The Big Unit

Randall David Johnson retired from the Major League Baseball yesterday January 5th, 2010. He closes his application to the Hall of Fame with 303 wins, 3.29 ERA, 4,875 strikeouts, 5 Cy Young Awards, the best strikeouts per nine innings pitches, most shutouts, two no-hitters (one being a perfect game), 2001 World Series MVP, 10 All-Star selections, and a World Series Ring dated 2001.

I forgot to mention, he won four consecutive NL Cy Young Awards between 1999-2002, and he won the 2001 Babe Ruth Award, and he was the 1995 AL TSN Pitcher of the Year, and he’s won the pitching Triple Crown as well. The “Big Unit” made a change to the baseball with his towering 6’ 10” body on the mound and intimidating slider. Most people, especially the batters, will probably remember Johnson for his slider—arguably one of the toughest pitches ever thrown by any pitcher.

Or maybe people will remember him for his 102 mph fastballs? Whatever the case, Johnson was one of the top left-handed pitchers to ever pitch in the great American pastime. He pitched for six different teams; Expos, Mariners, Astros, Diamondbacks, Yankees, and the Giants.

Above all the great things that he has done, and all the questions that were asked during the press conference, I was hoping that the reporters would ask him one thing—“Can you explain what went through your mind on March 24, 2001 in the 7th inning, when you pitched a fastball that killed a bird?”

During this spring training game, Johnson beamed a pitch and a dove happened to fly by at the same moment the pitch was on its way to the batter—the bird fell instantly while the pitched veered off towards the right side of the umpire. This was one of the most bizarre and coincidental events I have ever seen in sports history. The pitch did not count and the bird did not live.

“The Big Unit” was always known for his cold-blooded attitude; he hit 188 batters in his career, which is third all time—and that does not include the dove. He will probably be remembered for keeping the batters in check too. But no matter what you remember Randall David Johnson for—he is undoubtedly a Hall of Famer. Congratulations to the Big Unit, he’s done it all.