There is an argument to make that Walter Johnson was the most dominant pitcher in baseball history. With 417 wins, 3,509 strikeouts and a career ERA of 2.17, "The Big Train" even stunned other all-time greats. "His fastball," said Ty Cobb, "looked about the size of a watermelon seed and it hissed at you as it passed."

But Johnson had more success with the Senators than with congressmen. After being elected Montgomery County (Md.) Commissioner in 1938, Johnson turned his focus to Federal office. In 1940, he lost his bid for a Maryland congressional seat in a closely fought race against William Byron. According to one Senators' historian, Johnson "had no agenda and made few speeches but nearly won anyway."