Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 233, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1910 — PITCHER JOHNSON IS MARVEL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PITCHER JOHNSON IS MARVEL

Ever since Walter Johnson of the Washington Americans broke into fast company opposing players have marveled at his great speed. VJth an easy notion Johnson seems able to send the sphere through space At such a terrific pace that even though the batsman knows that the ball will come on a straight course, heisunable to'meet jt witnnisstlckJohnson gets his speed by reason of his wonderful reach. He has longer arms than any other pitcher in the country and pitches with the least effort. When his arms are stretched out they measure 77% inches from finger tips to finger tips. This is 2% inches longer than Jeffries' reach and 5% inches longer than Jack Johnson's. When he releases a ball after having wound up this long right arm it goes through space with the speed of a bullet.

Few, indeed, are the pitchers who can score strike-out after strike-out without resorting to the use of curves or spit balls, as doers Johnson. He has frequently struck out three men on nine pitched balls Without ever using a curve. It is Johnson’s speed that makes him one of the most marvelous pitchers the game has ever produced, and it is his great, long arm that gives him his speed. Every batter of note who has faced* Johnson says that the Idaho phenomenon has terrific speed. His fast nan makes the best batters in tne league, including Ty Cobb, Larry Lajoie, and Tris Speaker, break their backs trying to connect with it. The illustration given above is an excellent likeness of Johnson and Catcher Street. Street has had quite a bit to do with Johnson’s success. The illustration shown is published by courtesy of The Sporting News.