2019 October Legends Closing October 19
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2019
Offered is a rare image of Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson on a 4 x 6-inch glass plate negative. The black & white image dated June 13, 1925 by the photographer on the plate captures “The Big Train” standing in front of a row of box seats in his Washington Senators uniform and cap, at ease with a baseball glove on his left hand and a ball in his right hand at his sides. Johnson played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators (1907–1927). Often thought of as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, Johnson established several pitching records, some of which remain unbroken nine decades after he retired from baseball. He remains by far the all-time career leader in shutouts with 110, second in wins with 417, and fourth in complete games with 531. He held the career record in strikeouts for nearly 56 years, with 3,508, from the end of his career in 1927 until the 1983 season, when three players (Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan and Gaylord Perry) finally passed the mark.