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A Special Gift to the Big Train: Six Baseballs Autographed by Six Presidents

Walter Johnson's special gift to the National Baseball Museum at Cooperstown, New York was six baseballs autographed by six presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. With the exception of those autographed by Roosevelt and Hoover, the balls were thrown out at opening games during Johnson's tenure as star pitcher for the Washington Senators.
Evening star., May 07, 1904
Washington, D.C., circa 1931. "Department of Commerce under construction from top of National Press Building looking down 14th Street." Willard Hotel at right. Large format negative by Theodor Horydczak.
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Here is a very different photo of the “Big Train” in April 1939. He is looking at a box of baseballs, autographed by six presidents. These are baseballs that were thrown out as the first pitch by presidents when Johnson was pitching in Washington. A pretty impressive collection, which was donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Baseballs autographed by six Presidents. 'Big Train's' gift to Baseball Hall of Fame. Washington, D.C., April 29. Walter Johnson's contribution to the National Baseball Museum at Cooperstown, New York, will be these six baseballs autographed by six presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. With the exception of the ones autographed by Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover, the balls are those which were thrown out at opening games pitched by Johnson during his regime as star pitcher for the Washington Senators. The ball autographed by President Hoover was presented to Johnson while he was manager of the Washington team while the one with the signature of Theodore Roosevelt was a special gift to the Big Train
Baseballs autographed by six Presidents. ‘Big Train’s’ gift to Baseball Hall of Fame. Washington, D.C., April 29. Walter Johnson’s contribution to the National Baseball Museum at Cooperstown, New York, will be these six baseballs autographed by six presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover. With the exception of the ones autographed by Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover, the balls are those which were thrown out at opening games pitched by Johnson during his regime as star pitcher for the Washington Senators. The ball autographed by President Hoover was presented to Johnson while he was manager of the Washington team while the one with the signature of Theodore Roosevelt was a special gift to the Big Train
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