The Big Unit retires

Randy Johnson and Nolan Ryan are the only two pitchers who has beaten every team in baseball at least once. Of course, Ryan did it when there was fewer teams. Johnson did it last year when he beat his old team Arizona.

And that’s why we’re making notation that Randy Johnson has decided to hang up the cleats. Sure we’re about a week late, but we wanted to give our thoughts on the man known to baseball fans as ‘the Unit’.

Mid to late 90’s until about the mid 2000s, this guy was flat out as dominating as a pitcher can be at this level, and as has been pointed out so many times; it was during an era where hitters were shelling everyone.

Johnson’s mullet, and his slider were what I remember as a kid. He also had those stilt leggys that could barely support his frame at first view. But it’s important not to forget the slider.

We’ll miss Johnson taking the hill, but if you were a fan of a left-handed hitter we won’t miss Johnson being the sole reason that guy was on the bench for 9 innings. Johnson was that good against lefties.

Just ask John Kruk.


-Randy Johnson’s lifetime statistics [Baseball Reference]