Randy Johnson facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids

Randy Johnson

Johnson in 2016

Pitcher

Born: September 10, 1963 (age 61)
Walnut Creek, California, U.S.

Batted: Right

Threw: Left

debut

September 15, 1988, for the Montreal Expos

Last appearance

October 4, 2009, for the San Francisco Giants

MLB statistics

Win–loss record

303–166

Earned run average

3.29

Strikeouts

4,875

Teams

Montreal Expos (1988–1989)
Seattle Mariners (1989–1998)
Houston Astros (1998)
Arizona Diamondbacks (1999–2004)
New York Yankees (2005–2006)
Arizona Diamondbacks (2007–2008)
San Francisco Giants (2009)

Career highlights and awards

10× All-Star (1990, 1993–1995, 1997, 1999–2002, 2004)
World Series champion (2001)
5× Cy Young Award (1995, 1999–2002)
World Series MVP (2001)
Triple Crown (2002)
MLB wins leader (2002)
4× ERA leader (1995, 1999, 2001, 2002)
9× Strikeout leader (1992–1995, 1999–2002, 2004)
Pitched a perfect game on May 18, 2004
Pitched a no-hitter on June 2, 1990
Arizona Diamondbacks No. 51 retired
Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame
Arizona Diamondbacks Hall of Fame

Baseball Hall of Fame

Induction

2015

Vote

97.3% (first ballot)

Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), known as "the Big Unit", is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009). He played for six teams, mainly the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Johnson was 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 metres) tall. This made him the tallest player in MLB when he started. His height added to his powerful pitching style. He was famous for his very fast fastball and amazing slider. These pitches stayed effective throughout his long career.

At first, Johnson had trouble controlling his pitches. But he soon became one of the best pitchers of his time. He led his league in strikeouts nine times. He also led in earned run average, winning percentage, and complete games four times each. In 2001, Johnson and his teammate Curt Schilling were both named World Series Most Valuable Players. Johnson won three games in that World Series. He helped the Arizona Diamondbacks win against the New York Yankees. In 2002, he won the pitching Triple Crown.

Johnson's 303 career victories are the fifth most by a left-handed pitcher in MLB history. His 4,875 strikeouts rank him second all time behind Nolan Ryan. He is the top left-handed pitcher in strikeouts. He had 300 strikeouts in a season six times. This is an MLB record he shares with Nolan Ryan. Johnson was a ten-time All-Star. He won the Cy Young Award five times. He is one of only two pitchers to win the award four years in a row (1999–2002). Johnson won Cy Young Awards in both the American and National Leagues. He is also one of five pitchers to throw no-hitters in both leagues.

Johnson played for a long time, which is rare for pitchers. His fastball and slider were still effective when he was in his 40s. Four of his six seasons with 300 strikeouts happened after he turned 35. On May 18, 2004, at 40 years old, he threw MLB's 17th perfect game. He is still the oldest pitcher to do this. Johnson retired at age 46. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Early Life and College Baseball

Randy Johnson was born in Walnut Creek, California. This is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area. In high school, he was a star in both baseball and basketball. In 1982, he struck out 121 batters in 66 innings. He also threw a perfect game in his last high school game.

After high school, the Atlanta Braves picked him in the 1982 MLB draft. But Johnson chose to go to the University of Southern California instead. He played baseball there on a scholarship. He also played basketball for two years. At USC, he played with Mark McGwire. He was a starter but often had trouble controlling his pitches.

Professional Baseball Career

Starting Out: Montreal Expos (1988–1989)

Johnson was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1985. He made his major league debut on September 15, 1988. He won his first game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1988, he had a 3–0 record. But in 1989, he struggled. On May 25, 1989, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners.

Becoming a Star: Seattle Mariners (1989–1998)

When Johnson joined the Mariners, he still had control issues. He led the American League in walks for three years. In 1990, he threw a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers. This showed his great potential.

Johnson met with pitching legend Nolan Ryan in 1992. Ryan helped him change his pitching style slightly. This helped Johnson throw strikes more often. On September 27, 1992, Johnson struck out 18 batters in one game. This was against Nolan Ryan's Texas Rangers.

Breakout Season in 1993

In 1993, Johnson had a fantastic year. He had a 19–8 record and a 3.24 ERA. He also had 308 strikeouts. This was his first of six seasons with over 300 strikeouts. He became the first Mariners pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts in a season. During the 1993 All-Star Game, Johnson famously threw a fastball over the head of Philadelphia Phillies player John Kruk.

Cy Young Award in 1995

Johnson won the American League Cy Young Award in 1995. He had an 18–2 record, a 2.48 ERA, and 294 strikeouts. His winning percentage was one of the best in AL history. He helped the Mariners make a big comeback to win their division.

In the playoffs, the Mariners played the Yankees. Johnson helped the Mariners win the series. In the final game, he came in as a relief pitcher with only one day of rest. He pitched three innings and helped Seattle win in a dramatic comeback.

Later Years with Mariners

Johnson had a back injury in 1996. But he came back strong in 1997. He had a 20–4 record, 291 strikeouts, and a 2.28 ERA. He had two games where he struck out 19 batters. In the 1997 All-Star Game, he had a funny moment with his former teammate Larry Walker. Johnson threw a pitch over Walker's head, and Walker jokingly batted from the wrong side of the plate.

In 1998, Johnson was traded to the Houston Astros. This happened because he wanted a contract extension, but the Mariners did not offer one. He had been with the Mariners for almost nine years.

Short Stint: Houston Astros (1998)

With the Astros, Johnson was amazing. He had a 10–1 record and a 1.28 ERA in 11 starts. He also had 116 strikeouts in just over 84 innings. He helped Houston win their division. However, the Astros lost in the playoffs.

Dominance: Arizona Diamondbacks (1999–2004)

Johnson signed a big contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. This was a new team, only in its second year. Johnson led them to the playoffs in 1999. He had a 17–9 record, a 2.48 ERA, and 364 strikeouts. He won the 1999 NL Cy Young Award. He also won the Warren Spahn Award as the best left-handed pitcher.

In 2000, Johnson won his second Cy Young Award. The Diamondbacks then got Curt Schilling. Johnson and Schilling became a powerful pitching duo.

World Series Champions in 2001

In 2001, Johnson and Schilling led the Diamondbacks to their first World Series victory. They beat the New York Yankees. Johnson and Schilling shared the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. Johnson was incredibly dominant. He struck out 11 batters in a shutout in Game 2. He won Game 6, and then pitched in relief to win Game 7. Johnson won five of Arizona's eleven playoff games in 2001. He is the last pitcher to win three games in a single World Series.

In 2001, Johnson struck a bird with a pitched ball.

On March 24, 2001, during a spring training game, Johnson threw a fastball that hit and killed a dove. This was a very unusual event. It is still one of his most remembered moments.

On May 8, 2001, Johnson struck out 20 batters in a game. This was against the Cincinnati Reds. He also threw an "immaculate inning" on August 23, 2001. This means he struck out three batters on nine pitches.

Triple Crown in 2002

In 2002, Johnson won the pitching Major League Baseball Triple Crown. He led the National League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He won his fourth straight Cy Young Award. This was his fourth straight season with over 300 strikeouts for the Diamondbacks.

In 2003, Johnson was injured for most of the season. He hit the only home run of his career on September 19, 2003.

Perfect Game in 2004

On May 18, 2004, Johnson pitched the 17th perfect game in MLB history. He was 40 years old, making him the oldest pitcher to do so. He struck out 13 batters in a 2–0 win against the Atlanta Braves. This perfect game made him one of only five pitchers to throw a no-hitter in both leagues. He also became the fourth MLB player to reach 4,000 strikeouts in his career.

He finished the 2004 season with 290 strikeouts. This led all of Major League Baseball.

New York Yankees (2005–2006)

In 2005, the Diamondbacks traded Johnson to the New York Yankees. He pitched Opening Day for the Yankees. He had an inconsistent year but finished with 17 wins and 211 strikeouts. He was very good against the Yankees' rival, the Boston Red Sox.

Johnson struggled at times in 2006. It was later found that he had a back injury. He finished the season with 17 wins.

Return to Arizona Diamondbacks (2007–2008)

Johnson pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In January 2007, the Yankees traded Johnson back to the Diamondbacks. He missed most of April due to his back injury. He returned but reinjured his back in July. He had surgery and missed the rest of the 2007 season.

Johnson came back in 2008. On June 3, 2008, he passed Roger Clemens for second place on the all-time strikeout list. He finished the season with 11 wins. He also pitched his 100th career complete game.

Final Season: San Francisco Giants (2009)

Johnson with the Giants in 2009

On December 26, 2008, Johnson signed with his hometown San Francisco Giants. On June 4, 2009, he became the 24th pitcher to reach 300 wins. He beat the Washington Nationals to reach this milestone. He was the seventh left-handed pitcher to get 300 wins. Johnson was later placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. He returned in September 2009, pitching from the bullpen. At 46, he was one of the oldest players in MLB.

Retirement and Legacy


Randy Johnson's number 51 was retired by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015.

Randy Johnson announced his retirement from baseball on January 5, 2010. The Mariners honored him by having him throw out the first pitch at their home opener. He was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2012.

Johnson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. This was his first year of eligibility. The Diamondbacks retired his number 51 on August 8, 2015. He was given a replica drum set at the ceremony. This was because he is a big fan of the band Rush.

Johnson has helped with many charities. He has supported efforts to fight homelessness. He also travels with the United Service Organizations to visit troops.

In 2015, Johnson became a Special Assistant to the president of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Photography Career

After retiring from baseball, Johnson started a new career as a photographer. He studied photojournalism in college. Photography has always been a passion for him. He has taken pictures at NFL games. He has also photographed the rock band Rush on tour. He enjoys wildlife photography too.

Pitching Style

Johnson throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at the Seattle Mariners home opener at Safeco Field

In his best years, Johnson's fastball could reach 102 mph (164 km/h). He threw with a low, almost sidearm motion. His most famous pitch was his slider. It would break away from left-handed batters. It would break in towards right-handed batters. This pitch was very effective because it was fast, in the low 90s. Batters often thought it was a fastball until it suddenly moved. Johnson called his slider "Mr. Snappy."

As he got older, his fastball was around 96 mph (154 km/h). His slider was about 87 mph (140 km/h). He also threw a split-finger fastball and a sinker. Baseball player Adam Dunn once said that facing Randy Johnson was "hopeless." He said it felt like the ball would hit you in the neck, but then it would be a strike.

Key Achievements

Pitched his first no-hitter for Seattle on June 2, 1990.
10-time All-Star (1990, 1993–1995, 1997, 1999–2002, 2004).
Led the league in strikeouts nine times (1992–1995, 1999–2002, 2004).
Led the league in ERA four times (1995, 1999, 2001, 2002).
Won the Triple Crown of pitching in 2002.
5-time Cy Young Award winner (1995, 1999–2002).
4-time Warren Spahn Award winner (1999–2002).
Holds the record for most strikeouts in a relief appearance (16).
Holds records for highest strikeout per 9 innings ratio in a season and career.
Holds records for most games with 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15+ strikeouts.
Shared the World Series MVP Award with Curt Schilling in 2001.
Pitched a perfect game on May 18, 2004. He is the oldest pitcher to do so.
Named to Sports Illustrated MLB All-Decade Team (2009).
Has defeated every major-league team at least once.
Most strikeouts in a game by a left-handed pitcher (20 on May 8, 2001).
Set American League record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game by a left-handed pitcher (19).
4,875 strikeouts, most all-time for a left-handed pitcher. Second most ever.
212 games with 10+ strikeouts, most all-time for a left-handed pitcher. Second most ever.
Pitched an immaculate inning on August 23, 2001.
Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 with 97.3% of the vote.
Inducted into the Arizona Diamondbacks Hall of Fame in 2024.

Personal Life

Randy Johnson has four children with his wife, Lisa: Sammy, Tanner, Willow, and Alexandria. He also has another daughter, Heather Renee Roszell, from a previous relationship. He lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

The "Big Unit" Nickname

In 1988, Johnson was with the Montreal Expos. He was 6-foot-10-inch (2.08 m) tall. During batting practice, he bumped heads with his teammate Tim Raines. Raines then called him, "...! You're a big unit!" The nickname stuck with him throughout his career.

For much of his career, Johnson was the tallest player in MLB history. Other pitchers like Eric Hillman and Chris Young are also 6'10". After Johnson retired, Jon Rauch, who is 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m), became the tallest player.

Acting and Commercials

Johnson has appeared in TV shows and movies. He was a guest star in The Simpsons episode "Bart Has Two Mommies". He also played himself in the movie Little Big League.

He has been in many commercials. These include ads for Just for Men, Right Guard, and Nike. He also appeared in a commercial for MLB 2K9 and GEICO insurance. In 2022, he was in a funny commercial for DirecTV Stream with other baseball legends. He has also been a playable character in Backyard Baseball video games.