Walter Johnson

[kairos12]

The Big Train once had 2 strikes on a batter. When the batter began to walk away from the plate, the umpire said, "hey, you have another strike coming."

The batter said, "I don't want it."

Stat: In 1916 he threw 369 innings and gave up 0 HRs.

Maybe the greatest ever. Always a debate.

[hatrack]

1. OTOH, there's always Bob Feller . . . .

He got Lefty Gomez on three called strikes, so Gomez turned to the ump and said "I think that last one sounded a little low".

[rsdsharp]

2. Leo Durocher also gave away his third strike against 17 year old Bob Feller.

It was Feller’s first appearance, a 1936 exhibition game against the Cardinals.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. That Story Is Brought Up...

...in Ken Burns' Baseball. It's in The Second Inning.
There's a great recited quote of Cobb describing his first experience with Johnson.
He referred to the sound of the pitch as a "ominous hiss".
Either he or Smoky Joe Wood were the fastest pitchers of that era.
Johnson was a sidearm pitcher too. In that same episode there are films of him throwing. Looks relaxed and comfortable but experts estimate be was throwing over 90.
Compared to the rest of baseball it would be like a guy throwing 105 today!