Walter Johnson

Greatest Pitcher of All Time?

All baseball fans owe it to themselves to read about one of the truly great pitchers. The book also gives an appreciation for the man and the times he pitched during.

I found the book entertaining and loved gaining a better understanding of baseball during the teens through thirties... they were very different times. It was also interesting to read about baseball in the nation's capital at the time.

In the end, this was a well done, well read book about one of the greatest baseball players in history... to appreciate baseball one needs to understand it history and this books ensures that and more.

The answer to the question in the title is... yes!

11 people found this helpful

VERY INTERESTING

I found this book VERY interesting. Not your typical bio of a person who had a rough life and fought his way through trouble, etc... But a story about a regular guy, with irregular talent who found motivation in his pride. How hard this man worked his entire life, is more than inspiring.
But, this book is for REAL baseball fans. If not, you may get bored at times. If you love the game, and its players, its worth reading about, maybe the best pitcher to throw a ball.

6 people found this helpful

one of the most engaging baseball books I've ever

if you love baseball, you're going to absolutely love this! the tales of battle between Johnson and Ty Cobb, and Johnson and Ruth would make any baseball fan feel like a kid on Christmas. but if you're just a lover of the human condition, the Journey of Johnson from a shy Farm boy to the greatest picture of all time is like something out of a Greek myth! Ihighly recommend this

The Long Career of Walter "Big Train" Johnson

This book is about baseball's first great pre WWII power pitcher that won over 400 games, more than the immortals Christy Mathewson, Grover Cleveland Alexander, Warren Spahn, Bob Feller, Bob Gibson, Greg Maddox and every other prolific ace pitcher enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Cy Young, who won 511 games was the only pitcher to win more games than the Big Train's 417. Moreover, Johnson is the all time strike out leader for half a century before the 1980s, 1990s and early 21st Century when Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson and five other pitchers surpass his 3,506 -- a record that stood for five decades. Today Walter Johnson is ranked ninth among all time great strikeout leaders. Beyond baseball it is interesting to note that the genteel Walter Johnson ran for Congress as a Republican nominee in my old district where a high school is named after him in the Washington suburbs of Maryland.

Amazing story.

Great story but the narration suffered a bit. Any time he read a quotation it was one of two voices and intonations.