Photo courtesy of the Idaho Statesman/AP.
After 22 seasons, ace pitcher Randy Johnson has decided to retire. He is second on the all-time strikeout list (4,875), has a career record of 303-166, a World Series ring, two no-hitters, a perfect game, and ten-time All-Star.
But what many may remember him for is his personality. His shaggy hair, his height on the mound, his tenacity to go after hitters. His fastball and slider pitches were absolutely devastating to hitters' psyche. I doubt we'll see a pitcher of his dominance again soon or ever. He played for Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona, NY Yankees, and San Francisco, but his most memorable moments occurred in a Diamondbacks uniform (the 2001 World Series and his perfect game in 2004).
My favorite Randy Johnson moment had to be when he threw a little too high-and-tight on Larry Walker in an All-Star game . . . so Walker turned his batting helmet backwards and stepped across the plate to bat right-handed. And the two of them, sixty feet away from each other, kept laughing hard enough to have a tough time getting through the rest of the at-bat.
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