Big Train Signs Up: Two Original Press Photos of Walter Johnson Signing to Manage the Washington Senators, With Newspaper Coverage
For 21 years, Walter Johnson stood on the mound for the Washington Senators. He won 417 games with a 2.17 ERA and 3,509 strikeouts, all with the Senators. After the 1928 season, which he spent managing the Newark Bears, he sat down in Clark Griffith’s office and signed a three-year contract to manage the same club. This set pairs two original press photos of that moment from rival news services, each with its typed caption. The International Newsreel Corp. photo shows Johnson, pen in hand, with Griffith beside him, captioned: “Former Senator pitcher, and holder of more worlds pitching records than any other player in the game today, shown with Clark Griffith, owner of the Washington Senators. Griffith announced today that he signed a three year contract with Johnson to manage his team.” The second is a 6x8 Henry Miller News Picture Service print, headlined “Big Train Signs Up to Pilot Nationals,” showing Griffith, club secretary Edward Eynon standing behind them, and Johnson signing at right. Its caption notes that Johnson “replaces Bucky Harris,” and the back is stamped “Please credit (C) Henry Miller News Picture Service” with the Washington address and a no-syndication warning.
The job opened because Harris was out. He was traded to Detroit after the 1928 season, and Johnson took over. He managed the club from 1929 to 1932, finishing 71-81 in 1929, then 94-60 in second place in 1930, and third in 1931 and 1932. The Senators never reached the postseason during his four years, and Griffith let him go after 1932 in favor of Joe Cronin. The set also includes contemporary newspaper coverage: the Springfield Daily Republican, headlined “Washington Senators Sign Walter Johnson to Three-Year Contract,” and the Baltimore Evening Sun, covering his return. The Washington Daily News described his arrival at the club offices as quiet and unostentatious, with no welcoming committee and no band, which suited the man. Two photos of the same signing from two photographers, with the next day’s stories, make this a good set for collectors of Johnson, the Senators, and early baseball press photography.
