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It took 10 years! Walter Johnson Game

Can you imagine waiting 10 years to find one that, a. I can afford and b. is in pretty good shape "and" complete.

This is a player who needs no introduction.

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Walter Johnson Base Ball Game - Washington DC - 1930s

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We're off to the races! This box is in super shape for the fragility and age of the game!!!

And the playing field looks like it's never been played with!

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The Rules

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Here's a minor disappointment - only one score sheet and in poor condition...

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And most important - the "mechanism" of play - a spinner with various outcomes that drive the action of the game.


There's 20 outcomes on it:

Ball
Fly out sac
Stole base
Home Run
Double play
Ball
Single
Infield out
Foul
2 base hit
Fly out
Infield out
Ball
Single
Strike
Fly out
Error
Infield out
Strike
3 base hit

The spinner is often missing from the game. But, they can be found up for auction separately.

My take? The cheap cardboard game doesn't survive while the well made spinner does.

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The spinner is well made and the tokens for the game with the likeness of Johnson on them are housed inside.

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and here's a cool pic of a bunch of 'mafia types' selling the games - an unopened case found in a warehouse today? Wow.

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This game has always been one of my whales - it's in such good shape.

Thanx for viewing.
Mike

Comments

  • I love it what a game and the pics of the mob playing and hustling the game is a classic. Thanks for sharing.
  • lawnmowermanlawnmowerman Posts: 19,477 ✭✭✭✭
    Congrats Michael! Cool old pics.
  • Big80sBig80s Posts: 2,758 ✭✭✭
    That is REALLY cool! Congrats on tracking one down!
    Let's Rip It: PackGeek.com
    Jeff
  • jmaciujmaciu Posts: 1,289 ✭✭✭
    I love this. Congrats on ending a decade-long journey to find this game.
  • BunchOBullBunchOBull Posts: 6,188 ✭✭✭
    Top notch Mike, a fine addition to the museum!
    Collector of most things Frank Thomas. www.BigHurtHOF.com
  • What an awesome game!!!
    Collecting Topps Baseball: 1966-present base sets
    Topps/OPC Hockey 1966-Present base sets
  • vintagefunvintagefun Posts: 1,974 ✭✭✭
    Great stuff Mike. You always have such unique items and I enjoy the detailed write ups.

    Thanks for sharing another great piece.

    Jim
    52-90 All Sports, Mostly Topps, Mostly HOF, and some assorted wax.
  • esquiresportsesquiresports Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭
    That's awesome. I would definitely print out those photos to go along with the game. Great conversation piece.
    Always buying 1971 OPC Baseball packs.
  • tsalems1tsalems1 Posts: 3,454 ✭✭✭✭
    Very cool!
    opcbaseball.com
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 9,550 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Fantistic Find! These non-baseball card relics are always a great addition to any collection.
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • BLUEJAYWAYBLUEJAYWAY Posts: 9,550 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The picture of the boxes with the sellers remind me of the old TV show "The Untouchables". What is the copyright year for the game?
    Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
  • StingrayStingray Posts: 8,843 ✭✭✭
    That is one cool item!!
  • elsnortoelsnorto Posts: 2,012 ✭✭
    Congrats, Mike... I always enjoy seeing your additions since many of them are very unique compared to the stuff we see regularly on this, and other, boards.

    I dig the Big Train coin and am surprised they don't garner more interest among collectors given they are around 70 years old and depict one of the most dominant pitchers of all time.

    Do you have any plans for how you are going to display all of your board games? I love memorabilia, but display space can be a huge challenge. I'm pretty much out of it and have taken to rotating my displays every quarter or so to change things up a bit.

    Snorto~
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The picture of the boxes with the sellers remind me of the old TV show "The Untouchables". What is the copyright year for the game? >>

    Thanx for the kind words everyone!

    There's neither a copyright nor a patent even pending on the game anywhere.

    Checking for a patent has come up empty also.

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    Based on the picture of Johnson with his game and other webs like the Baseball Board Forum - it's our guess that the game came out very late 20s or 1930.
    Mike
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Congrats, Mike... I always enjoy seeing your additions since many of them are very unique compared to the stuff we see regularly on this, and other, boards.

    I dig the Big Train coin and am surprised they don't garner more interest among collectors given they are around 70 years old and depict one of the most dominant pitchers of all time.

    Do you have any plans for how you are going to display all of your board games? I love memorabilia, but display space can be a huge challenge. I'm pretty much out of it and have taken to rotating my displays every quarter or so to change things up a bit.

    Snorto~ >>

    Thanx Scott.

    I hear ya! It's a challenge to figure out how to display stuff.

    I have a back room that was my son's and my wife had me turn it into a gym. She NEVER used it! So, she's willed it to me and it will be rebuilt with shelves. It won't be done for some time but I promise, I'll proudly post pics when I do it.

    Here's a section of the room with stored games - and that's not nearly all of them - unfortunately.

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    Mike
  • Dpeck100Dpeck100 Posts: 10,912 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Super cool!

    I love the pic of the guys playing on the street corner!

  • Indy78Indy78 Posts: 806 ✭✭✭
    Very cool find! Congrats. I love the photo of the shelves of games; however, I couldn't do that in my house. My kids would be grabbing those games to play the moment I stepped out of the room, lol.
  • IronmanfanIronmanfan Posts: 5,497 ✭✭✭✭
    Great pick up Stone! Patience is certainly a virtue that few of us actually have...

    Did you mention the details behind how you got it?

    Congrats!

    IMF
    Successful dealings with Wcsportscards94558, EagleEyeKid, SamsGirl214, Volver, DwayneDrain, Oaksey25, Griffins, Cardfan07, Etc.
  • zep33zep33 Posts: 6,897 ✭✭✭
    That's really cool Mike

    Congrats on finally finding one

  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Great pick up Stone! Patience is certainly a virtue that few of us actually have...

    Did you mention the details behind how you got it?

    Congrats!

    IMF >>

    Thanx again guys!

    I bought it from Hakes. It didn't sell - not sure why. I contacted them and bought it before it hit their store for the minimum bid of $275. A nice price considering the condition.

    I'v bought from Hakes about 3 or 4 times and their packing is incredible!
    Mike
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