This started in '15 when Cobb saw WJ get upset when hitting a guy. Then he crowded the plate, & while before he did poorly against Johnson, from then on he hit him very well. Discussed in his Grandson's book, "Baseball's Big Train". I never have read about the specific 2-0 count though...
Where did you hear 92 MPH? Likely it is confused with tive techniques in '11. he 82 MPH, which was clearly insanely wrong, when he was tested using a primitive method. But amongst those tested this way, nobody else got beyond 113 MPH. So it should be taken only as an indication of relative, not absolute speed.
I know he would sometimes let up for Sam Crawford, drove Ty Cobb crazy. I have never heard that Managers critiqued him for this though.
@SilverSkitterscuttle ty cobb handled him very well.because the big train was scared of killing someone, he never threw inside.so cobb crowded the plate. big train threw away, but when it got to 2-0, he would have to run one down the pipe. that's when cobb was ready to rip.
I'll bet with that front foot planted, the sidearm whip motion, and the snap in both the elbow and the wrist, he had a ton of movement on everything he threw. Probably a wicked cut fastball as his #1 pitch.
@JGmartinezJr 92mph wow he doesn't even stride home, are you sure about that number? I don't want to be an ass but he's generating that speed sidearm with no stride home, thats seems impossible to me.
@keenanmartens considered the "flamethrower" of his day, 92 mph seems right on the money. He was timed at roughly 91, although that was derived from math and obviously not a radar gun
And that was lean, w/disproportionately long arms & hands. Read his GRANDSON'S Biography, "Baseball's Big Train". That supposed quote saying Wood threw harder than him? He never said it. Made up by Wood's own descendant! There is every chance that Johnson threw over 100 MPH-tested with a terrible method in '11, he was still much faster than the NL top heat man tested, & guys tested a generation later through the same method.
awesome footage. the man had some long ass arms, looks like he could scratch his knee without bending over. interesting windup, no follow through, he kind of torqued that side arm whip off his plant foot.
probably the most dominant pitcher ever. still has the most shutouts, second in wins, and led the league in strike outs eight years in a row.
@jackrepp15 "And if he had that big of a fastball, he would have recorded way more than 5.3 k's per 9 innings"
Johnson's record total of 3,508 strikeouts stood for more than 55 years. He led the league in strikeouts a Major League record 12 times — one more than Nolan Ryan. He was probably the first ever pitcher to throw 90+ mph consistently and did it while throwing over 500 complete games. I don't think scoffing at his strikeout ratio is a good idea.
Callin b.s. on this guy throwing as hard as people claimed he did. no possible way with that arm motion and lack of upper body getting behind his pitches, not to mention he wasnt very big. And if he had that big of a fastball, he would have recorded way more than 5.3 k's per 9 innings
@jakerepp15 You know nothing of pitching mechanics. He used his legs, shoulders and torso to generate torque for his pitches. Watch the video, he didn't need to throw hard with his arm, the rest of his body is doing the brunt of the work. That's called "Silk", poetry-in-motion if you will. Thank you
@Luklex2006 nah, I know a thing or two about pitching. how can you say he used his legs? watch from :59-1:01. his back leg gains no ground. He's plactically throwing with just his upper back (shoulders basically) arms and hips. his chest stays nearly open to home plate when he finishes.
@jakerepp15 From Ty Cobb's biography: "...The first time I faced him, I watched him take that easy windup. And then something went past me that made me flinch. The thing just hissed with danger. We couldn't touch him... every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park." Speaking of none other than the Big Train.
How can you say that? The concenus is that he threw around 100 mph, and the list of pitchers that have exceeded that is not a big one. Although WJ claimed that Smokey Joe Wood threw harder than him but he might have just been being modest.
@jakerepp15 Batters didn't strike out as much in the dead ball era, much less than today; everyone was just trying to make contact until Ruth and the lively ball changed the game.
Look at that easy going wind up. So deceptive since the fast ball the thew was legendary in its ferocity. Johnson is one of the greatest athletes to represent a Washington sports team.
He was my great uncle on my dad's side. still holds the record for shutouts 110. Winningest pitcher of the 20th century, 417. ( Cy young pitched in the late 19th & early 20th century.
@TheLuckiLuciano My Grandmother, Effie Johnson Tongier was his sister. He was born in Humbolt, Ks. and lived from time to time in Coffeyville, Ks. where his sister lived and I was born. Check " Walter Johnson; Baseballs Big Train " by Henry W. Thomas To verify.
@TheLuckiLuciano You may believe whatever you wish sir, check the book I recommended. I had little enough to do with being his Grand nephew. It just turned out that way. I was responding to another communication. Keep your doubts as you wish. It's a healthy way to approach thing, but ,inthis case , it has little to do with reallity.
This started in '15 when Cobb saw WJ get upset when hitting a guy. Then he crowded the plate, & while before he did poorly against Johnson, from then on he hit him very well. Discussed in his Grandson's book, "Baseball's Big Train". I never have read about the specific 2-0 count though...
SilverSkitterscuttle 1 month ago
Where did you hear 92 MPH? Likely it is confused with tive techniques in '11. he 82 MPH, which was clearly insanely wrong, when he was tested using a primitive method. But amongst those tested this way, nobody else got beyond 113 MPH. So it should be taken only as an indication of relative, not absolute speed.
I know he would sometimes let up for Sam Crawford, drove Ty Cobb crazy. I have never heard that Managers critiqued him for this though.
SilverSkitterscuttle 3 months ago
@SilverSkitterscuttle ty cobb handled him very well.because the big train was scared of killing someone, he never threw inside.so cobb crowded the plate. big train threw away, but when it got to 2-0, he would have to run one down the pipe. that's when cobb was ready to rip.
kingcoach13 2 months ago
I'll bet with that front foot planted, the sidearm whip motion, and the snap in both the elbow and the wrist, he had a ton of movement on everything he threw. Probably a wicked cut fastball as his #1 pitch.
liquidsoulvideos 4 months ago
having a top 10 list without sandy koufax is like having a top ten basketball list and just "forgetting" michael jordan
jdstox1 4 months ago
@TheBBQPope cuz it's hard to control and duplicate the release point
spyroninja 5 months ago
They say Johnson threw around 92 at his peak, but that his ball moved so much, you couldn't hit it cleanly.
JGmartinezJr 6 months ago
@JGmartinezJr 92mph wow he doesn't even stride home, are you sure about that number? I don't want to be an ass but he's generating that speed sidearm with no stride home, thats seems impossible to me.
keenanmartens 5 months ago
@keenanmartens Me too, but hey, that's the number estimated.
JGmartinezJr 5 months ago
@keenanmartens considered the "flamethrower" of his day, 92 mph seems right on the money. He was timed at roughly 91, although that was derived from math and obviously not a radar gun
jsisco29 1 month ago
And that was lean, w/disproportionately long arms & hands. Read his GRANDSON'S Biography, "Baseball's Big Train". That supposed quote saying Wood threw harder than him? He never said it. Made up by Wood's own descendant! There is every chance that Johnson threw over 100 MPH-tested with a terrible method in '11, he was still much faster than the NL top heat man tested, & guys tested a generation later through the same method.
SilverSkitterscuttle 6 months ago
awesome footage. the man had some long ass arms, looks like he could scratch his knee without bending over. interesting windup, no follow through, he kind of torqued that side arm whip off his plant foot.
probably the most dominant pitcher ever. still has the most shutouts, second in wins, and led the league in strike outs eight years in a row.
tomitstube 7 months ago
There's not much of a mound if at all...That's why he can throw like that...
ThePatriots010304 8 months ago
thumbs up for sidearmers
allsports249 8 months ago
@jackrepp15 "And if he had that big of a fastball, he would have recorded way more than 5.3 k's per 9 innings"
Johnson's record total of 3,508 strikeouts stood for more than 55 years. He led the league in strikeouts a Major League record 12 times — one more than Nolan Ryan. He was probably the first ever pitcher to throw 90+ mph consistently and did it while throwing over 500 complete games. I don't think scoffing at his strikeout ratio is a good idea.
MrTrentoncomedy 9 months ago 2
Callin b.s. on this guy throwing as hard as people claimed he did. no possible way with that arm motion and lack of upper body getting behind his pitches, not to mention he wasnt very big. And if he had that big of a fastball, he would have recorded way more than 5.3 k's per 9 innings
jakerepp15 9 months ago
@jakerepp15 You know nothing of pitching mechanics. He used his legs, shoulders and torso to generate torque for his pitches. Watch the video, he didn't need to throw hard with his arm, the rest of his body is doing the brunt of the work. That's called "Silk", poetry-in-motion if you will. Thank you
Luklex2006 9 months ago
@Luklex2006 nah, I know a thing or two about pitching. how can you say he used his legs? watch from :59-1:01. his back leg gains no ground. He's plactically throwing with just his upper back (shoulders basically) arms and hips. his chest stays nearly open to home plate when he finishes.
jakerepp15 9 months ago
@jakerepp15 From Ty Cobb's biography: "...The first time I faced him, I watched him take that easy windup. And then something went past me that made me flinch. The thing just hissed with danger. We couldn't touch him... every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ball park." Speaking of none other than the Big Train.
pastorpopeye 8 months ago
@pastorpopeye Well, for his day he threw hard, but not im comparison to todays pitchers.
jakerepp15 8 months ago
@jakerepp15
How can you say that? The concenus is that he threw around 100 mph, and the list of pitchers that have exceeded that is not a big one. Although WJ claimed that Smokey Joe Wood threw harder than him but he might have just been being modest.
Sydplayson 8 months ago
@jakerepp15 Batters didn't strike out as much in the dead ball era, much less than today; everyone was just trying to make contact until Ruth and the lively ball changed the game.
deepcosmiclove 7 months ago
Respond to this video... Wasn't big? How is 6' 1'' 200 lbs? Are you serious?
deepcosmiclove 7 months ago
I was born and raised in Humboldt,Ks., and still live there. Walter Johnson is the greatest pitcher to EVER pitch in baseball.
alstottfan97 9 months ago
@alstottfan97 And he was also a kind and gracious gentleman. He didn't have a detractor or an enemy in baseball.
rayjr62 7 months ago
Look at that easy going wind up. So deceptive since the fast ball the thew was legendary in its ferocity. Johnson is one of the greatest athletes to represent a Washington sports team.
dcbandnerd 10 months ago
Thats my Great Great Grandpa
WAFFLEZWILLRULE 10 months ago
wat a beast :)
sk8erpunk22100 11 months ago
He was my great uncle on my dad's side. still holds the record for shutouts 110. Winningest pitcher of the 20th century, 417. ( Cy young pitched in the late 19th & early 20th century.
chatti70 1 year ago
@chatti70 i declare bs
TheLuckiLuciano 1 year ago
@TheLuckiLuciano Define specifically.
chatti70 1 year ago
@chatti70 I highly doubt you are related to The Big Train.
TheLuckiLuciano 1 year ago
@TheLuckiLuciano My Grandmother, Effie Johnson Tongier was his sister. He was born in Humbolt, Ks. and lived from time to time in Coffeyville, Ks. where his sister lived and I was born. Check " Walter Johnson; Baseballs Big Train " by Henry W. Thomas To verify.
chatti70 1 year ago
@chatti70 no offense, but i think it's a little sketchy that it took you over twenty minutes to verify something such as this.
TheLuckiLuciano 1 year ago
@TheLuckiLuciano You may believe whatever you wish sir, check the book I recommended. I had little enough to do with being his Grand nephew. It just turned out that way. I was responding to another communication. Keep your doubts as you wish. It's a healthy way to approach thing, but ,inthis case , it has little to do with reallity.
chatti70 1 year ago
He pitched like a right-handed version of Randy Johnson.
stratovani 1 year ago