Asked to throw a coin across a river, Walter Johnson delivered

With 3,509 strikeouts and an all-time record 110 shutouts, Walter Johnson is widely considered one of the best pitchers in MLB history. But one of his most famous pitches came off the diamond altogether.

It was February 1936, and Johnson had just been named to the inaugural class of the Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson and Honus Wagner. He was 48 years old, and his 21-year career with the Washington Senators had wrapped up in 1927. But when the Fredericksburg, Va., chamber of commerce needed a big arm, there was no man better for the job.

Feb. 22, 1936, marked the 204th anniversary of the birth of George Washington, who lived at Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg for much of his childhood. Aiming to commemorate the nation’s first president, local leaders called upon Johnson to replicate a legendary feat of Washington’s strength. (Literally legendary, it seems: Like the famed “cherry tree” tale, this one is likely mythical.)

As the story goes, Washington was seen throwing silver dollars -- or possibly stones -- across the Rappahannock River, which in 1936 was said to measure 272 feet in width and was rumored to be even wider in Washington’s day. The founding father’s reputed feat was likely not physically possible, but Johnson was designated to pitch a silver dollar from one riverbank to the other to see if it could be done at all. Not everyone believed he (or anyone) could do it: U.S. Rep. Sol Bloom offered 20-to-1 odds against a successful throw, citing a disputed width of the Rappahannock during colonial times that would have likely put Fredericksburg underwater.

Home at his family farm in Germantown, Md., Johnson geared up for the big day by repeatedly hurling a silver dollar against the door of his barn. On Feb. 20, 1936, he sent a message to the people of Fredericksburg: “Arm getting stronger, barn door weaker.”

When the day came, Johnson -- with thousands watching from both sides of the river -- warmed up and flung a silver dollar into the icy water, a few feet from the opposite shore. Thankfully for him, it was just a practice toss, although not a cheap one: $1 in 1936 is equivalent to more than $22 in 2024.

Johnson’s second and final practice toss made it across, and it was time for his official throw. He wound up for one last mighty heave, clutching a coin bearing the following inscription: “Walter Johnson threw this dollar across the Rappahannock River, February 22, 1936.” (Talk about speaking it into existence).

“The Big Train” proved he still had his fastball: The coin cleared the river by more than 10 feet, and 31-year-old stone mason Peter Yon managed to scoop it up. (The silver dollar’s whereabouts today are unclear.)

Johnson had done his job, hurling the coin a reported 286 feet, 6 inches -- with some speculating that the throw was truly much longer. Whatever the distance, one of baseball’s all-time greats had delivered another special moment well after his playing days were done.