Randy Johnson: A Legend On and Off the Field
Randy Johnson, renowned for his towering presence on the mound, has cemented his legacy as one of baseball’s most formidable pitchers. His career, studded with accomplishments such as five Cy Young Awards, 303 game wins, and leading the league in strikeouts nine times, is a testament to his dominance and endurance in the sport. Yet, it is his post-retirement activities that also reveal the depth of his character and commitment to various causes.
Johnson bid farewell to professional baseball after the 2009 season. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, "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." This period was marked by a significant shift in his priorities, focusing on family and personal endeavors.
One of Johnson’s notable post-retirement commitments was his involvement with USO tours from 2010 to 2019. "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,” he proudly recounted. This dedication emerged from a personal connection, as Johnson explained, "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."
Beyond his contributions to the military community, Johnson also made a unique foray into youth sports. In a memorable promotional campaign with Sizzler, he coached a youth baseball team comprising mostly of players aged six to eight. The experience was both nostalgic and invigorating for the former major leaguer. "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," he quipped. Johnson cherished the moments spent guiding the young players, noting, "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."
An anomaly in his era, Johnson managed to avoid major elbow issues, a common plight for pitchers today. Offering his perspective on the prevalence of injuries in modern baseball, he observed, "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." He elaborated, "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."
In his advisory role, Johnson imparted wisdom to emerging talents like rookie pitcher Paul Skenes. Despite the rigorous demands of the sport, Skenes has logged 92 innings across 15 starts this season, surpassing the 100-pitch mark seven times without exceeding 107 pitches in a single game. Encouraging resilience and ambition, Johnson advised, "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." He emphasized the importance of conditioning, "You just have to mold your body and your body needs to become accustomed to that kind of workload. That's all it is."
Johnson's reflections also extend to the evolving dynamics of the game, particularly with the introduction of the pitch clock. Expressing his support, he stated, "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."
Randy Johnson’s journey from a towering figure on the field to a dedicated family man and mentor exemplifies the enduring spirit of a true sportsman. His contributions, both in baseball and beyond, continue to inspire and resonate with fans and aspiring athletes alike.