Randy Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Randy Johnson |
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Johnson in 2016
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 10, 1963 Walnut Creek, California, U.S. |
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| 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 | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2015 | ||
| Vote | 97.3% (first ballot) | ||
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963) is a famous American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1988 to 2009. He played for six different teams, but is best known for his time with the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Standing at 6 feet 10 inches tall, Johnson was the tallest player in MLB history when he started. This made him look very intimidating on the pitcher's mound. He was famous for his super-fast pitches, especially his powerful fastball and a tricky pitch called a slider. These pitches stayed effective throughout his long career. Even though he had some trouble controlling his pitches early on, Johnson became one of the best pitchers of his time. He led his league in strikeouts nine times and in earned run average (ERA) and wins four times each.
In 2001, Johnson and his teammate Curt Schilling were both named World Series MVPs. Johnson won three games in that series, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks win the 2001 World Series against the New York Yankees. In 2002, he won the pitching Triple Crown, which means he led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
Johnson's 303 career wins are the fifth most by a left-handed pitcher in MLB history. His 4,875 strikeouts place him second all-time, only behind Nolan Ryan, and first among left-handed pitchers. He struck out 300 batters in a season six times, which is an MLB record he shares with Nolan Ryan. Johnson was a ten-time All-Star and won the Cy Young Award five times. He is one of only two pitchers to win this award four years in a row (1999–2002). Johnson also pitched no-hitters in both the American and National Leagues.
Johnson played baseball for a very long time, which is rare for pitchers. His amazing fastball and slider pitches were still effective even when he was in his 40s. Four of his six seasons with 300 strikeouts happened after he turned 35. On May 18, 2004, when he was 40 years old, he pitched a perfect game. This means no opposing player reached base. He is still the oldest pitcher to do this. Johnson retired at age 46 and was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. Many people consider him one of the greatest pitchers ever.
Contents
- Early Life and College Baseball
- Professional Baseball Career
- Retirement and Hall of Fame
- Photography Career
- Pitching Style
- Accomplishments and Records
- Personal Life
- Acting and Appearances
- See also
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 in the Minor Leagues
After high school, the Atlanta Braves picked Johnson in the 1982 MLB draft, but he didn't sign with them. The Montreal Expos then drafted him in 1985. He played for several minor league teams before making it to the big leagues.
Montreal Expos (1988–1989)
Johnson made his first MLB appearance on September 15, 1988. He won his first game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished 1988 with a good record, but struggled in 1989. On May 25, 1989, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners.
Seattle Mariners (1989–1998)
Early Years and Improvement
When Johnson joined the Mariners, he still had trouble with control, leading the American League in walks for three years. In 1990, he pitched a no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers, showing his great potential.
Johnson credits a meeting with legendary pitcher Nolan Ryan in 1992 for helping him improve. Ryan suggested a small change in his pitching motion, which helped Johnson throw strikes more often. After this, Johnson became much more consistent. In 1993, he had an amazing season, winning 19 games and striking out 308 batters. He was the first Mariners pitcher to reach 300 strikeouts in a season.
At the 1993 All-Star Game, Johnson famously threw a fastball over the head of Philadelphia Phillies player John Kruk. This moment became a funny highlight.
Winning the Cy Young Award
In 1995, Johnson had an incredible season and won the American League Cy Young Award. 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 also helped the Mariners make a big comeback to win their division.
In the playoffs against the New York Yankees, Johnson played a huge role. He won Game 3 and then came back on only one day of rest to pitch in Game 5. He pitched three innings in relief, striking out six batters, and helped the Mariners win the series in a dramatic comeback.
Later Years with Seattle
Johnson missed much of the 1996 season due to a back injury. But he came back strong in 1997 with a 20–4 record and a personal best 2.28 ERA. He had two games where he struck out 19 batters in 1997.
Another memorable All-Star Game moment happened in 1997 with his former teammate Larry Walker. Walker, known for avoiding Johnson's pitches, jokingly batted right-handed against him after Johnson threw a pitch over his head. This made everyone laugh.
In 1998, Johnson was traded to the Houston Astros because his contract was ending, and the Mariners were not doing well. He had been a Mariner for almost nine years, which was his longest time with any team.
Houston Astros (1998)
Johnson played very well for the Astros, with a 10–1 record and a 1.28 ERA in 11 starts. He helped Houston win their division. However, the Astros lost in the playoffs that year.
Arizona Diamondbacks (1999–2004)
Johnson signed a big contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team that was only in its second year. He quickly led them to the playoffs. He won the 1999 NL Cy Young Award and the Warren Spahn Award as the best left-handed pitcher. He became one of only a few pitchers to win the Cy Young Award in both the American and National Leagues.
In 2000, Johnson won his second Cy Young Award. The Diamondbacks then got Curt Schilling, and these two star pitchers became the core of the team.
World Series Champions
In 2001, Johnson and Schilling led the Arizona Diamondbacks to their first World Series victory against the New York Yankees. They both shared the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. Johnson was incredibly dominant, winning five of Arizona's eleven playoff games. He is the last pitcher to win three games in a single World Series.
A very unusual event happened on March 24, 2001, during a spring training game. Johnson threw a fastball that accidentally hit and killed a dove flying across the field. This moment became one of his most remembered baseball stories.
On May 8, 2001, Johnson struck out 20 batters in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. He also pitched an "immaculate inning" on August 23, 2001, striking out three batters on just nine pitches.
In 2002, Johnson won the pitching Major League Baseball Triple Crown, leading the National League in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. He also won his fourth straight Cy Young Award. This was his fourth year in a row with 300 or more strikeouts, setting an MLB record.
Johnson was injured for most of the 2003 season. He hit the only home run of his career on September 19, 2003.
Perfect Game
On May 18, 2004, Randy Johnson pitched the 17th perfect game in MLB history. He was 40 years old, making him the oldest pitcher to achieve this. He struck out 13 batters in his 2–0 victory against the Atlanta Braves. This perfect game made him one of only a few pitchers to throw a no-hitter in both leagues.
On June 29, 2004, Johnson struck out Jeff Cirillo to become only the fourth MLB player to reach 4,000 strikeouts in his career. He finished the 2004 season leading the league in strikeouts with 290.
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.
Second Time with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2007–2008)
In January 2007, Johnson was traded back to the Diamondbacks. He missed much of the 2007 season due to another back surgery.
He returned in 2008. On June 3, 2008, Johnson struck out Mike Cameron to pass Roger Clemens for second place on the all-time strikeout list. He finished the season with 11 wins and recorded his 100th career complete game.
San Francisco Giants (2009)
On December 26, 2008, Johnson signed a one-year deal with his hometown San Francisco Giants. On June 4, 2009, he became the 24th pitcher to reach 300 wins in his career. He was the seventh left-handed pitcher to reach this milestone. Johnson was placed on the disabled list in July 2009 with a torn rotator cuff. He returned in September, pitching out of the bullpen. At 46, he was one of the oldest players in MLB.
Retirement and Hall of Fame
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| Randy Johnson's number 51 was retired by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015. |
On January 5, 2010, Randy Johnson announced he was retiring from professional baseball. The Seattle Mariners inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2012.
Johnson was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015, his first year of eligibility. The Arizona Diamondbacks retired his number 51 on August 8, 2015, meaning no other Diamondbacks player will wear that number. In 2024, Johnson was also inducted into the Arizona Diamondbacks Hall of Fame. The Seattle Mariners announced that they will retire Johnson's number in 2026.
Johnson has also done a lot of charity work, including many trips with the United Service Organizations (USO) to support military members. He also helps efforts to fight homelessness.
Photography Career
After retiring from baseball, Johnson started a second career as a photographer. He had studied photojournalism in college. He has taken photos for NFL games, a tour for the rock band Rush, and has done wildlife photography.
Pitching Style
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.
Accomplishments and Records
- Pitched his first no-hitter for Seattle on June 2, 1990.
- Was a 10-time All-Star.
- Led the league in strikeouts nine times.
- Led the league in ERA four times.
- Won the pitching Major League Baseball Triple Crown in 2002.
- Won the Cy Young Award five times (1995, 1999–2002).
- Won the Warren Spahn Award four times (1999–2002).
- Holds the record for most strikeouts in a relief appearance (16).
- Holds records for highest single-season and career strikeout rates.
- Holds records for most games with 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15+ strikeouts.
- Shared the World Series Most Valuable Player Award and Babe Ruth Award with Curt Schilling in 2001.
- Pitched a perfect game on May 18, 2004, becoming the oldest pitcher to do so.
- Has defeated every major-league team at least once.
- Has the most strikeouts in a game by a left-handed pitcher (20).
- Set the American League record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game by a left-handed pitcher (19).
- Has 4,875 career strikeouts, the most all-time for a left-handed pitcher and second most ever.
- Has 212 games with 10+ strikeouts, the most all-time for a left-handed pitcher and second most ever.
- Pitched an immaculate inning on August 23, 2001.
- Was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 with 97.3% of the vote.
Personal Life
Randy Johnson is married to Lisa and they have four children: Sammy, Tanner, Willow, and Alexandria. He also has another daughter, Heather Renee Roszell, from a previous relationship. He lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
"Big Unit" Nickname
Johnson got his famous nickname, "the Big Unit," in 1988. He was with the Montreal Expos when he accidentally bumped heads with teammate Tim Raines during batting practice. ..... The name stuck because of Johnson's impressive height.
For much of his career, Johnson was the tallest player in MLB history. After he retired, the title of tallest player went to Jon Rauch, who is 6 feet 11 inches tall.
Acting and Appearances
Johnson has appeared in several TV shows and commercials. 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 commercials for brands like Just for Men, Right Guard, Nike, GEICO, and Pepsi Max. In 2022, he appeared in a commercial with other baseball legends like Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez, where they parodied the movie Ghostbusters.
Johnson has also been a playable character in various Backyard Baseball video games.
See also
In Spanish: Randy Johnson para niños
