Randy Johnson: A Legacy Beyond the Mound
Randy Johnson, known as "The Big Unit," has cemented his legacy as one of baseball's most formidable pitchers. With five Cy Young Awards, 303 game wins, and nine league-leading seasons in strikeouts, Johnson's prowess on the mound is undisputed. Yet, his story extends far beyond his retirement after the 2009 season.
Post-retirement, Johnson redirected his focus toward his family and personal pursuits. "I retired after the 2009 season and in 2010, married and with my kids, [I was] just trying to give back time that I had been giving baseball," Johnson explained.
One significant endeavor Johnson undertook was participating in USO tours from 2010 to 2019, supporting American troops worldwide. "The one commitment I did have was when I got really involved in the USO tours. The first tour I went on [was in] 2010 and I went all the way to 2019, so for nine years, I went all over the world supporting our men and women," Johnson shared. His participation stemmed from a simple request: "That came about because a friend of mine ... was in charge of getting the celebrities or high-profile athletes and he asked me if I wanted to do it and I said I'd love to do it when I retire."
In addition to his work with the USO, Johnson found joy in coaching youth baseball. In a promotional campaign with Sizzler, he coached a team of youngsters between six and eight years old. Reflecting on this experience, Johnson said, "The whole premise was they weren't unfortunately a very good team, basically like 'The Bad News Bears' of the '70s and I'm playing Walter Matthau, if you will." Despite the team's initial struggles, Johnson found immense satisfaction in their resilience and enthusiasm: "It was really pretty cool to be out there and watch their effort and their excitement and their exhilaration and their camaraderie among one another."
Throughout his career, Johnson remarkably avoided major elbow issues, a feat that contrasts with the increasing number of Tommy John surgeries in modern baseball. "For every 15 Tommy John surgeries that are happening in today's game, there might've been one every year in my era, that I heard of," Johnson remarked. He attributes this disparity to the sheer workload pitchers undertook in his time: "They would throw 250-260 innings and 135 pitches a game, so I don't know why there are so many injuries in today's game, I really don't."
Johnson continues to influence new generations of pitchers, sharing his wisdom and experience. He recently offered guidance to rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, emphasizing the importance of stepping up and voicing one's capabilities: "If you want to be the pitcher that you're capable of being, you need to step up and show people what you're capable of doing and voice your opinion."
Skenes, who has logged 92 innings across 15 starts this season, has hit the 100-pitch mark seven times without exceeding 107 pitches in a single game. Johnson underscored the need for young pitchers to acclimate their bodies to the demands of the sport: "You just have to mold your body and your body needs to become accustomed to that kind of workload. That's all it is."
In recent discussions about modern baseball, Johnson has voiced his support for the pitch clock, a rule implemented to speed up the pace of games. "I think the big benefit is what it was meant to do is quicken the games up and I think that's good. I think it's better that pitchers get on the mound and pitch," he commented.
Randy Johnson's post-retirement activities and enduring influence on baseball illustrate his multifaceted legacy. From supporting military personnel to mentoring aspiring pitchers, Johnson continues to leave an indelible mark both on and off the field.