Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Big Unit Retires

Randy Johnson has announced his retirement from MLB.

"The Big Unit" pitched in 22 big league seasons with the Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks (twice), New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants.

His achievements are simply stunning to behold:

- 303 wins

- 4,875 career strikeouts (second only to Nolan Ryan)

- 5 Cy Young Awards (AL Cy Young in 1995 and NL Cy Young, 1999-2002)

- Led league in strikeouts nine times and struck out 300 or more batters five times

- Named to the All-Star team 10 times

- Threw a no-hitter in 1990

- Threw a perfect game in 2004

- Struck out 20 batters in a game in 2001. Fanned 19 batters in a game twice (1997)

- Named 2001 World Series co-MVP along with Curt Schilling

Last June, shortly before Johnson attained his 300th win, I wrote an article both celebrating and lamenting how he would likely be the last pitcher in MLB history to reach this mark.

The 6, 10 lefty will be a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2015.

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