One down, 415 to go

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Nineteen year old Walter Johnson got the first of 416 career wins on this date in 1907. The young pitcher led the Washington Senators over the Cleveland Indians 7-2. Only Cy Young has more career wins (511) than Walter Johnson.

Johnson, who would soon to be nicknamed "The Big Train," was raised on a farm outside Humboldt, Kansas. His career accomplishments are stunning:

• From 1910 to 1919 he won 25, 25, 33, 36, 28, 27, 25, 23, 23 and 20 games.
• He started 666 games in his 21 year career, completing 531.
• He pitched 110 shutouts (11 in 1913).
• He pitched over 300 innings 9 times.

Johnson could hit, too! He had a .433 batting average in 1925 - 42 hits in 97 at bats. He hit .283 in 1924, .270 in 1921, and had a career average of .235 with 24 home runs and 255 runs batted in.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCE:
Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train, by Henry W. Thomas, 1995

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