Walter Johnson Vs. Christy Mathewson

[Tomi]

Just wondering how these pitchers rank in your collecting world and do you have reasons for one being better than the other. Just looking for YOUR reason and showing some cards would be a great addition. To me these two were the 2 greatest pitchers from their era and would love to read your opinions on the subject.
Thanks

[Peter_Spaeth]

By WAR, Johnson is something like 50 points ahead of Mathewson, but a few behind Young. By JAWS, Johnson is a bit ahead of Young, and hugely ahead of Mathewson. Mathewson of course pitched for a much better team and had more success, but I don't see it as even close. Maybe you could argue Young is the GOAT, it wouldn't be insane, but I would say Johnson..

[Snowman]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

By WAR, Johnson is something like 50 points ahead of Mathewson, but a few behind Young. By JAWS, Johnson is a bit ahead of Young, and hugely ahead of Mathewson. Mathewson of course pitched for a much better team and had more success, but I don't see it as even close. Maybe you could argue Young is the GOAT, it wouldn't be insane, but I would say Johnson..

I would argue that saying Young is the GOAT would in fact be insane. He shouldn't even be in anyone's top 20.

WaJo was probably a little bit better than Mathewson though. But I think it's a little bit closer than most people probably do.

[doug.goodman]

With apologies that I never get sick of posting these, they're tied if you are counting different m113 photos...

[G1911]

Johnson and Young have credible greatest of all-time arguments. Mathewson is pretty far behind by the numbers, but that's because he's compared to those two. I don't see any reasonable argument that Mathewson had a better career.

[Kawika]

Two fine gentlemen.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Tomi

... and showing some cards would be a great addition.

Tomi, how about you showing showing some of your WaJo and Matty cards to start things off?

[Tomi]

I mainly collect vintage but love the pre war on this site. I will eventually transition into pre war also with Cobb and Ruth being at the top of my list but as of now vintage is my era. I'm only buying a few items per year so my collection increases very slowly. I have been following this site since I can remember but you guys and your collections are the reason why I will make the move. I honestly didn't appreciate the era until i got more into these forums. Unfortunately it will take a while but I will absolutely post as it happens.


Thanks

[DeanH3]

WaJo > Matty. 110 career shutouts speaks volumes. Plus, he lost 26 games by a score of 1-0. Johnson was just so dominate. Imagine if he had played for the Giants and not the Senators.

[brianp-beme]

Johnson is almost undoubtedly the superior pitcher, but I have always been drawn in by the Mathewson mystique...he just raised the level of being a ballplayer to that of being almost respectable.

Also I got my first Johnson and Matty cards at the same time, within a group of five that were my first prewar cards. The Mathewson card just sparked my prewar fire more than the Johnson. If I had gotten Walter's T206 portrait, well, who knows how I would feel, though I have had a longstanding preference for action poses over portraits...

Brian

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Johnson is almost undoubtedly the superior pitcher, but I have always been drawn in by the Mathewson mystique...he just raised the level of being a ballplayer to that of being almost respectable. Brian

Brian, are you suggesting that Johnson wasn't "almost respectable?"

[4815162342]

A WaJo fan ripped this card in half, and then a Matty fan Sweet-Capped it back together again.





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[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by 4815162342

A WaJo fan ripped this card in half, and then a Matty fan Sweet-Capped it back together again.

I also think a Walter Johnson fan, full of malice, and with a trembling, scissor wielding hand, made this E101 Mathewson feel real small.

Brian