Randy Johnson To Retire

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

Definitely a great career. HOF lock.

The man was scary to face.

[SPTO]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

The best power lefty of his generation and one of the best pitchers PERIOD. It's amazing though how great the Ks record as Johnson finished under one thousand strikeouts below Nolan Ryan.

I don't think we'll ever see another pitcher the way the game is played today that's gonna even come close to Johnson much less Ryan.

[ryan36]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

I have a picture of me and my older brother from 1991 or 92 of Randy Johnson kneeling with us in the Kingdome outfield.

[Coug00]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

The best power lefty of his generation and one of the best pitchers PERIOD. It's amazing though how great the Ks record as Johnson finished under one thousand strikeouts below Nolan Ryan.

I don't think we'll ever see another pitcher the way the game is played today that's gonna even come close to Johnson much less Ryan.

IMO, Randy is the best power pitcher in the history of the game. He averaged more than a strikeout per 9 innings than Ryan, while facing almost exclusively right-handed hitters. The difference is that Nolan threw over 1200 more innings in his career than Randy.

Unless the game reverts back to the way it used to be, I agree we'll never see another pitcher throw 5,000+ innings and 5700+ K's like Ryan did.

[MassNole]

Re: Randy Johnson to announce retirement tonight?

IMHO the best LHP of all time not named Steve Carlton.

[yankeesgiants]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

And his HoF clock officially starts ticking.

5 years from today he will be getting a call to write that speech.

[TheLetterZ]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

Does he wear a Mariners' hat or a Diamondbacks' cap on his Hall plaque?

I remember him best from his Seattle years, but it's tough to argue with his Arizona performance.

[Coug00]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

Does he wear a Mariners' hat or a Diamondbacks' cap on his Hall plaque?

I remember him best from his Seattle years, but it's tough to argue with his Arizona performance.

Tough question. I think he's most memorable from his Seattle days, but his best years were easily in Arizona. Tough to argue against Arizona with 4 Cy Youngs and a WS Title.

[rsox]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

Randy was part of probably the two funniest moments in All Star game history. When he took the mound you knew you might see history whether it was a no-hitter (which he threw 2) or a 19 strikeout performance.

Whether he goes into the Hall of Fame wearing a Mariners cap or a Diamondbacks or whoever, one thing is certain--he won't be wearing a Yankees a Cap.

[Seahawk76]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

I was one of the first people to welcome the Big Unit to Seattle after he was traded from Montreal. I was sitting at the bar in Sneakers (a restaurant across the street from the Kingdome) and Randy Johnson came in with a couple of other Mariners pitchers and sat next to me at the bar and ordered lunch. I only recognized him because his picture was in the sports section of the newspaper that day because of the trade. I said hi and welcomed him to Seattle and we talked for a minute or so.

The newspaper article had talked about his fastball and how wild he was and his stats with Montreal were nothing special so I really didn't expect much from him at the time. I didn't even ask for his autograph. I'm glad I was wrong and got to see him pitch live many times. In his prime he was the most dominating and intimidating pitcher I've ever seen. I even got to watch him go mano a mano against Nolan Ryan in the Kingdome and they both had extra pop in their fastball that night trying to outdo each other.

I really hope he goes into the HOF as a Mariner.

[keRplunK]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

I remember only going to games Johnson pitched growing up, some of my best sports related memories. The last game I remember vividly was when he struck out 19 batters and McGwire hit a near 500 foot home run, and he lost. Nothing like going to a game and thinking the pitcher might strike out nearly every batter. I expect him to go in as a Diamondback.

[mattlanta]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

Randy's one of my favorite pitchers of all time. He's probably the most electric pitcher in the history of the game.

[dorismary]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

The Unit was nasty mullet and all , I can only imagine what it was like too see his heat coming at you as he was so tall on the mound what a advantage .
I was sad he went to the Yanks so late in his career because he was better then that.
Still remember him hitting that bird with a pitch and it exploded .
Gotta be first ballot I would say a Ms hat

[rsox]

Re: Randy Johnson To Retire

He won 34 games as a Yankee. Not bad for a couple years.