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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 5 · MARCH 30, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #005 · DEAD BALL
Walter Johnson — 110
Shutouts Before Radar Guns
📅 THIS DATE IN BASEBALL On August 2, 1907, a 19-year-old Walter Johnson struck out 16 New York Highlanders with zero walks.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
THE MOST DOMINANT PITCHER OF THE DEAD BALL ERA — BY A MILE.
110 Career Shutouts. #2 Has 90. Nobody Active
Has 20.
WALTER JOHNSON PETE ALEXANDER CHRISTY MATHEWSON
CY YOUNG WARREN SPAHN CLAYTON KERSHAW
Walter Johnson threw 110 career shutouts — the all-time record. Pete Alexander is second at 90. Clayton
Kershaw leads active pitchers with 19. Johnson also won 417 games, struck out 3,508, and posted a
career WAR of 164.8 — the highest of any pitcher in history.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS New York Highlanders AUGUST 2, 1907
16 3 0 W 1–0
IP K HITS WALKS RESULT
The Big Train
WHY THEY CALLED HIM THE FASTEST PITCHER ALIVE
Johnson struck out 16 and walked nobody against New York in 1907. He was 19 years old. Hitters described
facing him as fundamentally different — the ball simply arrived before they could react. Without radar guns
we'll never know his exact velocity. The results suggest something extraordinary.
ERA VS ERA 03
Greatest Pitcher Ever — Johnson vs Pedro?
WALTER JOHNSON · 1907–1927 PEDRO MARTINEZ · 1992–2009
CAREER WAR CAREER WAR
CAREER ERA+ VS CAREER ERA+
CAREER SHUTOUTS PEAK ERA 2000
Johnson's career WAR of 164.8 is the highest of any pitcher in history. Pedro's ERA+ of 154 is higher — more
dominant relative to his era. The honest split: Johnson had the greater career. Pedro had the greater peak.
Greatest pitcher in baseball history?
WALTER JOHNSON PEDRO MARTINEZ SANDY KOUFAX ROGER CLEMENS
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
1924 WORLD SERIES · WASHINGTON SENATORS
He Spent 18 Years On A Losing Team. Won The
World Series At 37 In Year 19.
Johnson won his first championship in 1924 — his 18th season. He entered Game 7 as a reliever,
pitched 4 shutout innings, and earned the win. After 18 years of excellence on a losing team, he
finally had a ring.
I throw as hard as I can when I think I have to throw as hard as I can.
— WALTER JOHNSON
THE STAT VAULT 05
CAREER WINS
CAREER STRIKEOUTS
417 Second all-time behind Cy Young. Won 3,508
Held the all-time K record until Nolan Ryan
20+ games 10 times, mostly for losing
passed him in 1983.
teams.
CONSECUTIVE SCORELESS INNINGS —
56 1913 164.8 CAREER WAR
A record that stood until Don Drysdale Highest of any pitcher in baseball history.
broke it in 1968.
21 SEASONS PITCHED FOR WASHINGTON
Never traded. Never left. Pitched for the same franchise his entire career.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Sam Rice
WASHINGTON SENATORS · 1915–1934
HOF · .322 CAREER BA · 2,987 HITS
2,987 Career Hits. Hall of Famer. Played Next To Johnson For A Decade.
Forgotten.
Sam Rice played right field alongside Walter Johnson for most of his career, hit .322 lifetime, and is in the
Hall of Fame. He left a sealed letter to be opened after his death confirming he made a famous catch in the
1924 World Series. He's mentioned approximately never.
THE CONNECTION:
Rice and Johnson won the 1924 World Series together on the same field. Johnson is immortal. Rice's
plaque collects dust. Same team, same championship, completely different historical footprint.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Babe Ruth hit 60 HR in 1927. #2 on his own team hit 18. The record stood 34 years.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.