Walter Johnson, The Big Train

[ValKehl]

Jeff, Thanks!
WaJo is found on only these 2 of the 3 different M116 back styles:

[daves_resale_shop]

Here are my favorite wajo's...
1-pencil cut with a colored pencil drawing of his t206

2-signed photo from a 1932 who's who magazine bordered by each of his t206's

[joeadcock]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Whoa. Nice Val!

Double whoa

[majordanby]

[paleocards]

I've been after a centered "5" for the past three years but either I haven't had the funds when one appeared or one didn't show up when I had the $$. Finally got this one from PWCC's most recent auction. Sure didn't get a bargain, but I love its centering and the way it hits my eye. Very pleased to add this iconic card to my collection.

[benchod]

Love the Texas Tommy!
This one is tough but not as tough as that Tommy

[ValKehl]

I would love to add the Weil Baking and Merchants Bakery cards to this group:

[the 'stache]

Holy crap, Val!

As a WaJo lover, that's probably the holy grail for me. I'll never own one, myself, but I sure am enjoying looking at yours.

[ValKehl]

Great cards everyone! Here's a couple more from 1916:

[ValKehl]

I'm pretty sure this came from the Johnson family scrapbook - Eddie is one of WaJo's sons.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

I'm pretty sure this came from the Johnson family scrapbook - Eddie is one of WaJo's sons.

It did indeed, Val. There were two, one for Uncle Ed and one for Hazel Johnson, which I bought back from Dan McKee at Chantilly a couple years back. I've never seen any others, so I assume these were prototypes and the club never got off the ground. It looks like they intended to do pins, too, but I've never seen one.

[ValKehl]

From Leon's fantastic type-card collection:

[Leon]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

From Leon's fantastic type-card collection:

One of my faves. So glad he want to a great home. Thanks for showing him, Val.

[ValKehl]

Yes, I do prefer real-photo, b&w cards over the colorful, artist renditions of the 1910's era.

[Jobu]

Nice Val!!! Not much better than a tough New Orleans card with a major HOFer on it. I lived about 10 blocks from the address on the back.

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Yes, I do prefer real-photo, b&w cards over the colorful, artist renditions of the 1910's era.

[ValKehl]

Thanks guys for all the kind words. I've been collecting WaJo cards for a long time. Got my first WaJo card (a T207 Recruit), which was also my first pre-War card, in a trade (for some 1960 Topps cards) with Bill Huggins at his card shop in Silver Spring, MD, way back in the 1980's.
Val

[BeanTown]

Wojo

[Bicem]

[sb1]

Per Val's request a Walter Johnson T204 T.T.T. Cigarettes that I paid all the money for in a 1990's David Festberg auction(raw at that!). I figured it might be the only one I would ever see and so far that has held true. I did hear a rumor years ago that Roger Neufeldt might have sold a very low grade around 2000 or before but I have never confirmed that story.

[the 'stache]

Just wow. That's gorgeous, Scott, LOL. God, I love this forum.

If I ever struck it rich, I wouldn't buy houses, or cars. I don't think much would change. I'd live comfortably, but not extravagantly.

My one real expenditure, besides my movie collection (and a new home theater to watch them) would be to go nuts on these pre-war beauties. I'd have an industrial safe built, and I'd pull them out every single day to look at them. No joke. I'd sit on my couch, and just stare at these for hours on end.

[BeanTown]

David Festberg!!! Now, that's a name from the past. I remember his auctions with the black and white photo copy mailers and the then the live phone bids which he did on the chalk board! I won many Cracker Jacks from him and Scott Walker back then..

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by sb1

Per Val's request a Walter Johnson T204 T.T.T. Cigarettes that I paid all the money for in a 1990's David Festberg auction(raw at that!). I figured it might be the only one I would ever see and so far that has held true. I did hear a rumor years ago that Roger Neufeldt might have sold a very low grade around 2000 or before but I have never confirmed that story.

Wow, not only is that an incredible card, but I never thought that Festberg had anything above VG.

[sb1]

After I won it, he called the next morning, a Sunday and I think he was more excited than I was. He knew I wanted it, as we has discussed the card when the auction came up, but I don't think he had any idea it would go for the money it did. He was very happy that I ended up winning it. I suspect it may have come from some of his mother's collection.

The last time I saw him was A/C in 2003. I bought a lot of stuff from him in the 90's.


While I am obviously biased, I believe this may be the scarcest Walter Johnson "card" to exist.

[yanksfan09]

Mine...

[ValKehl]

Scott, many thanks for showing your "to-die-for" T.T.T. card of WaJo - what a spectacular card! But, please don't get carried away thinking it is the scarcest WaJo "card" to exist. I believe the amazing D381 WaJo that Erick just showed is also a 1-of-1 card. And, there is a Board member who has the only known Leader Theatre (it is autographed, no less) and Washington Times cards of WaJo. Heck, even I have a few 1-of-1 WaJo cards, none of which is anywhere near as spectacular as your T.T.T.

I remember picking up a couple of T214s back in the 1990's in Festberg's auctions and other cards that I can't instantly recall. I just wish I had acquired more vintage cards back in those days.

Val

[sb1]

Val,

I may have been overexcited when posting.

I almost typed "most valuable" rather than scarcest.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by sb1

After I won it, he called the next morning, a Sunday and I think he was more excited than I was. He knew I wanted it, as we has discussed the card when the auction came up, but I don't think he had any idea it would go for the money it did. He was very happy that I ended up winning it. I suspect it may have come from some of his mother's collection.

The last time I saw him was A/C in 2003. I bought a lot of stuff from him in the 90's.


While I am obviously biased, I believe this may be the scarcest Walter Johnson "card" to exist.

There are probably a few one of one knowns out there but that T204 is awfully nice.

Not mine anymore...and pardon the other 2 also...and I guess if there is only 1 of something by definition it's scarcest, or at least tied.

[ValKehl]

T3 with a checklist back:

[TimCarrollArt]

Finally finished my first Big Train piece yesterday. This was a commission and is not available. Size is 18"x30", and it is made from cut junk era commons (with some 2001 Bowman Heritage for the B&W portrait).

[Bicem]

You are very talented sir. Great piece.

[smtjoy]

Some amazing Wajo's in this thread, here is my favorite-

[Brian Van Horn]

.

[ullmandds]

Well isn't that somethin'!

Originally Posted by smtjoy

Some amazing Wajo's in this thread, here is my favorite-

[Baseball Rarities]

That is an absolutely amazing signed Exhibit card. That card captures him posing for noted sculptor Ulric Dunbar who created this statue from this image.

[BeanTown]

1925 Exhibit now one of my favorites thanks to Kevin showing the Photo with statue.

Here is my soon to be 1925 World Serie PC. Another collector and I believe the photo is 1912, look how young Johnson looks. The arm band is for the death of club president Noyes.

[BeanTown]

Here is a cool card

[jonvancouver]

My only 2 WaJo cards

[Brian Van Horn]

.

[horzverti]

Here is one that Mr. Rogers acquired from The Sporting News Archive. He later tried to pass it off as an original Conlon Type 1 by applying a fake Conlon stamp and fake Conlon handwriting to the thin backing board on which this photo is mounted. I think collectors had reservations about its authenticity and it originally sold for much less than what a 1 should have sold for. I bought it after it changed hands a few times. In a beautiful twist of fate, it turns out that this is indeed a 1. Shining a bright light through the photo and the backing board, a legitimate and period Conlon stamp can be clearly seen on the back of the photo. The photo is trimmed and mounted, but is one of my favorites. Someday I will figure out how to remove it from the backing board.

[ValKehl]

W503.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

W503.

That is a great card, Val. I can't say I have seen another though I am sure there must be at least a few others out there. I think back in the day I might have seen a few sets or near sets of these sold. What a great pose!!

[SAllen2556]

Old glass negatives I once owned. All taken in Detroit I believe.

[ValKehl]

Scott, great pics! I especially like the pic with both WaJo (as Cleveland's manager) and Bucky "the Boy Manager" Harris (as Detroit's manager). WaJo and Bucky played together in 1924 & 1925 when the Senators won their first two A.L. Pennants and only World Series. These also were Bucky's first 2 years as a MLB manager.
Val

[ValKehl]

Leon and others, thanks for the kind words. Of the combined total of 24 Haffner's Bread cards in the PSA & SGC pop reports, not one of them is a WaJo.

[clydepepper]

I had never seen this particular card until a few days before I bought it.

Decided to let go my W-560 (currently on BST) to make room for and help pay for it.

Good Ole W.P. Johnson

WALTER JOHNSON 1923 V100 Willard Chocolates PSA-5.jpg

[ValKehl]

Raymond, I don't recall ever seeing such white borders on a V100 card - very nice card!

[brianp-beme]

Since, as far as I can tell, no one has posted a T202 card yet, I thought I would at least post a portion of it. Better a truncated Johnson than no Johnson at all.

Brian

[clydepepper]

WALTER JOHNSON 1922 E120 American Caramel - PSA-5.jpg

[Leon]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

Attachment 238743

Great card, Ray. It is a joy to see nicely centered cards.

And one from the previous collection...

[ValKehl]

One of my major hobby regrets is trading this rare 1940 D351 Grennan Bakery card back in 1998. This is card #7 (very hard to see the # in this scan of a photocopy of a photocopy) of 10 cards (most of which are unknown) in this set. Cards are 2.5" x 5", and as best as I can remember, are blank backed and on rather thick stock.
Val