Walter Perry Johnson, famous pitcher for the Washington Senators, spent the last 13 years of his life, 1933-1946, on his 550-acre farm in Germantown. Known as "Big Train" because of the speed and accuracy of his fastball - which came at a batter like a train, Johnson pitched for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927. When he retired from playing ball he turned to managing, and managed Newark, then Washington, then Cleveland from 1928 to 1934.
Born in Humbolt, Kansas, Nov. 6, 1887, Johnson was pitching for a minor league team in Idaho when he was discovered by a scout for the Senators. He made his pitching debut for the Washington team on Aug. 7, 1907 pitching a double header against the Detroit Tigers. He lost the game, but gained immediate fame for striking out Ty Cobb three times. Cobb's comment was "You can't hit 'em if you can't see 'em."
From that time on, Johnson's phenomenal side-arm pitching became legend. He became known worldwide as the fastest pitcher of all time. In his 21 years with the Senators, Johnson chalked up a record that put him in the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of the first five all-time greatest ballplayers elected into the Hall. He threw 3,497 strikeouts, won 417 games and had 113 shut-out games. He pitched a nine inning no-hit game against Boston in 1920.
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The Senators remained a mediocre team in spite of the famous arm of Johnson until 1924 when they finally won the American League pennant and went on to defeat the New York Giants in the World Series.
Not only was Johnson a phenomenal pitcher, he was also the epitome of fair play and good sportsmanship. He never challenged an umpire's call, never got in a brawl, never blamed his teammates for a loss. When blunders of his teammates cost him a victory, he would just shrug and say "Goodness gracious," (his idea of strong language), "everybody makes mistakes." There's no telling how high his record could have been had he been pitching for a winning team.
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Walter Johnson made an impression on everyone who met him. He was a big man, 6 feet 2 inches, and broad-shouldered, but it was not so much his size that struck you but his gentleness and his kind and soft-spoken way. He had a simple, honest goodness that was not contrived. He never seemed to be affected by his fame, never boasted or flaunted his good fortune. He didn't even seem to be that interested in personal achievement and in such things as earned-run averages or strike-out records.
Walter always had time for the public, especially the kids, whether it was signing autographs or visiting school children on playgrounds to give them some baseball instruction or umpire their games.
When Walter Johnson moved to Germantown in 1933, he had with him his children Walter Jr., Eddie, Bob, Carolyn and Barbara, ranging in age from 19 to 7, and his mother, Minnie Johnson. Johnson's wife, Hazel, had died in 1930 and he never remarried. The farm was located where Gunners Lake community is now. The house was situated about where Germantown Child Care Center is now, next to Seneca Valley High School. There was a large dairy barn as well as a smaller barn, outbuildings, and the house.
Walter Johnson had grown up on a farm in the Midwest and he had a farmer's love of the land and of animals. He had a special feeling for his hunting dogs. No music was sweeter to his ear than the sound of the baying of his hounds as they gave chase over the rolling hills of his farm. He could identify each dog merely by the sound of its voice. His collection of dogs at the farm at times exceeded 30, and most of them were Walker Foxhounds.
Old timers of Germantown remember him either with his rifle and his dogs, or riding his horse. He loved to give rides on that horse to the local children. He'd just pick one up, set him in front of him on the saddle and take him wherever he wanted to go. He would also help with coaching and practice of the local baseball team at the lot where Trinity Methodist Church is now.
Johnson was so admired and respected by the community that he was elected him to serve as a County Commissioner in 1938. In 1940, he ran for Congress to represent Maryland’s sixth District, but lost to incumbent William Byron. Johnson was easily re-elected to the County Commission in 1942.
In the spring of 1946, he was hospitalized with a brain tumor. He put up a long and hard fight for his life at Georgetown Hospital, but he kept getting weaker and weaker. His family and his friends were almost always at his bedside. His mind was clear to the end and his old friend, Clark Griffith, spent many hours with him reminiscing about his baseball days.
Walter Johnson died on December 10, 1946 at the age of 59. Thousands of people filled the Washington Cathedral and spilled out into the street for his funeral. Crowds lined the streets as the funeral cortege passed on its way to the cemetery at Rockville. A giant wreath of roses was presented at the funeral that had been bought with pennies donated by children. "He was the only ball player I ever knew who didn't have an enemy," said Clark Griffith.
Montgomery County gave him the posthumous honor of having a high school named after him.
A monument was later set up at the Washington baseball park -- which is now at Walter Johnson High School -- inscribed "To Walter Perry Johnson, a champion on and off the field, his greatness an enduring contribution to baseball." There is a statue of Walter Johnson today at the Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
For more information about Walter Johnson, see the book written by his grandson, Henry W. Thomas, Walter Johnson: Baseball’s Big Train.