Walter Johnson: Baseball's Big Train

by Henry W. Thomas, Shirley Povich (Foreword by)

Overview

“This lavishly illustrated narrative of Walter Johnson’s life is the definitive work on the subject and is likely to remain so.”—Oldtyme Baseball News. “Henry Thomas’s biography of Walter Johnson is carefully researched, thoroughly documented, and, best of all, a pleasure to read.”—Spitball.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803294684
Publisher:	UNP - Bison Books
Publication date:	10/01/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	516
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Henry W. Thomas, the grandson of Walter Johnson, lives in Arlington, Virginia. He is currently editing, for audio release, the interviews taped by Lawrence Ritter for his classic The Glory of Their Times. Shirley Povich died in 1998 at the age of 92 after seventy-five years as an award-winning sportswriter for the Washington Post.

Editorial Reviews

Walter "Big Train" Johnson won 417 games as a pitcher in his early-twentieth-century baseball career, and when the inevitable "greatest ever" arguments arise, even diehard modernists will grudgingly include him in the mix. This detailed, carefully researched and annotated biography certainly does justice to Johnson's extraordinary on-field accomplishments, and it also emphasizes his decency, humility, and self-effacing humor. Now, one might question the objectivity of author Thomas, who just happens to be Johnson's grandson. Don't bother. Even today's tabloids would have trouble digging up dirt on Walter Johnson. The text is too heavy with play-by-play game accounts, but Thomas strives to emphasize aspects of Johnson's character that provide context beyond the score. An excellent chapter deals with Johnson's 1915 signing with the rival Federal League and his subsequent reversal and resigning with the Washington Senators. Johnson publicly acknowledged that he had treated both sides badly and had put himself in a "humiliating position." It's not the sort of honesty we're going to see from today's athlete. A much-needed, comprehensive biography of a baseball legend.

Wes Lukowsky

"Does justice to Johnson’s extraordinary on-field accomplishments, and it also emphasizes his decency, humility, and self-effacing humor."—Booklist

Booklist

"Belongs in the very top ranks of sports biographies."—Washington Times

Washington Times

"Henry Thomas’s biography of Walter Johnson is carefully researched, thoroughly documented, and, best of all, a pleasure to read."—Spitball

Spitball

"Delights the soul."—Sports Collectors Digest

Sports Collectors Digest

"One of the most comprehensive biographies ever written about an athlete. Incredibly detailed, filled with fascinating stories about arguably the greatest pitcher of all time."—Tim Kurkjian, senior writer for Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated - Tim Kurkjian

"This lavishly illustrated narrative of Walter Johnson’s life is the definitive work on the subject and is likely to remain so."—Lawrence S. Ritter, Oldtyme Baseball News

Oldtyme Baseball News - Lawrence S. Ritter

"Does justice to Johnson’s extraordinary on-field accomplishments, and it also emphasizes his decency, humility, and self-effacing humor."—Booklist

Booklist

"This lavishly illustrated narrative of Walter Johnson’s life is the definitive work on the subject and is likely to remain so."—Lawrence S. Ritter, Oldtyme Baseball News

Oldtyme Baseball News - Lawrence S. Ritter

"One of the most comprehensive biographies ever written about an athlete. Incredibly detailed, filled with fascinating stories about arguably the greatest pitcher of all time."—Tim Kurkjian, senior writer for Sports Illustrated

— Tim Kurkjian

Sports Illustrated

"This lavishly illustrated narrative of Walter Johnson’s life is the definitive work on the subject and is likely to remain so."—Lawrence S. Ritter, Oldtyme Baseball News

— Lawrence S. Ritter

Oldtyme Baseball News