WALTER JOHNSON'S SILVER DOLLAR THROW

On Feb. 22, 1936, a crowd of thousands gathered at George Washington's boyhood home near Fredericksburg, Va., to celebrate the 204th anniversary of his birth.

The main attraction of the day's festivities at Ferry Farm, which included the dedication of 200 cherry trees to be planted along the boulevard leading to Fredericksburg, took place at 2:30 that afternoon, when former Washington Senators pitching great Walter Johnson attempted to throw a silver dollar across the Rappahannock River. Legend had it Washington accomplished the feat as a young boy.

He threw it over with the same easy grace he once used in fanning Ty Cobb, Tris Speaker and Ping Bodie, and so doing he brought to Fredericksburg something of that joy that was denied to Mudville when the mighty Casey struck out, Edward T. Folliard, staff correspondent for The Washington Post, reported from the scene.

Thanks to a politician's bold wager and Johnson's participation, the stunt — while doing little to clear up the veracity of the legend — sparked controversy and attracted national interest.

The apocryphal tale of Washington throwing a silver dollar across the Rappahannock can be traced to Washington's original biographer, Parson Weems, who attributed the story to one of Washington's first cousins. In an 1826 essay, George Washington Parke Custis, Washington's step-grandson, recounted the tale of Washington throwing a piece of slate roughly the size and shape of a dollar across the Rappahannock. In the legend's retellings, the river was often changed to the Potomac.

Johnson spent the day practicing on the Potomac River in D.C., and he reportedly tossed a silver dollar 300 feet. Bloom, who wouldn't make the trip to Fredericksburg for Washington's birthday celebration, sent Johnson a silver dollar coined in 1796 to use for the occasion.

Johnson had left Bloom's coin at home. Instead, he tossed a Roosevelt dollar inscribed with Walter Johnson threw this dollar across the Rappahannock River, February 22, 1936.

Some historical facts are unknowable, but that doesn't stop believers from trying. And what's the harm in reenacting an event that may or may not have actually taken place? It's a bit of fun and could at least prove whether the feat is possible.

Facts seem just as hard to come by for the 1936 event. Johnson used multiple objects to practice and had a couple of test tries before the main event. Earlier reports mentioned "a silver dollar minted in 1779." This was the first time I saw a 1796 dollar mentioned in connection with the event. But what the heck is a "Roosevelt dollar"? And what became of Johnson's engraved piece? I reached out to a couple local friends for their thoughts. -Editor

"Hobbies Magazine in 1936 picked up the story that Walter Johnson's (and George Washington's) throwing a dollar across the river at Ferry Farm was possible, but faced some skepticism from readers about whether young Washington could have a dollar at all since they had not been minted at the Philadelphia Mint until 1794, when Washington was in his 60's.

"Hobbies Magazine pointed out that a dollar back when Washington was a boy would have been a Spanish Milled Dollar or rather a Spanish Colonial piece-of-eight. Spanish Milled Dollars were produced throughout Washington's lifetime and would have been known to wealthy folks who might have had a couple to spend, spare, or risk in a tossing game. Young Washington would have used a Pillar Dollar minted in Mexico City under King Philip V, in lieu of pieces of slate, in his final attempt.

"For Walter Johnson, a 1779 or 1796 Spanish-Milled Portrait Dollar would be easy to find in 1936 and would have been worth about eighty-five cents for bullion value. A Roosevelt Dollar in 1936 might refer to Hibler-Kappen HK-308, a 1904 Teddy Roosevelt So-Called Dollar that showed the 26th president facing forward with much blank space for added engraving on the obverse, and the Hall of Festivals and Central Cascades at the 1904 St. Louis Exposition on the reverse. This is a very rare so-called dollar, but in 1936 might have been cheap enough for a stunt with a big leaguer like Walter Johnson, who played for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927, and was managing major league ball teams in 1935.

"Also scarce would be a 1796 U.S. Flowing Hair or Draped Bust, Small Eagle silver dollar that would have cost about $20.00 in Fine condition according to my Norman Shultz Illustrated Catalog and Price List No.18 (circa 1939). The Director of the George Washington Bicentennial Commission and New York Representative Sol Bloom sent a 1796 U.S. dollar to Johnson for the attempt and quipped After you have warmed up and have two strikes and three balls on the other fellow, use this dollar, because I believe that as the eagle on this dollar is in flight it might bring to you the good luck that millions of people throughout the country are wishing you and the eagle in flight might assist in carrying this across the Rappahannock.

"Johnson palmed the 1796 U.S. dollar and instead threw the engraved Roosevelt Dollar. It was reported this dollar hit a gas tank across the river about 317 feet away. It was immediately picked up but its whereabouts today are unknown. So my question is whether Johnson threw high and inside, or a grounder, skipping across the water. Stone-skipping records of more than 360 feet are known. Lots of practice throws were made with large washers that may still be found on the far shore of the Rappahannock River across from Ferry Farm at the exact spot of this magnificent feat. Among the washers who knows what other coins might be present."