Randy Johnson
The Big Unit: A dominant left-handed pitcher with 303 wins, 4,875 strikeouts, and five Cy Young Awards.
via Wikipedia: Randy Johnson · see source
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "the Big Unit," is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. At 6'10", Johnson was the tallest player in MLB history when he entered the league, contributing to his intimidating persona and pitching style.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Pitcher
- Bats
- Right
- Throws
- Left
- Born
- 10 September 1963
- Birthplace
- Walnut Creek, California, U.S.
- Debut league
- MLB
- Debut date
- September 15
- Debut year
- 1988
Lore & Background
Johnson is a 10-time All-Star, won the Cy Young Award five times, and is one of only two pitchers (along with Greg Maddux) to win the award in four consecutive seasons (1999–2002). He won Cy Young Awards in both leagues. He is also one of five pitchers to pitch no-hitters in both leagues, and one of 26 pitchers in history to record a win against all 30 MLB franchises. Johnson's 303 career victories are the fifth-most by a left-hander in MLB history, while his 4,875 strikeouts place him second all time behind Nolan Ryan and first among left-handers. He recorded 300 strikeouts in a season six different times, a major league record tied with Ryan. Johnson threw MLB's 17th perfect game on May 18, 2004, at age 40, becoming the oldest pitcher to accomplish the feat. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 in his first year of eligibility.
Reader's Guide
Johnson made his major league debut on September 15, 1988, with the Montreal Expos, earning a 9–4 victory. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners on May 25, 1989. He played for the Mariners (1989–1998) and later the Arizona Diamondbacks, among other teams. He won the pitching Triple Crown in 2002. Along with teammate Curt Schilling, Johnson was one of two World Series Most Valuable Players in 2001, winning three games in the Series. The Diamondbacks retired Johnson's number 51 on August 8, 2015. The Mariners retired Johnson's number 51 on May 2, 2026, making him one of 12 players in MLB history to have his number retired by multiple MLB teams.
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