CGC x JSA Signature Analysis: Walter Johnson

Considered to be the most dominant pitcher of all time, Walter Johnson requires little introduction. He was blessed with a blazing fastball, utilizing an exaggerated but easy sidearm delivery that mesmerized befuddled batters for 21 seasons. Legendary Hall of Fame sportswriter Grantland Rice gave him the nickname "The Big Train," comparing Johnson’s fastball to the swiftest mode of transportation of the era. The pitcher shined for Washington cellar-dwelling teams until he was almost 40 years old, when he was finally given the opportunity to perform in the World Series. Trailing only Cy Young in career wins with 417, Johnson ranks in the Top 10 in most all-time pitching categories despite toiling for the typically pathetic Senators.

The prime of his playing career came in 1913, when Johnson racked up 36 wins against 7 losses, complimented by a 1.09 ERA and 11 shutouts. He even set a record for fielding that year, errorless in 103 chances. The coveted Chalmers (MVP) Award was bestowed upon him for his exemplary efforts that season. In addition, Johnson led the league in strikeouts for eight consecutive seasons from 1912 through 1919. His statistics speak for themselves. Long after retirement, until the advent of Nolan Ryan, Johnson held the all-time strikeout record with 3,508. His enduring record of 110 shutouts appears untouchable.

More importantly, one would be hard-pressed to uncover an unpleasant characteristic from this turn-of–the-century revered idol known only for his gentlemanly and modest demeanor. Despite the obvious frustrations that accompany playing for a weak team, he never blamed teammates or even argued with umpires. Johnson was a humble man who had shunned the vices of drinking, smoking or swearing. Legend has it that the kindly fellow never deliberately threw his lightning-fast delivery at a batsman in fear of killing his opponent.

In October 1927, Johnson announced his retirement, ending his astonishing career as a World Series champion (1924), two-time AL MVP, three-time Triple Crown winner, six-time AL wins leader, five-time AL ERA leader and 12-time AL strikeout leader. He'd go on to become the manager of the Senators and the Cleveland Indians, not finding the same success he had as a player, which led to him voluntarily resigning in 1935. Johnson's wealth of patience, based on years of being the only accomplished player on hapless teams, did not translate well to his discipline-deprived squads. Although his .551 winning percentage as a manager seems respectable, his easy-going attitude never worked with the press and some of the players.

In 1936, Johnson became one of the first five players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, joining four other baseball immortals — Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner and Christy Mathewson — in their first year of consideration on February 2, 1936. Ten years later, in April 1946, Johnson suffered a stroke caused by a large malignant and inoperative brain tumor, which paralyzed his left side.

Recovery was not expected and his condition rapidly worsened. For the remaining months of his life, Johnson's speech was impaired and at times he slipped into a deep coma. After a costly extended hospital stay that was subsidized by the league’s donations, Johnson eventually passed away late at night with his family at his bedside on December 10, 1946. The middle-aged diamond icon was laid to rest at 59 years old, but his indelible impact on baseball is still revered to this day.

Signature analysis

The upright and consistent signature of Walter Johnson is certainly one of the most legible that the Hall of Fame has to offer (Figure 1). His overall manuscript contains well-designed characters pleasantly flowing with predominant sharp angles. The autograph evolved little over the course of his playing career and remained unchanged into his retirement.

Valid examples from his final year in 1946 are unknown, especially considering his debilitating stroke and extended infirmary. Specimens before the 1920s would be considered rare due to the era's lack of interest in collecting and typical attrition of artifacts that existed from the day. His wife Hazel dutifully kept scrapbooks and labeled some ephemera that has since spread into the hobby, and one should carefully distinguish her similar and often convincing handwriting.

His capitalization tended to be the only distinguishable variation in letter construction (Figure 2). Most of the time, the “W” would lean acutely with the second garland undulation fatter and elevated off the baseline. The uncommon alternate-style upper-case model leans even more right using angular strokes that might horizontally connect with the conventional lower case "a."

The downsized letters in the balance of his first name are carefully spaced and formed, including the unabbreviated “r” that peaks and plateaus. The “t” often resembles the preceding looped “l” with a bisecting cross stroke that starts from the left and on occasions may dig downward (Figure 3). The two ascender characters are 3/4 size in relation to the “W” but the three streamline others are 1/3 in comparison. The "e" is inclined to be tight, thus filling in its loop.

The dominant and individualized capital “J” fluctuates even more so in construction as opposed to the “W”. Initially, his single line “J” was intertwined with long oval loops lacking the confidence and robust feeling that came with age. Later, the initial stroke commenced from the right bellying upward left and then coming to a point or slight eyelet at the top of the "J" (Figure 4). A heavy down stroke that may range from the baseline to just below then completes the first of a two-part figure. A flagrant pen lift left a wide gap before the finishing arc intersected back toward the central point hovering over the baseline.

He then finished the rest of the surname without interruption, beginning with the lower case “o” with its overlapping connector stroke. That led to what could become the tallest letter used, namely the open looped “h” with the garland base hump (Figure 5). Two additional indistinguishable humps followed acting as the “n” but the sharp diminutive “s” reached inward, forming a well-crafted leaning small letter complete with trademark eyelet. The subsequent “o” is not as pronounced as the former, but an essentially covered connector is latent. To complete the work, a "u-like" widened "n" tails horizontally right or limply downward below the base.

Johnson’s grandson Henry W. Thomas, author and familiar hobby show dealer, wrote the definitive biography about his famous relative. Walter Johnson: Baseball’s Big Train won the Casey Award in 1995 and to date is the best researched and well-written compilation on the subject. Thomas once told me that his grandfather took pride in answering all his own mail requests for autographs (his home address was well known) and would sometimes handwrite gracious responses (Figure 6). Typewritten versions are even rarer.

Fortunately, for collectors, the family gradually leaked out into the hobby Johnson's personal cancelled checks that dated from 1939 until early 1946 (Figure 7). All surviving partially printed bank drafts lack the maker’s name and have been pierced with a spindle hole in the center. Index cards are very uncommon because the medium had not hit its stride until the 1950s. Postmarked US Government postcards can sell for a premium and album pages from his managerial career are far more common, but often his name is squeezed amongst teammates.

Photographs are highly subjective in price but expect 8x10s to be on fine quality paper. Single signed balls, often planted on the sweet spot (Figure 8), are considered rare but beware of the glut of forgeries that litter the industry. They outnumber the valid versions 30-to-1. Team-signed balls from his playing and managing career from the mid-1920s onward are uncommon and virtually unknown prior in his career. Albertype black-and-white plaques were printed after his death and although the 1939 sepia version (rare even unsigned) did exist, I have never seen a valid signed paradigm.

Even a signed trading card would bring big money; I don’t recall ever examining one. Demand for this available-but-pricey signature has motivated the forgers to craft their illicit attempts regularly, so heed the warning. They tend to draw without the same spontaneity, although they may capture the basic formation.