Walter Johnson, Henry W. Thomas
Walter Johnson, Henry W. Thomas
List: $27.95 | Sale: $19.57
Club: $13.97

Walter Johnson
Baseball’s Big Train

Author: Henry W. Thomas, Shirley Povich

Narrator: Ian Esmo

Unabridged: 17 hr 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/01/2007

Synopsis

To many, Walter Johnson is the greatest pitcher of all time. He was a star second to none throughout the golden age of sports, which spanned the era of such greats as Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Lou Gehrig, and Al Simmons. But it wasn't Walter Johnson's blazing fastball alone that placed him on a pedestal. It was Johnson, above all others, who came to personify "gentlemanly conduct in the heat of battle," as Shirley Povich put it. One of a small number of stars tempering the game's roughneck reputation in the early years of the century, he was still around to help shepherd it through its darkest hour of the Black Sox scandal. His presence as a role model in the big leagues consoled parents all over the country. Throughout a career as dazzling as any in sports history, Johnson remained unspoiled. This is the grand story of one of the good guys.

About Henry W. Thomas

Henry W. Thomas, the grandson of Walter Johnson, lives in Arlington, Virginia. He is currently editing, for audio release, the interviews taped by Lawrence Ritter for his classic The Glory of Their Times.

About Ian Esmo

Ian Esmo is an audiobook narrator who specializes in athlete and sports biographies.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Luke on February 24, 2018

Researched and presented in a manner akin to the ballplayer and man featured among its 350+ pages, the subject’s grandson, Henry W. Thomas, achieves a shutout of a biography in “Walter Johnson: Baseball’s Big Train.” This authoritative biography on the frequently-acclaimed greatest pitcher in basebal......more

Goodreads review by Steve on August 25, 2019

Thorough chronicle of baseball's side-winding flame-throwing Hall of Fame pitcher written by his grandson. A portrait of America in the first quarter of the 20th century.......more

Goodreads review by Jimlaudie on April 25, 2024

Really loved learning about this new hero. Great man who was very humble and an excellent baseball player. Would be cool to learn more about baseball history in Weiser, ID...where he played before joining the Senators. 1924 World Series was highlight and if there were any footage of the 1925 World S......more

Goodreads review by Scott on March 12, 2023

Enjoyable and very thorough read on one of the all-time greats in baseball history. Written by Walter Johnson's grandson, this biography was compelling enough. I'm someone who knows a little bit about the game's early 20th-century history but is far from an expert. This being the case, there are time......more

Goodreads review by Daniel on August 23, 2023

I listened to a digital audio version of Walter Johnson: Baseball's big train. Before listening to this book I knew that Walter Johnson was a baseball pitcher. That's all I knew. I think the audio book I listened to was 17 hours or so so this is not a short book that I could quickly listen to but, I......more

Quotes

“Belongs in the very top ranks of sports biographies.” Washington Times

“One of the most comprehensive biographies ever written about an athlete. Incredibly detailed, filled with fascinating stories about arguably the greatest pitcher of all time.” Tim Kurkjian, senior writer for Sports Illustrated

“Delights the soul.” Sports Collectors Digest

“This is an excellent, exhaustive biography, showing clear affection for Johnson from the first pitch: Thomas is Johnson’s grandson. Despite the blood tie, Thomas doesn’t just go straight down the middle; he is willing to work the corners of his grandfather’s life, which actually allows his relationship to his subject to add to the work’s significant depth.” Amazon.com, editorial review

“This detailed, carefully researched and annotated biography certainly does justice to Johnson’s extraordinary on-field accomplishments, and it also emphasizes his decency, humility, and self-effacing humor…A much-needed, comprehensive biography of a baseball legend.” Booklist

Add to Cart
Add to Wish List