Well-known American tales depict the first U.S. President, George Washington, doing admirable feats that showed off his virtuousness and wholesomeness. They included cutting down his fatherƒ??s beloved cherry tree and then confessing to his misdeed; and throwing a silver dollar that cleared the entire wide expanse of the Rappahannock River in Virginia. In retrospect, these stories were all but certainly made up (silver dollars didnƒ??t exist when Washington was a boy), yet they became part of the countryƒ??s lexicon and inspired many, including pitching legend Walter Johnson, who set out to duplicate the river throw in 1936.

At that time, Johnson had just finished up the second of two professional baseball careers. He had spent 21 years with the Washington Senators, dominating the big leagues with a powerful right arm that produced a devastating fastball and earned him the nickname of the ƒ??Big Train.ƒ? With his heater estimated to be in the upper 90s or faster, batters did not enjoy seeing him peering in from the mound. His 417 wins and 2.17 ERA landed him in the National Baseball Hall of Fameƒ??s inaugural class, as voted on that year.

Most recently, he had spent the previous seven years managing the Senators and Cleveland Indians. While he boasted a .550 winning percentage, none of the teams under his direction ever finished better than second ƒ?? thanks to the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Athletics, who rode strong squads to the majority of pennants at that time.

Fredericksburg, Virginia was where Washington grew up as a boy. February 22, 1936 marked his 204th birthday and the city?ÿdecided?ÿto go all out in celebration. They asked Johnson, who was not only the probable best living pitcher of all time but also spent his entire playing career in nearby Washington D.C., to recreate the Rappahannock River throw.

Although Johnson was 48 and about to settle into the life of a farmer, his reputation of possessing the greatest fastball in the history of the game gave his selection even more appeal. Upon accepting the challenge, he began training in earnest, reportedly practicing throwing silver dollars on his farm. He sent a message to Fredericksburg updating them of his progress in a humorous manner. ƒ??I am practicing with a dollar against my barn door. Arm getting stronger, barn door weaker.ƒ?

The width of the spot in the river where Johnson was to make his throw was measured at 372 feet ƒ?? roughly the distance of a throw from home plate clearing the wall in left-center field in a standard baseball stadium. Other portions of the river measured from a couple of hundred feet to a mile or more wide, so the location that was chosen needed to be difficult, yet also somewhat reasonable.?ÿOdds?ÿwere set at 20ƒ??1 against Johnson being able to place a silver dollar on the far riverbank.

In the days leading up to the spectacle, it was?ÿreported?ÿby the Associated Press that eager locals were trying themselves to see how possible or impossible it was going to be. ƒ??Citizens are trying to settle the matter among themselves ƒ?? but with iron washers, not silver coins. All tries have fall short.ƒ? Only a few years removed from the Great Depression, itƒ??s no surprise that people werenƒ??t keen on throwing money across a river.

The day before Johnsonƒ??s stunt, New York Yankeesƒ?? star first baseman Lou Gehrig attempted to make his own?ÿsimilar headlines. He threw five silver dollars across the Hudson River. Only one of the throws made it to the other side, but that one was estimated at 430 feet, which was well past the about 400 feet he needed to get the job done.

Winter was still in full swing when the eventful day arrived, with snow, ice and temperatures below the freezing point making throwing conditions less than optimal. About 1,000 spectators gathered on the side where Johnson prepared to throw, along with CBS Radio, who broadcast the event live nationally. It was estimated at least 3,000 people waited on the other side, hoping to catch the silver dollar should it make its intended destination. Some had already publicly offered sums ranging from $5 to $25 for whoever retrieved the historic coin, which was a specially minted dollar from 1796. There is no record if there was much concern for a small metal projectile hurtling into a large crowd.

Johnson, nattily attired in a suit, was given three silver dollars. Two were for practice throws while the third was for his official heave. Only removing his coat, it didnƒ??t seem like optimal conditions for success. Although his first attempt came up short, the second made it across, as did his third and official throw. It was estimated that it landed 386 feet way, comfortably clearing the water by about 14 feet. He?ÿtold reporters, ƒ??Gosh, I didnƒ??t think Iƒ??d do it!ƒ?

The official coin was?ÿretrieved?ÿby 30-year-old stone mason named Pietro Yon. He initially scooped up the dollar and started to quietly walk away, but a horde of reporters descended upon him and escorted him to nearby Ferry Farm, where he had an opportunity to meet Johnson.

Yon was almost immediately offered $200 for the coin by Vaughn-Cocke-Carpenter Motor Company, but he held on to see if he might receive a larger offer. He explained, ƒ??Unless someone wants it bad enough to pay a good price, I might as well keep it as a souvenir. I donƒ??t need the money especially and may keep the coin myself. Of course, if somebody really means business, I guess I will sell.ƒ? Originally from Italy, he was hoping to use any significant proceeds to visit his mother back where he had emigrated from in 1922.

Following the successful throw, Johnson?ÿattended?ÿa luncheon with Virginiaƒ??s governor and a host of other dignitaries to celebrate Washingtonƒ??s birthday. Oloshira Kuroda of the Japanese Embassy presented 200 cherry trees to be planted at Ferry Farm, where Washington had allegedly chopped one down centuries before. The gift was bestowed along with the sentiment that they were ƒ??a symbol of the goodwill which will reflect the enduring friendship and everlasting goodwill which Japan has for America.ƒ? Sadly, this display of affection and national bonds was dashed just a few years later with the advent of World War II.

With Johnsonƒ??s feat making national headlines, there was continued buzz for the next several days. A Congressman from Mississippi even traveled to Fredericksburg and attempted to match the throw on his own, but his coin came up woefully short. His failure inspired one wiseacre to?ÿquip?ÿthat ƒ??itƒ??s not the first time a politician has thrown our money away.ƒ?

The throw was perhaps Johnsonƒ??s final national headline-making baseball feat. He passed away in his sleep a decade later in 1946. Compared to all of his mighty accomplishments, his tangle with the Rappahannock River is but a minor footnote in his illustrious athletic career yet embodies his greatness and the mesmerizing hold all things baseball once had on the country.