up two singles and then‚ with runners on the corners‚ heaves a wild pitch. Johnson scatter 10 hits in the win while Lefty allows 8. Johnson's gem is the longest shutout ever‚ but will be tied by Hubbell in 1933.

May 10, 1918 - Walter Johnson bests Cleveland's Jim Bagby‚ 1-0‚ the first of three straight shutouts the Big Train will throw.

May 9, 1918 - After knocking in the tying run in the 9th with a pinch sac fly‚ Walter Johnson pitches in relief in the 10th inning and picks up his 3rd win in 9 days against Boston‚ a 4-3 win for Washington. The only Red Sox safety in the 10th is a double by losing pitcher‚ starter Babe Ruth‚ who then gets thrown out trying to steal 3B. Ruth allows 11 hits while striking out one: batting cleanup‚ Ruth goes 5-for-5‚ with 3 doubles and a triple‚ and has a ten-game hit streak.

May 7, 1918 - In Washington‚ Babe Ruth hits his 3rd homer in three games‚ a tremendous blast over the RF wall‚ to account for all of the Red Sox scoring in a 7-2 loss to Walter Johnson. It is the first homer in Griffith Stadium this year‚ and the 6th ever over the barrier (Eddie Murphy reportedly hit the 1st‚ which hit the top and bounded over)‚ and earns Babe a big ovation. For Ruth‚ it is the first of 10 homers he'll hit off Walter Johnson. Ruth plays first base today for the 2nd game in a row and will be in the outfield for the first time in his career on May 10th.

May 4, 1918 - Walter Johnson‚ in relief of Harry Harper‚ loses to the A's Scott Perry‚ 1-0‚ in 11 innings. Johnson will appear in 15 extra-inning games this year‚ nine as a starter and six in relief. He'll beat every club in extra frames except the A's.

May 1, 1918 - In Boston‚ Walter Johnson tops the Red Sox and Carl Mays 5-0. For the Big Train‚ it is his first win of the year after three losses. Harry Hooper has 3 of the Sox 4 hits.

Apr 15, 1918 - In the opener in Washington‚ pre-game ceremonies include a biplane scattering thousands of liberty loan cards for the war effort. The Yankees‚ under new manager Miller Huggins‚ rap 11 hits to beat Walter Johnson‚ 6-3. Starter George Mogridge gets the win despite pitching just 3 1/3 innings. Allan Russell relieves and allows just one hit in 5 1/3 innings to save the victory. Johnson strikes out two while allowing 11 hits and will lose again in the 3-game series with New York.

Oct 21, 1917 - In an exhibition game (Henry W. Thomas' WALTER JOHNSON: BASEBALL'S BIG TRAIN) in Kansas City featuring the second and last matchup between Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander‚ Alex's team wins‚ 4-3. Included in Alexander's lineup is 21 year-old Rogers Hornsby. Hornsby describes his last at bat (in his 1962 book MY WAR WITH BASEBALL) "Johnson had two strikes on me. He threw me a real fast ball and I knocked it straight for the fence. The ball knocked out the knot and went through the fence for a home run and we won 4-3. The hole‚ I admit‚ was one of the biggest cases of pure luck I ever heard of. I'm convinced he absolutely had the best fastball of anyone who ever played baseball." Hornsby will face Johnson again in 1924.

Oct 3, 1917 - After six losses to Babe Ruth‚ including three by 1-0 scores (one in 13 innings)‚ Walter Johnson finally emerges a winner against the Boston lefty. Johnson contributes a bases loaded double in the 8th to help visiting Washington win 6-0. Ruth gives up 11 hits and his ERA balloons to 2.01 for the year.

Sep 22, 1917 - In Washington‚ Walter Johnson fans Ty Cobb in the 1st inning‚ and then laughs about it. The next time up‚ in the 3rd with two on‚ Cobb lashes an inside-the-park homer and Detroit beats the Big Train‚ 4-3. It is Cobb's only career homer off Johnson.

Sep 15, 1917 - The Senators toss shutouts in both games today with the A's. Harry Harper wins the opener 5-0‚ and Walter Johnson follows with a 4-0 victory.

Sep 11, 1917 - Walter Johnson allows just two hits to beat Dutch Leonard to give the Nats a 4-3 win over the Red Sox. All the runs are unearned for Boston.

Sep 3, 1917 - At Shibe Park‚ the A's host their biggest crowd in three years and celebrate by sweeping a pair from the Senators‚ 7-4 and 9-2. Joe Bush‚ reinstated today by Connie Mack after being suspended for two weeks‚ starts for the A's but is lifted after three because of wildness. Roy Grover and Amos Strunk have 3 hits apiece in the opener. In the 2nd game‚ the Mackmen jump on Walter Johnson‚ knocking him off the rubber in the 3rd inning‚ and Jing Johnson coasts to the win.

Aug 10, 1917 - Four days after shutting out the Browns‚ Walter Johnson pitches a 1-hitter against the Chicago White Sox. Tomorrow‚ three Nationals-Jim Shaw (6.2 innings)‚ Doc Ayres‚ and George Dumont will duplicate Big Train's performance‚ also against Chicago (as noted by Steve Boren).

Aug 6, 1917 - Veteran Eddie Plank‚ 41‚ hooks up with Washington's Walter Johnson in a brilliant 11-inning duel‚ won 1-0 by Johnson. For Plank‚ this is the last game of his oustanding career‚ and he will announce his retirement in a week‚ citing stomach problems as the reason. Pitching for the hapless Browns doesn't help as Plank's 1.79 ERA this season results in just a 5-6 record.

Jul 19, 1917 - The Browns Allen Sothoron defeats the Senators and Walter Johnson‚ 4-2.

Jul 5, 1917 - In the first of two games in New York‚ Home run Baker hits a 13th inning inside the park homer off Walter Johnson to give the Yankees a 5-4 win. It is Baker's 5th HR off Walter.

Jun 23, 1917 - In the memorable first of two games at Boston‚ Babe Ruth starts for the Red Sox and walks the leadoff man‚ griping to plate umpire Brick Owens after each pitch. On ball 4‚ Ruth plants a right to the umpire's jaw and is ejected. Ernie Shore hastily relieves and Sam Agnew takes over behind the plate for Pinch Thomas. The runner Ray Morgan is then caught stealing by Agnew‚ and Shore retires all 26 men he faces in a 4-0 win‚ getting credit in the books for a perfect game. Ruth is fined $100‚ and draws a 10-day suspension. Agnew is 3-for-3 at the plate. In the nitecap‚ Boston's Dutch Leonard then beats Walter Johnson‚ 5-0.

May 11, 1917 - At Washington‚ Walter Johnson gives up a bases-loaded double to Cleveland's Bobby Roth and the Indians beat the Senators‚ 4-3. It is the first bases loaded hit to clear the sacks off Johnson.

May 7, 1917 - Red Sox P Babe Ruth allows just 2 singles in outpitching Washington's Walter Johnson. Ruth knocks in the only run with an 8th inning sacrifice fly. Ruth strikes out 3‚ while Johnson fans 7 and gives up 4 hits. It is the 3rd time that Johnson has lost to Ruth by a 1-0 score. Ruth is now 6-0 with six complete games.

Apr 21, 1917 - At Washington's home opener‚ President Wilson is absent‚ but Veep Thomas Marshall does the tossing of the first ball. Walter Johnson rolls to a 3-0 win over the A's‚ beating Joe Bush. Johnson allows just three hits and strikes out 11.

Apr 11, 1917 - In Philadelphia‚ Walter Johnson and the Nationals shut out the A's‚ 3-0. Johnson strikes out 11 in outgunning Bullet Joe Bush.

Nov 29, 1916 - In Kansas City‚ Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander face each other for the first time. The exhibition game between the two stars features Zach Wheat‚ Casey Stengel‚ Max Carey‚ Hal Chase and others. The "Johnsons" prevail over the "Alexanders"‚ 3-2.

Sep 26, 1916 - Washington manager Griffith excuses several regulars for the remaining games of the season so he can use some new players. Included in the excused is 25-game winner Walter Johnson. In a league-leading 371 IP‚ he did not give up a HR‚ an all-time record.

Sep 21, 1916 - Rookie Tris Speaker goes 4-for-6 and drives in a run as Cleveland edges Washington and Walter Johnson‚ 3-2.

Sep 17, 1916 - St. Louis Browns P George Sisler wins 1-0 over Walter Johnson. It is his last win‚ as he soon becomes a regular 1B. He will also play 2 games as a left-handed 3B.

Sep 12, 1916 - Walter Johnson and Babe Ruth‚ both pitching on 2 days rest‚ square off. Washington scores 2 runs in the 9th when John Henry lines a bases loaded double off Ruth to tie the game‚ 2-2. Boston scores in the 10th‚ but Washington tallies twice off Ernie Shore to win‚ 4-3. Johnson is the winner.

Sep 9, 1916 - In Washington‚ Boston's Babe Ruth tops the Senators and Walter Johnson‚ 2-1. Ruth gives up 4 hits while Johnson allows 8. It is the Babe's 4th win this season versus Johnson. Washington wins the nitecap‚ 4-3‚ in 10 innings.

Aug 15, 1916 - Boston's Babe Ruth outduels Nationals' ace Walter Johnson‚ winning 1-0 in 13 innings. Johnson allows just 5 hits through 12 innings‚ while Ruth surrenders just an infield single-by Clyde Milan in the 11th-from the 7th inning on. Milan also robs Ruth of a homer in the 12th by grabbing a ball heading into the RF stands. Ruth is now 3-0 in his meetings with Johnson.

Aug 12, 1916 - At Fenway‚ Babe Ruth squares off against Washington lefty Harry Harper and both pitchers leave after 7 innings‚ with Boston trailing 1-0. Ruth‚ with two strikeouts at the plate‚ is lifted for pinch hitter Hal Janvrin. Washington reliever Walter Johnson makes two errors in the 8th and gives up two runs in the 9th as Boston wins‚ 2-1.

Aug 7, 1916 - At St. Louis‚ the Browns score 2 runs in the 7th against Nats starter Bert Gallia to tie the game. Ayers relieves and Walter Johnson pitches the last 1 1/3 innings‚ allowing a tally in the 10th for a 3-2 St. Louis win. The official scorer kindly gives the loss to Gallia.

Jul 3, 1916 - Ray Caldwell of the Yankees tosses an 11-inning shutout to defeat Washington's Walter Johnson.

Jun 9, 1916 - Walter Johnson beats Cleveland‚ 7-4‚ for a Washington win.

Jun 1, 1916 - Boston's Babe Ruth tops Walter Johnson‚ 1-0‚ for his 2nd straight shutout‚ allowing just 3 hits. The Sox get their only run in the 8th inning when Mike McNally scores from 2B on an attempted 6-4-3 DP that ends with a forceout only. McNally will set a ML record this year of playing 87 games without an extra base hit: Luis Gomez will top it by 2 games in 1975. Both pitchers strike out six‚ while Ruth adds a hit by pitch on Joe Judge. Ruth‚ batting 9th‚ strikes out twice against Johnson‚ while Walter‚ batting 6th‚ is 0-for-3. The Senators lose 4 straight to Boston and drop to 2nd place in the AL.

May 15, 1916 - The Nationals top the A's‚ 6-5‚ in 11 innings. Reliever Walter Johnson fans 6 of the 14 batters he faces.

Apr 17, 1916 - At Fenway‚ Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson square off with the young Red Sox lefty emerging the winner‚ 5-1 over the Washington ace. Ruth scatters 8 hits in 6 innings and strikes out 6‚ while Johnson gives up 11 hits before being lifted in the 6th. Rain starts falling in the 7th and the game is called.

Apr 12, 1916 - Before 20‚000 at the Polo Grounds‚ the Yankees and Nationals battle 11 innings before the Nats push across an unearned run against starter Ray Caldwell to win 3-2. Walter Johnson strikes out 10 and walks none in the win. Frank Baker‚ after sitting out last season in a salary protest‚ has two of the five hits for New York‚ while Clyde Milan homers for the Nats.

Oct 2, 1915 - In the first of two games‚ Walter Johnson gives Washington a 3-1 win over the Red Sox. Ruth pitches the final 3 innings‚ allowing one Nats hit.

Aug 29, 1915 - George Sisler again pitches against Walter Johnson and this time wins‚ 2-1. He will be 4-4 for the Browns and 1-2 next year before moving permanently to 1B. Sisler is helped in the 8th inning when Brownie 2B Del Pratt nabs pinch runner Horace Milan‚ in his ML debut‚ with a hidden ball trick. Horace is the brother of teammate Deerfoot Milan.

Aug 22, 1915 - In the 2nd inning of game one of a doubleheader versus Detroit‚ the crowd sees the Senators score a run with no times at bat‚ the only time its ever happened. Chick Gandil and Merito Acosta walk; Buff Williams sacrifices‚ and George McBride hits a sacrifice fly‚ scoring Gandil‚ and the Tigers catch Acosta off 2B when OF Bobby Veach throws to Ossie Vitt. Washington's Walter Johnson goes on to win‚ 8-1‚ and snap the Tigers' 9-game win streak.

Aug 14, 1915 - In the first matchup of Babe Ruth and Walter Johnson‚ the Babe comes away the winner‚ 4-3. He also goes 2-for-3 and scores a Boston run in the come from behind victory. Ruth is hitting .370‚ 2nd in the AL behind Cobb.

Aug 10, 1915 - In Washington‚ Detroit 3B Ossie Vitt is hit by a Walter Johnson fastball and‚ after being knocked out for 5 minutes‚ leaves the game with a concussion. A rattled Johnson then allows 4 runs in the first inning‚ two runs on a 2-run homer by George Burns‚ and another 4 through the 6th inning to lose (he will be 17-2 at home this year). Ty Cobb‚ observing Johnson's fear of hitting a batter‚ will begin crowd the plate on the Washington ace from here on. Cobb will average .435 for the rest of his career against Walter‚ after topping .222 only once in the previous 8 years.

Aug 7, 1915 - In Chicago‚ the White Sox top the Senators 6-2. Relieving for the losing pitcher Jim Shaw is future Hall of Famer Sam Rice‚ who will pitch only 8 more times before going to the outfield for two decades. Playing RF in the game for Washington is Walter Johnson‚ filling in for the injured Danny Moeller.

Aug 2, 1915 - On the 8th anniversary of Walter Johnson's debut‚ the Big Train tops the Browns‚ 5-1. The losing pitcher is George Sisler‚ who has a single off Johnson.

Jul 29, 1915 - Walter Johnson wins his own game with a 10th inning drive to deep CF with a man on and 2 out to beat Cleveland‚ 2-1. Johnson struck out his first 3 times up.

Jul 19, 1915 - The Nationals come out running‚ stealing a ML record 8 bases (tied in the NL in 1919) against the Cleveland Indians in the first inning. Sore-armed catcher Steve O'Neill is the victim of 3 SBs by Danny Moeller including 2B‚ 3B and home‚ 2 each by Clyde Milan and Ed Ainsmith‚ and one by George McBride in the 11-4 Washington win. Walter Johnson (15-8) allows just two hits in 6 innings before taking the afternoon off. Reliever Nick Altrock gives up the Cleveland scores.

Jun 23, 1915 - At Washington‚ Walter Johnson fires a one-hitter to beat the Red Sox‚ 5-0. Harry Hooper has the only hit for Boston. In 1924‚ Hooper will again have the lone hit in a Johnson game.

Apr 14, 1915 - With government offices closed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's death‚ many government workers‚ including President Woodrow Wilson‚ are among the 15‚556 fans on hand for the Washington Opener against the Yankees. Wilson throws out the first ball and the rest is all Walter Johnson‚ who allows just two singles and issues three walks‚ all to Andy High. High added two steals. The Senators score 7 runs against the Yankees starter Jack Warhop to coast to a 7-0 win.

Dec 19, 1914 - Washington manager Clark Griffith meets with Walter Johnson in KC and convinces the star to re-sign for $12‚500‚ considerably less than his recent contract with the ChiFeds‚ with the assurance that Griffith would convince the Washington management to spring for a bigger contract later. Washington will later sign Johnson to $16‚000 a year for five years. Griffith gets $6‚000 from Charlie Comiskey to allow Johnson to repay his ChiFed signing bonus.

Dec 8, 1914 - After weeks of rumors‚ the bomb drops: Connie Mack sells 27-year-old Eddie Collins‚ generally regarded as the game's finest position player‚ to the White Sox for $50‚000. Collins signs a 5-year contract worth $75‚000 and gets $15‚000 as a signing bonus. The deal breaks up the A's "$100‚000 infield" and raises conjecture that Mack‚ too‚ will leave to manage the Yankees. Ban Johnson reportedly had a hand in the negotiations‚ sending the A's star to counter the box office effect of the Chifeds signing Walter Johnson. Johnson first approached the Yankees who thought the $50‚000 price tag excessive.

Dec 4, 1914 - Walter Johnson accepts a $6‚000 bonus from the FL Chicago Whales and signs a three-year contract for $17‚500 per year. Clark Griffith threatens to take Johnson to court‚ claiming he has paid Johnson for the reserve option in his contract. AL Prexy Ban Johnson asserts that Johnson was on the market and is "damaged goods‚" worth getting rid of. Griffith travels to Coffeyville‚ KS‚ to persuade his franchise player that the option clause is legal and binding. Two weeks later Griffith signs Johnson for 3 years at $12‚500 per year and returns the bonus to the Feds.

Oct 5, 1914 - At Fenway Park‚ Washington's Walter Johnson wins his 28th game of the year‚ a 9-3 win over the Sox. Babe Ruth‚ pinch hitting for pitcher Ray Collins‚ strikes out on three pitches.

Sep 21, 1914 - The White Sox score in the 4th inning on a Walter Johnson wild pitch‚ one of 4 that Johnson uncorks in the game. But he strikes out 12 batters in 13 innings as the Nats finally break through against Chicago's Red Faber for a 6-1 win. The record book gives Johnson all 4 wild pitches in the 4th inning‚ but it appears that Eddie Collins‚ who opened with a single‚ stole 2nd and advanced on a grounder to 3rd‚ scored the Pale Hose's only tally on a just one wild pitch.

Aug 31, 1914 - Walter Johnson relieves in the 8th inning with his Senators holding a 3-2 lead over the White Sox. On the first pitch‚ Jack Fournier hits a HR to tie the game. Fournier's next at bat up comes in the 10th and he homers again to give the Sox a 4-3 win. This is the first time Johnson has been reached for 2 HRs in a game by the same batter (Gehrig will match it August 13‚ 1926). Last night the Sox beat Johnson 2-1 and Fournier was 3-for-3 with 2 triples against the "Big Train."

Jun 27, 1914 - The A's top Walter Johnson and Washington‚ 4-2. Eddie Collins is 2-for-4 with a run and RBI for the A's.

Jun 24, 1914 - Washington's Walter Johnson is enroute to a 2-1 home win over the A's when newsboys come through the stands hawking the latest edition of the papers headlining the wedding that evening of the ace to Hazel Roberts. The fiancee is supposedly spotted by the crowd‚ but the real Ms. Roberts slips by unnoticed.

Jun 21, 1914 - Against Detroit P George Boehler‚ Walter Johnson connects for a 5th inning grand slam and it is the difference as Washington wins‚ 7-3.

May 8, 1914 - When the Senators relieve with Walter Johnson‚ the A's greet him with 6 runs in three innings to drive the Big Train from the mound. Johnson throw the one and only beanball of his career‚ a fast ball at the head of Frank "Home Run" Baker‚ a particular nemesis of Johnson's. The beanball misses Baker‚ whom Johnson calls "the most dangerous batter that I ever faced." Baker had hit .385 against the Nats ace up till this game (4 seasons); he'll hit just .207 off him in the next 9 years. When the dust settles‚ the game ends in a 9-9 tie.

Apr 14, 1914 - At Fenway Park‚ 24‚741 fans are on hand as the Red Sox open the season against Washington. Walter Johnson doesn't allow a hit till the 6th inning as he shuts out the Sox 3-0. Johnson walks none and strikes out 8. Ray Collins takes the loss.

Oct 28, 1913 - In the only time the two future immortals face each other‚ Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson square off at South Main Park in Tulsa‚ Oklahoma. Johnson‚ backed by the White Sox‚ wins the battle‚ 6-0‚ pitching the distance‚ while Matty exits after 4 innings. Johnson strikes out 8. Tris Speaker and Buck Weaver do the hitting for the Sox‚ while fan favorite Jim Thorpe has 2 hits off Johnson. The game is delayed for nearly 2 hours when the stands collapse‚ injuring 52 people and killing a soldier. The governor of Oklahoma narrowly escapes injury in the tragedy.

Oct 8, 1913 - Christy Mathewson ties the Series‚ shutting the Athletics out for 10 innings to beat Eddie Plank 3-0. Mathewson also brings in the winning run with a double in the 10th. In the 9th‚ Matty is saved twice by pitcher Hooks Wiltse‚ playing 1B. Wiltse entered the game in the 3rd as a pinch runner for Fred Snodgrass‚ pressed in to action at 1B. The A's put runners on 2B and 3B with no outs in the final inning‚ and the next two batters hit shots to 1B. Both times Wiltse guns out a runner at home and Matty gets the last out to send the game into extra innings. Before the game‚ Walter Johnson (36-7‚ 243 strikeouts‚ 11 shutouts) is presented the Chalmers Award‚ and an automobile‚ as the AL's MVP. Joe Jackson is 2nd in the voting.

Oct 4, 1913 - Washington manager Clark Griffith uses an unheard-of 8 pitchers in an end-of-season farce game with Boston‚ including 5 in the 9th inning. At age 43‚ he pitches one inning himself‚ and coach John Ryan‚ also 43‚ catches. Griffith also plays RF‚ where he plays one off his head and misplays Hal Janvrin's liner into an inside-the-park homer. On the other end of the scale‚ 17-year-old Merito Acosta plays outfield alongside Walter Johnson in CF. Johnson then comes in the 8th inning to lob pitches to 2 hitters. Both batters‚ Clyde Engel and Steve Yerkes lace hits to send Johnson back to CF‚ and then‚ in relief‚ Nat's catcher Eddie Ainsmith‚ in his only ML pitching appearance‚ gives up two triples to allow the base runners to score. The Sox score in the 9th on Hal Janvrin's 2nd inside-the-park homer of the game. Joe Gideon‚ in his only pitching appearance retires the last two batters as Washington wins‚ 10-9‚ beating Fred Anderson who goes the distance. The 2 runs "allowed" by Johnson will have historical repercussions: his ERA goes from 1.09 to 1.14‚ and Bob Gibson's 1.12 ERA in 1968 will put Johnson's ERA in 2nd place on the all-time list. The 8 pitchers sets a ML record that won't be matched until the Dodgers‚ September 25‚ 1946.

Oct 4, 1913 - At Detroit‚ White Sox pitcher Reb Russell gives Chicago a split by beating Detroit‚ 1-0‚ in the nitecap following a 7-5 loss. Russell (22-16) sets a ML rookie record with his 8th shutout. He also ties the ML record of winning five complete 1-0 games in a season set by Walter Johnson a mark since tied in each loop but never topped.

Sep 29, 1913 - Walter Johnson wins his 36th game and 11th shutout of the year‚ defeating the league champion Athletics 1-0 on George McBride Day‚ a day honoring the Nationals' captain and SS. Johnson also sets a ML record with his fifth 1-0 victory‚ a mark that will be tied in a few days by Reb Russell. Taking the loss today is rookie Weldon Wyckoff.

Sep 11, 1913 - The contending Cleveland Naps‚ lose their 4th in a row to the Senators‚ 7-3. Washington will win tomorrow‚ 6-1‚ behind Walter Johnson‚ leaving the Nats just a game behind the 2nd place Clevelanders. Today‚ ump Jack Egan tosses C Steve O'Neill and manager Joe Birmingham. Tomorrow‚ Birmy will be slapped with a suspension by AL head Ban Johnson‚ who will lift the 10-day suspension of Washington manager Clark Griffith. Besides the fight with the ump‚ the Naps' slumping Joe Jackson also loses a fight with a sign trying for Milan's line drive. Jackson leaves the game after being knocked unconscious. He'll miss a day..

Aug 28, 1913 - Walter Johnson's 14-game winning streak is ended‚ although it takes Boston 11 innings to beat him 1-0. Boston manages a 2nd inning single by Steve Yerkes and doesn't have another baserunner until Yerkes singles again in the 11th.‚ and reaches 3rd on the ball goes through the legs of CF Clyde Milan. A fielder's choice‚ and single wins it. Johnson strikes out 10‚ five in a row‚ and walks none. The winner is Ray Collins‚ who beat Johnson 1-0 on June 6‚ and lost to him by that score on July 3.

Aug 24, 1913 - In Chicago‚ Walter Johnson wins his 14th straight‚ a 2-1 decision over the Sox. Johnson fans the side in the 8th inning‚ then with 2 on and 2 out in the 9th‚ strikes out Eddie Collins.

Aug 2, 1913 - It's Walter Johnson Day in Washington. President Wilson is on hand to help mark the Big Train's 6th anniversary in a Nationals uniform. Johnson is presented with a silver cup filled with 10-dollar bills ($674) and returns the favor with a 3-2 win over Detroit‚ his 24th win of the year.

Jul 25, 1913 - A 15-inning 8-8 tie game between St. Louis and the Nationals is called for darkness. Reliever Walter Johnson fans a ML record 15 in the last 11 innings‚ but he hits rookie catcher Sam Agnew with a pitch‚ breaking his jaw. Browns P Carl Weilman sets a ML record by striking out 6 times. He becomes the first player-but not the last-in history to strike out 6 consecutive times in a game‚ as Johnson gets him 4 times‚ and Joe Engel and Long Tom Hughes once each. Johnson's strikeout mark for relievers will last this century before another Johnson breaks it‚ in 2001.

Jul 21, 1913 - Walter Johnson and the Senators are victors over the White Sox rookie pitcher Reb Russell. Russell will come back tomorrow and be the winner over Washington‚ 6-5.

Jul 6, 1913 - At St. Louis‚ the Senators push across 2 runs in the top of the 9th to take a 3-2 lead‚ Walter Johnson‚ the 4th Washington pitcher‚ shuts out the Browns in the 9th and is awarded the win. As reported in Sporting Life‚ Prexy "Ban Johnson rules that when a pitcher leaves the box at the end of an inning he shall not receive benefit of any runs made in the following inning. He says all runs should aid the reliever‚ not the previous pitcher."

Jul 3, 1913 - The Red Sox tally 15 hits off Washington's Walter Johnson‚ but lose 1-0 in 15 innings. This ties a ML record of frustration for most hits in an extra inning shutout. Ray Collins takes the loss.

Jun 27, 1913 - Washington's Walter Johnson tops the A's‚ 2-0‚ to start a 14-game winning streak. He won't lose for another two months.

Jun 25, 1913 - In Washington‚ Frank Baker‚ a nemesis for Walter Johnson‚ cracks a three-run homer in the 3rd inning to key a 14-2 A's victory over the Washington ace. Johnson will come back in 2 days to shut out the A's‚ 2-0.

Jun 14, 1913 - At Chicago‚ Walter Johnson stops the White Sox‚ 8-3. Sox C Ray Schalk hits his first ML homer off Johnson and it will be his only roundtripper this year.

Jun 2, 1913 - In the 2nd game of a doubleheader with the A's‚ Walter Johnson serves up a 4th-inning homer to Home Run Baker as the Senators lose 4-3. The A's also win the opener‚ 9-4.

May 30, 1913 - In a Memorial Day doubleheader in Washington‚ Red Sox OF Harry Hooper hits lead-off homers in both games to help sweep the Senators. Boston wins the opener‚ 4-3‚ then the nitecap‚ 1-0‚ on Hooper's leadoff homer against Walter Johnson. Hooper‚ a future Hall of Famer‚ will total just 4 homers on the season. The next leadoff batter to match Hooper's mark will be Rickey Henderson.

May 21, 1913 - Alva "Rip" Williams lives up to his nickname as he hits a 2-run pinch homer in the 9th for Washington to tie Cleveland‚ 2-2. It's Rip's first ML homer. The Senators score 2 in the top of the 10th and send Walter Johnson in to preserve the 4-2 win.

May 18, 1913 - In Detroit‚ 25‚000 show up to see Walter Johnson battle the Tigers. Washington wins 2-1‚ with Detroit's only score coming on a Ty Cobb steal of home in the 7th.

May 14, 1913 - At St. Louis‚ Walter Johnson tops Jack Coombs record of 53 straight scoreless innings when he stretches the record to 56 innings. But after Washington scores 6 runs‚ Johnson lets up against the Browns and Del Pratt's 4th inning single drives in a run that snaps the skein. Ahead 9-1‚ Johnson is relieved by Joe Boehling and Washington wins‚ 10-5.

May 10, 1913 - Walter Johnson two-hits the White Sox to win‚ 1-0‚ and run his consecutive scoreless innings pitched to 52 2/3.

Apr 10, 1913 - President Woodrow Wilson‚ who receives a gold pass from Ban Johnson‚ throws out the first ball at Washington's home opener at National Park. Under new manager Frank Chance‚ New York is playing its first official game as Yankees. New York starter George McConnell‚ 8-12 last year as a 35-year-old rookie‚ allows just 6 hits but loses to Walter Johnson 2-1. Danny Moeller drives in both Nat runs with a single. After giving up an unearned run in the first‚ Johnson begins a string of shutout innings that will reach a record 55 2/3 before the St. Louis Browns score in the 4th on May 14th. Johnson scatters 8 hits today‚ including one by 1B Charlie Sterrett. Regular first sacker Hal Chase‚ though left-handed‚ fills in at second base for injured player/manager Frank Chance.

Oct 6, 1912 - At the Remington Arms Company in Bridgeport Connecticut‚ Walter Johnson and Nap Rucker fire fast balls through a tunnel of fine wires in an attempt to clock their fastballs. In street clothes‚ both throw three pitches. The rudimentary test clocks Johnson at 122 feet per second (82 mph) and Rucker at 113 feet per second (77 mph) both on their 3rd throw.

Oct 3, 1912 - In New York‚ the Senators clinch 2nd place‚ a game ahead of the A's‚ by edging the Highlanders‚ 4-3. Walter Johnson's notches his 33rd win (or 32nd by some counts).

Sep 27, 1912 - Eddie Plank goes 19 innings for the A's against Bob Groom and Walter Johnson of the Nationals‚ and takes a 5-4 loss when Eddie Collins' wild throw lets the winning run score. Johnson relieves Bob Groom at the end of the 9th‚ and pitches 10 innings of scoreless relief.

Sep 15, 1912 - In the 2nd game of a doubleheader‚ Boston's Joe Wood wins his 16th straight game as he bests the Browns 2-1 in a game called after 8 innings because of darkness. Wood scores the winning run in the 8th‚ scoring from 3B on a wild pitch by Earl Hamilton. Earlier in the year‚ Walter Johnson posted a streak of 16 straight wins.

Sep 6, 1912 - In one of the more dramatic matchups in history‚ Walter Johnson‚ who had won 16 straight games before losing 2 games‚ takes the mound in a doubleheader nightcap against Joe Wood‚ who is seeking his 14th straight win. Wood strikes out 9 and beats the visiting Senators 1-0 for his 30th win. Boston's lone run comes in the 6th on back to back doubles by Tris Speaker and Duffy Lewis. Speaker's double would normally be an easy fly out‚ but the ball drops into the overflow crowd cordoned off by ropes.

Sep 2, 1912 - Washington's Walter Johnson goes 10 innings against the A's‚ who beat the Big Train‚ 9-7.

Aug 26, 1912 - Walter Johnson's 16-game winning streak ends under AL rules of the time. In the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Browns‚ he relieves Tom Hughes with one out and 2 on in the 7th inning of a 2-2 game. The 2 runners score on Pete Compton single up the middle and the Nationals lose‚ 4-3. The two runs are charged to Johnson‚ not Hughes‚ giving him the defeat. Under the NL's rules‚ Johnson would not be charged with the loss. After the season‚ AL president Ban Johnson will change the rules to conform with the senior circuit‚ but he will deny he does it because of this game.

Aug 23, 1912 - The Tigers fall to Washington and Walter Johnson‚ 8-1‚ Big Train's 16th win in a row. He is now 29-7.

Aug 20, 1912 - In Washington‚ Walter Johnson wins his AL record 15th straight‚ downing Cleveland 4-2. Big Train is topped in the nitecap when Washington hurler Jay Cashion tosses a 6-inning no-hitter‚ winning 2-0. The only base runners reach on 2 errors by SS George McBride. Johnson's effort takes 1 hour: 55 minutes‚ while Cashion's 6 innings finish in just 65 minutes: the game is called to allow Cleveland to catch a train to Boston. Cashion will win only 11 other games in his ML career.

Aug 16, 1912 - Walter Johnson and Joe Wood are in pursuit of Rube Marquard's 19-game win streak. Johnson picks on the White Sox for his 14th straight‚ a 2-hitter‚ tying Jack Chesbro's 1904 mark. Only 3 balls are hit out of the infield. The Washingtonians win‚ 2-0‚ beating "our meatball expert" (Chicago Record-Herald) Joe Benz with 8 hits. A week later Joe Wood will win number 13 in a row.

Aug 5, 1912 - At Comiskey Park‚ Walter Johnson relieves Carl Cushion with 2 outs in the 8th and stops the White Sox. Johnson throws another 2 innings of hitless ball and drives in the winning run to give Washington an 8-7 win. Johnson has now won 9 out of 10 decisions with the White Sox this season.

Jul 22, 1912 - Walter Johnson beats Detroit‚ 5-3‚ and strikes out the first 5 batters (Jones‚ Bush‚ Cobb‚ Crawford‚ Deal) in the game. He then gives up a double to George Moriarty‚ before striking out Baldy Louden.

Jul 3, 1912 - After a first game 3-2 victory‚ Walter Johnson picks up a win in game 2 and is given a rare rest in the 6th inning as Washington coasts to a 10-2 win over the Yankees. Johnson will rack up an AL record 16 straight wins before he is beaten. The Senators are in the middle of a six-game sweep of the Yankees‚ including another pair tomorrow.

Jun 26, 1912 - Boston's Smoky Joe Wood outguns the Nationals ace Walter Johnson to win‚ 3-0. Wood allows 3 hits to Big Train's 4. Johnson fans 10 batters in the loss.

Jun 6, 1912 - In Chicago‚ Walter Johnson takes over for Musser in the 6th inning with Washington ahead‚ 2-1‚ and holds Chicago scoreless the rest of the way. Washington tallies another 7 runs for the 9-1 win‚ awarded to Johnson under the practices at the time.

May 25, 1912 - New York SS Jack Martin gets plunked twice by Walter Johnson‚ who hits three batters in the game. The second time Martin is hit the fast ball shatters his jaw. He will be out of action for five weeks. Johnson‚ who consciously avoids throwing at batters will‚ nevertheless‚ hit 205 batters in his career.

May 8, 1912 - The White Sox beat Washington 7-6‚ snapping Walter Johnson's five-game win streak. Johnson gives up two 2-run home runs‚ one to Harry Lord in the 1st and another to Ping Bodie in the 5th. A Johnson fastball breaks the arm of 3B Lee Tannehill‚ an injury that will hamper the infielder's throwing ability‚ and ends the career of the 10-year veteran. Sox starter Joe Benz leaves with an injury after pitching 1 1/3 inning‚; Ed Walsh pitches the next 5 2/3 innings‚ allowing 3 runs‚ and Frank Lange allows the same in his 2 innings.

Apr 19, 1912 - Behind the pitching of Walter Johnson‚ Washington wins its home opener 6-0 over the World Champion Athletics. Only 10‚000 fans show up as shocking news of the Titanic sinking keeps people away. President Taft skips the game and Veep Sherman does the tossing of the first ball.

Apr 15, 1912 - In New York‚ Walter Johnson wins a duel against the Yankees Jack Quinn‚ 1-0.

Apr 11, 1912 - The Champion Athletics open at home‚ lacing seven hits and beating Walter Johnson and the Senators‚ 4-2. Jack Coombs takes the victory.

Oct 15, 1911 - In an exhibition game in New York‚ Honus Wagner‚ Walter Johnson‚ Gabby Street and other white major leaguers take on the Lincoln Giants‚ a star-studded black team featuring Pop Lloyd‚ Dick McClelland‚ and Louis Santop. Johnson K's 14 to give the white all-stars a 5-3 win.

Oct 10, 1911 - In Washington‚ the A's trip the AL All-stars 3-2 as Walter Johnson gives up 10 hits in 9 innings. Coombs‚ Plank‚ and Bender each allow one hit in their 3 innings of tuneup.

Sep 23, 1911 - Walter Johnson gives up a 2-run homer in the 6th inning to Joe Jackson‚ the 8th four-bagger the Big Train has allowed this year. Johnson had given up just 2 in the previous 4 seasons. Cleveland whips the Senators 6-1.

Aug 4, 1911 - At Washington‚ the Senators sweep the White Sox‚ winning 1-0 in 11 innings‚ then winning 3-2 in regulation. Doc White and Walter Johnson go all the way in the opener. The Sox almost score in the 7th but Rollie Zeider is called out at home and severly twists his ankle in the attempt. In the 9th Milan doubles‚ and Germany Schaefer bunts him to 3B and is safe at 1B. Germany steals 2B and after Elbefeld pops out‚ and Walker is at bat‚ Germany steals first base. Manager Duffy then comes onto the field to argue that Schaefer should be out for stealing 1B‚ and while the argument goes on Germany takes off for 2B‚ getting caught in a rundown. Milan then attempts to score and is thrown out at home. The Senators then protest‚ to ump Connolly‚ saying the Sox have ten men on the field‚ but it falls on deaf ears. The game is marked by spectacular fielding including Lee Tannehill of the White Sox sets a ML mark as the only SS to execute 2 unassisted double plays in one game‚ though it is not even mentioned in the Chicago Tribune writeup.

Jul 24, 1911 - An AL all-star team plays the Naps in Cleveland‚ raising $12‚914 for the late Addie Joss's family. The all-stars win 5-3. Joe Wood and Walter Johnson pitch for the all stars‚ while Cy Young twirls for the Naps.

Jul 1, 1911 - The A's pound Walter Johnson for 13 runs‚ the most he'll allow in his career‚ and beat Washington‚ 13-8. Frank Baker hits his 2nd of five career homers off Johnson in the 6th with a man on.

Jun 3, 1911 - Led by Cobb's 3 hits‚ including 2 triples‚ the Tigers beat the Senators' ace Walter Johnson‚ 7-2.

May 25, 1911 - The Tigers lose to Walter Johnson and the Senators‚ 6-2‚ although Cobb nicks him for 2 hits.

May 23, 1911 - Detroit beats Washington's Walter Johnson‚ 9-8. Detroit loads the bases in the 8th inning for Ty Cobb‚ already 3-for-4 with 3 stolen bases‚ and Walter Johnson‚ in relief of Gray‚ walks him to force in what will be the winning run.

May 13, 1911 - At Hilltop Park‚ Fred Merkle has 6 RBIs in one inning-on a double and an inside-the-park home run-as the Giants tee off on three St. Louis pitchers for 13 runs in the first inning‚ including 7 before an out is recorded. Merkle adds a 3-run double in the inning and then scores the last run on the front end of a successful double steal. The spree ties a first inning ML record enjoyed by the Boston Beaneaters against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1900‚ and it remains a Giants club record through the 20th century. John McGraw decides to save starter Mathewson for another day and lifts him after one inning‚ but the official scorer credits Matty with the win. McGraw wants to give Marquard some experience in pitching without pressure and brings in Rube to finish. He works the last 8 innings and strikes out 14‚ setting a 20th century NL record‚ and a since broken ML record‚ for strikeouts by a reliever: Walter Johnson will K 15 batters in 1913 and Randy Johnson will match it in 2001‚ while Denny McLain will rack up 14 in 1965. The Giants roll‚ 19-5‚ pinning the loss on Harry Sallee.

Apr 28, 1911 - In Philadelphia‚ Walter Johnson picks up his first win of the year‚ edging the A's 2-1. Frank Baker hits a solo HR off Johnson‚ the first HR over the fence the Washington ace has allowed: there have been two inside-the-park homers hit of Walter.

Apr 15, 1911 - Walter Johnson ties a ML record by striking out 4 batters in the 5th inning of Washington's 6-2 loss against Boston. The 5th inning runner scores the games 1st run‚ and Boston scores 3 more in the 6th‚ plus runs in the 7th and 9th to beat the Nationals ace.

Apr 12, 1911 - President Taft throws out the first ball at Washington's opener‚ and holdout Walter Johnson signs a 3-year contract at $7‚000 a year and does not pitch the opener. He won't miss another until 1922. Dolly Gray takes the mound for the Nationals‚ winning 8-5‚ over Boston's Joe Wood and Ed Karger.

Oct 26, 1910 - The Washington Post headlines a rumored trade with Walter Johnson going to Detroit for Ty Cobb. Detroit president Frank Navin scoffs at the story‚ saying he would never trade Cobb‚ but praising Johnson "as the best pitcher in the country."

Oct 12, 1910 - With the AL season ending a week earlier than the NL‚ the champion A's tune up with a 5-game series against an AL all-star team‚ which includes Ty Cobb‚ Tris Speaker‚ Doc White‚ Ed Walsh‚ and Walter Johnson. The A's drop 4 out of 5 to the all-stars‚ but Mack will later state‚ "Those games‚ more than anything else‚ put the Athletics in a condition to outclass the National League champions."

Oct 6, 1910 - The Senators and Red Sox split a pair‚ with Boston taking game 1 by a score of 5-2 and the Nationals winning‚ 6-5‚ in 8 innings. Duffy Lewis has a homer in game 2‚ while Clyde Milan scores in the 3rd inning on the front end of a triple steal. When Walter Johnson relieves for Walker in the 6th inning‚ Milan saves the win with a tumbling 2-out‚ bases-loaded catch. Johnson has a pair of K's to finish with a AL-high 313: his scheduled next start against the A's will be washed out.

Sep 25, 1910 - At St. Louis, the Browns and Senators split with the Browns winning game one, 2–1. In the second game, Walter Johnson tosses the first of his two career one-baserunner games, missing a perfect game when a sixth inning grounder by rookie Frank Truesdale skips by SS George McBride for a single. Johnson's one-hitter is good for a 3–0 victory over the Browns. Johnson strikes out 11 to run his season total to 303, “establishing a new world strikeout record beating Rube Waddell’s mark of 301 set in 1903.” (Chicago Tribune). However, Waddell’s mark is now recognized as 349.

Sep 15, 1910 - Cleveland tops Washington‚ 3-0‚ with Walter Johnson losing to the Naps after 4 straight wins against them. The victory goes to Fred Blanding in his major league debut. Nap Lajoie scores a run but is 0-for-3.

Sep 5, 1910 - After losing 5-2 to the Yankees‚ the A's win the second game 2-1 and Jack Coombs begins a streak of 53 shutout innings‚ topping Doc White's 46 of 1904. Three years later Walter Johnson will top Coombs.

Sep 3, 1910 - Walter Johnson of Washington tops Chief Bender and the first-place Athletics‚ 3-1. The A's score comes on a triple steal (Hartsel‚ Houser‚ Rapp).

Aug 23, 1910 - Chicago's Ed Walsh tops Walter Johnson‚ 1-0‚ the 3rd straight time Walsh has beaten the Big Train and Washington by that score.

Aug 11, 1910 - The White Sox trade P Frank Smith‚ whose best days are behind him‚ and 3B Billy Purtell to the Red Sox in exchange for 2B Amby McConnell and 3B Harry Lord. On July 10th‚ a Walter Johnson fastball broke Lord's finger‚ and the stellar play of his substitute Clyde Engel has made Lord expendable. Lord becoming the one threat in the weak White Sox lineup‚ hitting .297 through the end of the year‚ but the Sox will still finish last in hitting‚ slugging‚ and homers.

Jul 30, 1910 - The A's beat Washington 7-5‚ handing Walter Johnson his worst loss of the year. Eddie Collins' three-run homer in the 8th‚ a line drive that bounces to the LF wall‚ is the difference. It's the only HR the Nats ace will allow this year.

Jul 8, 1910 - Against the Browns‚ Walter Johnson K's the first 7 hitters and 8 of the first 9 batters. After Washington scores 10 runs in the 5th inning‚ Johnson records no more strike outs‚ and coasts home to a 12-3 win.

May 14, 1910 - Cleveland edges Washington 1-0‚ beating Walter Johnson. Nap Lajoie is 2-for-4 with a double for the winners. Johnson will win his next 4 outings against Cleveland.

May 10, 1910 - The White Sox tally 7 runs in 5 innings against Walter Johnson to coast to a 10-3 win. Johnson's record is now 2-5‚ and the Washington Post suggests that the Nats "trade this phenom for a couple of good fielders."

Apr 28, 1910 - The Red Sox manage 16 hits in 12 innings against Walter Johnson‚ but strike out 12 times‚ as the Nats edge Boston‚ 2-1.

Apr 14, 1910 - With the weather perfect‚ President and Mrs. William Howard Taft‚ along with Veep Sherman‚ surprise the Nationals by showing up for the season Opener. Jimmy McAleer suggests Taft throw out the first ball‚ and he becomes the first president to do so. Walter Johnson catches it‚ then pitches the first of his 14 Opening Day Washington games‚ striking out 9. An easy ?y hit by Frank "Home Run" Baker into the overflow crowd-a ground-rule double-mars his 3-0 pitching gem over rival Eddie Plank. Gabby Street is behind the plate for Johnson‚ the only Opener in which he catches for Walter.

Oct 2, 1909 - In the first game of a season-ending doubleheader against Washington‚ Jim Curry plays second base for the Athletics and goes 1-for-4 against Walter Johnson. At 16 years‚ six months‚ and 22 days‚ Curry is the youngest player in American League history and the youngest major league position player in the 20th century (his birth year is reported as both 1889 and 1893): Carl Scheib will debut at 16 years of age in 1943. Walter Johnson's 6-5 loss in the opener seals the last-place finish for Washington with 110 losses-Johnson and Bob Groom suffering 51 of them. The A's take the nitecap as well‚ 7-2. Three years later‚ when Washington rises to 2nd place‚ Johnson and Groom will combine for 56 wins. Today‚ Groom and P Dolly Gray play the outfield for the Nationals. The last place finish costs Pongo Joe Cantillon his job. The new manager is Jimmy McAleer.

Sep 25, 1909 - The White Sox sweep a pair from the Nationals, 2–1, and 2–0. In game one, Washington rookie Bob Groom loses his 15th consecutive game, an AL record that will be surpassed by John Nabors (1916) and Mike Parrott (1980) He will lead the AL with 26 losses. Walter Johnson is the loser in game two as Bill Burns shuts out the Sox.

Sep 21, 1909 - Rest seems to have cured Walter Johnson's sore arm‚ as the Nats' ace shuts out Detroit‚ 2-0‚ his first appearance since August 29th. He will finish the season at 13-25‚ 10 of the losses coming in shutouts. Five of the shutout losses were to the White Sox.

Aug 17, 1909 - Walter Johnson gives up 4 hits in topping the A's Chief Bender in 12 innings. The Nat's win 1-0‚ but the overwork will take its toll on the young ace. He will develop a sore arm and in his next two outing he will give up 27 hits.

Aug 16, 1909 - The A's jump on Walter Johnson, scoring 6 runs in 5 innings, before relief comes in. The A’s win, 6–1 over Johnson, but he’ll come back tomorrow to beat them. Before exiting, Johnson hits his first ML homer, off Harry Krause, who will lead the AL in ERA with a sparkling 1.39. The homer, just the 3rd hit over Washington’s LF fence, goes through a window of an adjoining building.

Jul 31, 1909 - For the 2nd time in 2 years-the first was on May 25‚ 1908-Bill Burns has a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the 9th‚ when Washington's Otis Clymer singles. But Burns and the White Sox win 1-0‚ besting Walter Johnson in the first of two games. Burns is the only pitcher to suffer this fate twice‚ until Dave Stieb of Toronto does on September 24 and 30‚ 1988.

Jun 19, 1909 - Walter Johnson has a strange day beating the New York Highlanders 7-4. He gives up just 3 hits‚ but is unusually wild‚ issuing 7 walks‚ uncorking 4 wild pitches‚ and hitting one batter‚ while fanning 10.

May 20, 1909 - After 5 losses‚ Walter Johnson picks up his first win‚ outdueling Cleveland's Addie Joss 3-2. Johnson strikes out 10 and drives in the winning run.

May 10, 1909 - The White Sox edge the Senators 1-0 in 11 innings‚ handing Walter Johnson his 2nd straight 1-0 loss on his way to a 20th century record ten losses by shutouts. For the Nationals‚ it is their 3rd straight 1-0 loss‚ tying a mark set by the Browns two weeks ago.

Apr 24, 1909 - Sidelined much of April with the flu‚ Walter Johnson makes his 1st appearance of the year. He should've stood in bed as the Highlanders rough him up for 6 runs before he's lifted in the 3rd. Behind Joe Lake‚ New York rolls to a 17-0 win over Washington‚ a club record shutout loss for the Nationals. It'll be tied by New York in 1920.

Oct 7, 1908 - The last-place New York Highlanders close out the season losing 1-0 in 11 innings to Walter Johnson and the Senators. Johnson‚ who missed 10 weeks ‚ ends up at 14-14‚ with a 1.65 ERA.

Sep 26, 1908 - Washington's Walter Johnson loses 5-4 to Cleveland when he makes a throwing error.

Sep 24, 1908 - Washington's Walter Johnson three-hits Cleveland to win‚ 2-1. The loss stops Cleveland's win streak at 10.

Sep 20, 1908 - in St. Louis‚ Rube Waddell strikes out 17 Washington Nationals in 10 innings to beat Walter Johnson 2-1.

Sep 18, 1908 - The White Sox stay close to the top when Ed Walsh tops Walter Johnson to win 1-0. The Sox manage just 3 hits off the Senators' ace.

Sep 12, 1908 - A day after beating the A's Eddie Plank‚ 2-1‚ Washington's Walter Johnson is forced to start again‚ this time replacing sore-armed Charley Smith. Remarkably‚ Johnson records his 5th complete game victory in 9 days.

Sep 5, 1908 - Washington and Walter Johnson top the Highlanders‚ 6-0‚ as the New Yorkers manage just 4 hits.

Sep 4, 1908 - In New York‚ Walter Johnson opens a series against New York by besting Jack Chesbro‚ 3-0‚ allowing 6 hits in the Washington win.

Aug 28, 1908 - The Senators give some support to Walter Johnson‚ scoring 8 runs against Cleveland to win 8-0. Johnson's last outing was a 1-0 loss to the Tigers on the 24th.

Aug 21, 1908 - Nationals catcher Gabby Street stands at the base of the Washington Monument and catches the 13th ball dropped from the top‚ 555 feet up‚ duplicating the feat performed by Pop Schriver of the Chicago Colts on August 24‚ 1894. Billy Sullivan of the Chicago White Sox will repeat the catch on August 24‚ 1910. Street gets a $500 prize for his morning's efforts‚ then spends the afternoon behind the plate catching Walter Johnson's 3-1 win over Detroit.

Aug 14, 1908 - The National's Walter Johnson hurls a 1-0 victory over the White Sox‚ allowing just two hits‚ the first a 9th inning single by Sox P Doc White.

Jul 28, 1908 - Walter Johnson's (1-5) recuperation from his operation seems complete as he pitches 15 innings against the Browns with neither team scoring. Washington pulls out a 2-1 victory in the 16th as Johnson K's 15‚ Big Train's highest strikeout total for his career. He will win 11 of his next 13 decisions.

Jun 11, 1908 - In his first start since his February operation‚ Walter Johnson is hammered by the St. Louis Browns in leaves in the 4th inning. He won't pitch again until the 23rd.

Feb 27, 1908 - In Fullerton‚ CA‚ Walter Johnson‚ Washington's young phenom‚ is operated on for an infection of the mastoid area behind the right ear. The doctors remove a section of the bone‚ and the recuperation will keep Johnson sidelined until late May.

Oct 4, 1907 - The Senators and the A's split a year-end doubleheader. Rookie Walter Johnson beats Eddie Plank‚ 2-1‚ to finish at 5-9. Spitballer Jimmy Dygert wins his 21st for the A's‚ beating Tom Hughes‚ 8-0.

Sep 12, 1907 - In a 2-0 win against the Yankees at Hilltop Park‚ Washington's Walter Johnson strikes out 5 batters‚ though it'll be recorded as 4 K's. Researcher John Schwartz‚ in the 1990s‚ will find the extra K‚ resulting in Johnson's lifetime total of 3‚509. The issue crops up again on Opening Day‚ 2001‚ when Clemens ties (or beats) the mark.

Sep 7, 1907 - In Boston‚ Walter Johnson tops the Red Sox and Cy Morgan‚ 1-0‚ for the first of his 38 career 1-0 wins. On the 12th‚ he will shut out the Highlanders 2-0. Washington takes the 2nd game‚ 4-1 to avenge yesterday's Boston sweep.

Aug 29, 1907 - The Senators sweep a pair from the Red Sox‚ winning 2-1 and 3-2. Walter Johnson‚ 19‚ wins the opener. It is his third straight game without giving up a walk.

Aug 7, 1907 - Washington's Walter Johnson wins the first of his total 416 victories‚ 7-2 over Cleveland. Cleveland manages just 4 hits.

Aug 2, 1907 - Walter Johnson‚ 19‚ debuts with Washington and loses to Detroit. The first hit off him is a bunt single by Ty Cobb‚ who also helps Detroit's cause by throwing out 3 runners from RF‚ two of them at home plate. Sam Crawford's inside-the-park HR is the margin in Detroit's 3-2 win. Johnson exits in the 8th‚ trailing‚ 2-1. Detroit also wins the 2nd game of the doubleheader and moves into first place.

Jun 9, 1907 - Throwing the only perfect game of his career‚ Weiser (Idaho) P Walter Johnson beats Emmett‚ 11-0. He strikes out 14‚ and the game helps bring him to the attention of the Washington Nationals.

Jul 4, 1904 - Jack Chesbro‚ the New York Highlanders spitballer‚ wins his 14th in a row‚ an AL record until Walter Johnson wins 16 straight in 1912. The A's lose both today‚ as the Highlanders sweep the 3 games series.