“Most ballplayers are superstitious…I have no special sign. But I just knew that if luck had been against me in my losing games it was time for it to favor me.”
With the deciding game of the 1924 World Series tied at 3 a piece heading into the 9th, Washington called on the great Walter Johnson to come on in relief in hopes of stabilizing the 93-win Giants. This would be Johnson’s third appearance in the series, yet, the veteran ace, who many consider to be the greatest pitcher of all-time, was still looking for his first victory in the event. In Game 1, the mighty Johnson went the distance in an extra inning contest, pitching all 12 innings, but surrendered a pair of runs in the top of the 12th that cost Washington the ball game. Looking for revenge in Game 5, Johnson took the bump, but struggled again, allowing six runs, four of them earned, in a loss. Up to this point in his baseball career, Johnson had already cemented himself with the best grade of concrete as an all-time great. He had led the league in strikeouts 12-times, an unimaginable feat that including a stretch where he won 8 consecutive (1912-19). “The Big Train” had also led the league in shutouts 7 times, had the most complete games in a season in six different years, won five ERA titles, and a pair of league MVPs, including one from that very year in 1924. However, despite his remarkable statistics, Johnson’s team had never made a World Series, so when he finally got his moment to shine when the lights were the brightest, in his 18th season at the professional level, Johnson was ready to turn his dream of becoming a champion into a reality. To see a pitcher like him, who had dominated the league for over a decade, stumble after waiting so long to get a crack at showcasing his skills in the World Series, was heart wrenching for the Washington faithful, but they didn’t give up hope, even with the chatter coming from the baseball community was that the aging pitcher was over the hill. The moment Johnson strolled to the rubber in the ninth, the crowd of 30,000 plus, a mass of fanatics that included Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States, shouted, “Walter! Walter! Walter!” all in unison. Legendary pitching ace Christy Mathewson, who was covering the World Series at the time as a reporter, expressed a sense of uneasiness for the man who dominated the first part of the century with him. Mathewson was quoted saying, “Poor old Walter, it’s a shame to send him in,” as Johnson arrived at the bump. At this point in time, there was not another soul, dead or alive, that knew more about these pivotal moments more than Mathewson. During his illustrious career, which spanned from 1900-1916, he pitched 101.2 innings in the World Series, threw 10 complete games, with four of them being shoutouts. All three marks were records at the time he was calling the ’24 series, and the latter two live on as the present chart-toppers. Of those 4 appearances where he blanked the opponent, three of them came in the 1905 World Series. What’s considered the greatest pitching performance in a single World Series by the bulk of baseball historians, Mathewson, while throwing for one of the greatest teams in MLB history, the 1905 New York Giants, went the distance in Game 1, 3, and the series-clinching Game 5, and was untouchable throughout. 27 innings pitched, zero earned runs. In the newspapers, published the following morning after the Giants had won the championship, Grantland Rice, iconic sportswriter, kicked off his piece on the titleholders by writing, “There is a new champion ball team on this globe tonight and its name is Christy Mathewson, sometimes called the New York Giants.” So when Mathewson commented on the situation that Johnson entered, there wasn’t a more qualified speaker on Earth to chime in on the scenario.
Instead of focusing on his recent mishaps, Johnson fed off the crowd’s energy and turned back the clock to the days in his mid20s, a period in his career when he was practically unhittable. In four innings of work, Johnson, amid battling through moments of adversity, held the Giants scoreless, allowing just three hits, and fanning five. While he did his part, the Nationals offense eventually came through for the legendary vet. In the bottom of the 12th, Johnson’s teammate, rookie Earl McNeely hit a double into left field that plated the game-winning run. At last, Johnson was a champion. His clutch performance in the series finale made everyone forget about his hardships of late, as those were now gone with the wind. Washington had won its first ever World Series championship, and the celebration was on. The second the game went final, McNeely was mobbed by fans, who had a hard time harnessing their excitement, as the man whose swing gave the nation’s capital a title was struck in his head and body by the enthusiasts. Police came to his rescue, and the Washington players made it safely back to their quarters. While standing at the small porch of the club’s office in the thick of the team’s celebration, Clark Griffith, president of the franchise, had a hard time formulating his thoughts, as the excitement in the area was far too powerful. “I’m too happy to make a speech people,” he said. “But it happened just as I wanted it to, with Walter winning it for us.” In the player’s circle, Johnson, possessing unqualifiable enthusiasm while shaking his teammates hands and receiving the utmost praise from those in the room, repeatedly said, “I’m just the happiest man in the world, that’s all.” All throughout the night, the streets of D.C. partied with the same level of passion as the they did when they heard the World War would be coming to an end. Cannons were fired, pistol shots were blasted into the air, and firecrackers burst into the dark sky. Thousands of cars filled the roads downtown and participated in a honking fest, to which police had to intervene. From the White House, President Coolidge issued a formal statement in honor of the local club. “Of course, I am not speaking as an expert or as a historian of baseball,” the president said. “But I do not recollect a more exciting ball series than that which finished this afternoon.” Coolidge went on to reference Johnson, noting that “It has to be kept in mind that though he was not successful in the two games which he pitched, that it was his skill that has won the pennant and put Washington into the World Series. Everyone was pleased to see him come back at the close of the last game.”
With the final, and most pivotal, box checked off his pitcher to-do list, Johnson had etched his name into baseball immortality. No longer could anyone debate about whether or not he could win the big one, as he proved, in unconventional fashion might I add, that he could be counted on when the lights shined the brightest. With the voluminous monkey now off his back, Johnson had a legitimate case to be made as the greatest winner in the game’s history. An argument that, had it been discussed today amongst a herd of baseball historians, he would still come out as the chosen one. Over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Johnson put together nine seasons in which he won 20 or more games with an ERA below 2. No other player in MLB history has strung together more than six such years. His 417 wins are 2nd most all-time to Cy Young , who won 511 games, but when it comes to their ERA’s, Johnson’s mark of 2.17 outranks Young’s 2.63. In addition, Johnson finished with 110 shutouts, which, to this day, is the most amongst any pitcher in MLB history. Barring a drastic alteration to the modern game, his career shutout record will never be broken.
After helping his franchise win its first championship in 1924, Johnson opened up to the press and provided his supporters a behind-the-curtain exposition regarding his especial odyssey in baseball. His thoughts, related to writer Lillian Barker, who published them in a series-format titled, “My Twenty Years on the Mound” provided readers with a first-person look into the life of one of the game’s greatest victors. Much to the consumer’s delight, a boxcar amount of the publicized content revolved around Johnson’s ability to get the job done for his team on a regular basis. While expounding upon the topic of prevailing on the mound, Johnson alluded to a smattering of essential tips and tricks, that, from his vantage point, fostered his success rate. One of his key principles, published in article 6 of the 12 total in the series, was built around the importance of putting oneself in a position to excel with regularity. Though straightforward in nature, the ‘perpetual whipper’ title is reserved to the individual who creates a life that is chockful with win/loss opportunities, as it’s the lone way to garner a plentitude of victories. “The main thing however is regularity,” said Johnson. “A pitcher must take his regular turn in the box. He must keep on edge. He must always be in practice. He must never allow himself to get out of form.”
Dovetailing off the last sentiment in his remarks, Johnson was quoted in another one of the pieces touching on how important it was for him to maintain a strong frame as a pitcher. In doing so, he was quick to mention that overall strength stretches far beyond just working out. “Physical perfection is not acquired by merely exercising, however,” stated Johnson. “A man’s manner of living, diet and habits, has a lot to do with his general condition and ability to go on the firing line in good shape.” In relation to this conviction, it was just as important for him to dwell in a healthy figure in the months away from competition, as it was for him to stand strong on the bump come baseball season. “Another thing I have learned during my career is the necessity of getting a start at the beginning of the baseball season in top form. Many pitchers do not get their top form until mid-season…I know that in my case, I must keep busy during the winter months in order to start the season in good form.” In living by this essential aim, Johnson did not smoke nor drink. His decision to refrain from indulging in the pair of vices was, by and large, based around performance. “I have found that by keeping away from these two habits I have been able to deliver much better work than otherwise.”
In the 11th composition, Johnson unbarred the workings of his mental frame when engaged in a clash on the diamond. The man who won at an exceptional rate credits his decision to evade any sensations of worry or uneasiness on the bump. “I’ve never worried over the loss of a game, for I’ve always tried to give the team my best, and if I failed, that was something I could not help,” he said. “This freedom from worry and nerves has stood me in great stead on many difficult occasions.” The iconic pitcher went on to say that, time after time, he has seen young promising pitchers, with immense physical talent, “impair their effectiveness by yielding to such worry.” Rather that ruminating over his lowlights, Johnson, in reference to past stretches where he struggled to come out on top, mentioned that “I have never allowed my spirit to flag, because of them (pitching slumps), for I have realized that absolute immunity from slumps is not possible. They generally come as part of the season’s work.” Instead of identifying with such skids, Johnson went into every battle anticipating victory while making great use of his ability to believe in his strengths. “If I were to be asked what in my opinion is the most important that a pitcher should possess,” he said in article six, “I should readily say confidence. When a pitcher is confident, he can pitch a good ball game, and when he becomes frightened, he goes up in the air.” In the thick of a showdown, to safeguard his confident outlook, Johnson mentioned that no matter how many hits he surrendered, or pitches he threw that were squared up to near perfection by the hitter, he made sure to fixate his attention on the overarching team goal, which was to win the game, by any means necessary. In the same column where he touched upon the importance of self-confidence, Johnson, in relation to the in-game experience, said, “I might explain that the totals in the hit column never bother me. Neither have I ever tried to make any strikeout records. It is the result that I have always taken into consideration.” In his eyes, the pitcher who tries to be too perfect, “with the hope that he may shut out the opposing team with no hits and no runs is going to exert every muscle of his body to achieve this result, but it’s not necessary. If he helps his teammates win the game, no matter how many hits the other side gets or how many runs they get, he is entitled to the full share of the glory.” In moments on the bump where Johnson didn’t have his best stuff, he prioritized keeping an even-keeled temperament, to avoid yielding to the boiled up sense of frustration that simmers in all of us when our results are not in alignment with our vision. “I have found out by experience that the man who keeps his temper in and out of baseball not only brings him the good will of those around him,” Johnson said in article nine. “But helps him in his pitching as well…To yield to a bad temper is to lessen the value of a pitching arm and to impair pitching judgement.” From his vantage point, while it’s natural to feel a sense of dissatisfaction when things going aren’t your way, you shall strive to negate the desire to give in to the negative feeling. The elements that make up ones disposition, moment to moment, are hand-picked by the consumer, which is why Johnson emphasized the value that goes with selecting the right properties to impress upon your character.
To further preserve this winning state of mind, along with combatting the urge to fall victim to moments of perceived failure, Johnson made sure to saturate his soul with a strong sense of pleasure whenever he helped his team win a ballgame. “When I have pitched effectively…I have had all the satisfaction that goes with work well done,” he said. “Victories to which I have contributed have pleased me as achievements along my line.” Beyond blocking out defeat, to boost his exultant-based frame, Johnson admired all moments of triumph, which is a mere decision that all who achieve success, no matter how substantial, in sensed weight, the occurrence may be in the eyes of the perceiver.
While it’s impossible to omit the slew of variables that go into winning ballgames, one cannot accumulate over 400 victories by sheer happenstance, or even as a byproduct of playing with superb teammates. It should be noted that Johnson was quoted, time and time again in the 12 editorials on his life as a pitcher, praising his peers, and all those around, who helped him reach great heights. Yet, there’s no denying his individual greatness, as the gaudy statistics speak for themselves. A win-total that substantial is produced by a pitcher with a great deal of gifts, some sensible, some imperceptible. For this section, the focus is on the latter set of flairs that Johnson adopted. What Johnson did, if you strip his career down to its simplest form, was create a life that impelled him to pyramid wins on a habitual basis. To continue piling victories on top of one another, Johnson adhered to a set of discreet tendencies that cropped his stack of triumphs to augmented apexes. This yield was sharecropped due to Johnson’s constant desire to repeat beneficial actions, over and over again. For those aspiring to emulate his process in their own engagements, one shall first seek to immerse themselves in their activities at full capacity. Prior to putting energy into your objectives, it is best it inspect that, from a physical standpoint, you are in the best form possible, so that you can expel your stamina with tremendous force and efficiency. By taking care of your body, you grant yourself the opportunity to place your attention on your pursuits at a healthy clip. From there, it is best to design a life that enables you to conglomerate wins. In Johnson’s case, by taking the necessary actions that would keep him in great physical health, year after year, he was given a chance every few days to add another victory to his pitching résumé. When analyzing your life, consider if you’re days are filled with enough opportunities that, when met, allow you to sense victory. The perceived magnitude of these wins is irrelevant, as it’s more about giving yourself enough chances to succeed on regular cadence. In review of your path, should you realize that your current process prohibits you from sensing triumph on a routine basis, attempt to tweak your approach by making your life about winning. Fill your active hours with actions that can be perceived as victories when adhered to. In an ideal setting, these actions should coincide with both your short-term, and long-term objectives. It is vital to comprehend that, winning is not reserved for those competing in an event, or a specific type of scenario that results in either a concrete victory or defeat. Winning is about materializing your internal intentions, which is a universal desire for all to acknowledge and chase. No one spawned into the universe to lose, as all are here to achieve whatever it is that they yearn for. This fundamental truth should be recalled each morning upon awakening to inspire your spirit.
With a sound strategy in place, the next point of focus shall be fashioned around your winning disposition. To cultivate your desired mentality, connect your temperament with vigorous, physical responses that are often sensed after success is attained in a particular mission. These impressions should be felt with enough power so that they externalize themselves in how you operate in the physical realm. If you need assistance in developing this frame, think back to some of your more memorable moments in life, and visualize what it felt like to fulfill your desire. When identifying with a triumphant frame of mind, your confidence, strength, tenacity, and resilience should be perceptible to all who are in observance of you. Do not wait to equip your spirit with this referenced frame for a moment in reality that calls for it. Assume success ahead of time by conditioning your body and mind in a winning state before you even strive for gold. To defer dwelling in your desired frame is to lack faith in your ability to generate the right results. The more time you spend out of your ideal frame, the less time you’ll spend sensing the world how you’d like to. Those who stand tall at the finish line were dominant in both stature and spirit before the race even began. The prosperous state of mind shall not be preserved for when you round the bases after a home run. It should be sensed in every step that you take in and out of the ballpark.
Once you assign this state to your being, the key is to remain in it, regardless of outcomes. Since everyone is a winner at birth, each time you slip out of your authentic frame, you are doing yourself a disservice, as you’re a creator whose unlimited potential is dependent on your habitual outlook. Whether Johnson surrendered numerous hits, or allowed runner after runner to cross the plate, he made a conscious effort to dwell in his coveted mental state. In doing so, he gave himself, and his team, the best shot at achieving the desired result, which was to win the ballgame, by any means. Should you falter in your attempt to retain a positive attitude when relating to your objectives, there is no need to shame or condemn, as the act of judging self often leads to worse results. Rather, continue to make a deliberate attempt to secure your chosen frame by not allowing, unappealing, external elements pull you out of it. Train yourself to wake up in it and fall asleep in it. Like all other endeavors that you strive to abide by with regularity, you will improve with each passing day. As you get better, the more your spirit will associate itself with this prized emotional state. Over time, this state will become your habitual frame, and you will carry it into everything that you.
To support your winning ways, emulate Johnson by allowing yourself to sense victory at every possible moment. For him, this meant impressing his spirit with great satisfaction after he pitched well and picked up a win for his team. For you, this could be taking a small, intermediate, or massive, step towards hitting any one of your life targets. It is a choice to feed your soul with gratitude and pleasure whenever you achieve a perceived victory. Too often, individuals abstain from sensing delectation in moments where they deserve to feel euphoric for their progress, as they believe they are not worthy. This is a poor habit that should be abandoned at all costs, as all deserve to appreciate personal progression. The more you focus on expressing elation for your hard work, the more accustom you will become to sensing success. Aside from expressing joy in real-time during your waking day, an easy way to comply with this aim is to, each night, prior to dozing off to sleep, extract wins of any kind. No matter their significance, recall moments during your active hours where you are achieved whatever it was that you set out to do, and bask in glory. This way, you will awake with serious momentum as you get up to chase your objectives again.
By and large, prioritize your physical health so that you’re always able to create great results. Load your days up with numerous activities that, when clung to, can be perceived as wins. In doing so, you will, by law, become successful at sticking by whatever it is that you’ve set out for. When engaging with your goals, choose to feel like a victorious one. See yourself as a winning individual who fulfills their objectives on a constant basis. Refrain from focusing on the specifics that play out, as the end-goal trumps all the trivial happenings along the way. Do not try to be perfect in your pursuits, instead, perceive your goals in the desired headspace, and attack them with honor and sound judgement. Anticipate success at every corner and supply your soul with enormous amounts of satisfaction whenever you advance or knock off one of your ambitions entirely. The writer who pens his sought-after word count for the day shall rejoice. The fitness enthusiast who completes his workout shall kick up his heels. The painter who makes progress on his masterpiece shall sense joy for creating such appeal.
If ever in doubt, flash back to your earliest moments and recapture what it was like to sense the space with a blank canvas. As you do so, you will be reminded of the fact that your sole purpose is to paint your desiderated portrait with elements that embody your realizations.
LIFE LESSON: Construct a life that incites constant victory, and savor all of your success.