May 30, 2017

The Big Train's Last Run



Walter Johnson
1973 Topps - Card #476
Ninety years ago today, Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson pitched a three hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox in his first game of the 1927 season.  It was the 110th and final complete game shutout of his career, which is a MLB career record that isn't likely to ever be broken.

I'm not sure why this 1973 Topps card has him listed with 113 career shutouts.  I thought they might have been combining his post-season totals, but he only had one, Game 4 of the 1925 World Series, so it must be an error on the card.  Either way, he's in first place by a mile in the career shutouts list, and with modern pitch counts and bullpen usage, I strongly doubt that anyone will ever come within 50 of Johnson's total, let alone break his record.