Thursday, June 4, 2009
In popular culture
Johnson guest starred in The Simpsons episode "Bart Has Two Mommies", which aired on March 19, 2006. In the episode, Johnson promotes left-handed teddy bears and is met by Ned Flanders at a left-handers convention.
Johnson appeared in the movie Little Big League, playing himself.
Johnson appeared in a Right Guard commercial where he fired dodgeballs at people representing odor.
Johnson also appeared in several commercials for Nike in 1998. The spots comedically portrayed him taking batting practice (swinging ineptly at balls from a pitching machine) in his hope that he would break Roger Maris' then-single-season record for home runs.
He made a cameo appearance in a commercial for MLB 2K9 with teammate Tim Lincecum.
Personal life
Johnson has four children with his wife Lisa: Sammy (born 28 December 1994), Tanner (born 5 April 1996), Willow (born 23 April 1998), and Alexandria (born 4 December 1999). He also has a daughter from a previous relationship, Heather Renee Roszell (born 1989). He is a resident of Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Johnson guest starred in The Simpsons episode "Bart Has Two Mommies", which aired on March 19, 2006. In the episode, Johnson promotes left-handed teddy bears and is met by Ned Flanders at a left-handers convention.
Johnson appeared in the movie Little Big League, playing himself.
Johnson appeared in a Right Guard commercial where he fired dodgeballs at people representing odor.
Johnson also appeared in several commercials for Nike in 1998. The spots comedically portrayed him taking batting practice (swinging ineptly at balls from a pitching machine) in his hope that he would break Roger Maris' then-single-season record for home runs.
He made a cameo appearance in a commercial for MLB 2K9 with teammate Tim Lincecum.
Personal life
Johnson has four children with his wife Lisa: Sammy (born 28 December 1994), Tanner (born 5 April 1996), Willow (born 23 April 1998), and Alexandria (born 4 December 1999). He also has a daughter from a previous relationship, Heather Renee Roszell (born 1989). He is a resident of Paradise Valley, Arizona.
San Francisco Giants (2009–present)
On December 26, 2008, Johnson signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants for a reported $8 million, with a possible $2.5 million in performance bonuses and another $2.5 million in award bonuses. It was revealed on April 7th, 2009 that Johnson would be the second starter in the San Francisco Giants starting rotation. On June 4, Johnson became the twenty-fourth pitcher to reach 300 wins, beating the Washington Nationals, 5–1, in Washington D.C.. He became just the sixth left-hander to achieve the 300 milestone and the fifth pitcher in the last 50 years to do it on his first attempt, joining Warren Spahn, Steve Carlton, Gaylord Perry and Tom Seaver.
Pitching style
In the prime of his career, Johnson's fastball had been consistently clocked over 100 mph (160 km/h), even as high as 102 mph (164 km/h). His signature pitch is a slider that breaks down and away from left-handed hitters and down and in to right-handed hitters. The effectiveness of the pitch is marked by its velocity being in the low 90s along with tight late break; hitters often believe they were thrown a fastball until the ball breaks just before it crosses home plate. Right-handed hitters have swung through and missed sliders that nearly hit their back feet. Johnson dubbed his slider "Mr. Snappy". In later years, his fastball declined to the 96 mph (154 km/h) range. Johnson also throws a split-finger fastball that behaves like a change-up, as well as sinker to induce ground-ball outs. His slider clocks at around 87 mph (140 km/h).
Due to his height, long arms, and side-arm pitching, Johnson's pitches appear as if they are coming from the first base side of the mound, easily deceiving left-handed hitters. This deceives the hitter into thinking that Johnson is pitching from closer than he actually is. However, with the decline in his fast ball's velocity, right-handed batters have had greater success in noticing his release point and hitting his pitches.
"Big Unit" Nickname
During batting practice in 1988, the 6'10" Johnson, then with the Montreal Expos, collided head-first with outfielder Tim Raines, prompting his teammate to exclaim, "You're a big unit!".[13] The nickname stuck.
Johnson was once the tallest player in MLB history. He is currently the second-tallest along with Chris Young of the San Diego Padres and Andrew Sisco of the Oakland Athletics. The tallest is 6'11" pitcher, and Johnson's former Diamondback teammate, Jon Rauch.
Accomplishments
· Pitched a no-hitter for Seattle on 06-02-1990 against Detroit
· 10-time All-Star (1990, 1993–95, 1997, 1999, 2000–02, 2004)
· Led the league in ERA four times (1995, 1999, 2001, 2002)
· Led the league in strikeouts nine times (1992–95, 1999, 2000–02, 2004)
· World Series co-MVP (Curt Schilling, 2001)
· 5 time Cy Young Award winner (1995, 1999–2002)
· Pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves (May 18, 2004)- oldest pitcher to do so in Major League history
· Collected his 300th win in a 5-1 victory against the Washington Nationals on June 4,2009
· Has defeated every Major League Team at least once
Jersey Number
For most of his career, Johnson has worn number 51, a number that in Seattle is now worn by All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro, who unlike most star players didn't have a preference for a jersey number, actually wrote a letter to Johnson upon arriving with the Mariners saying that he would never bring shame to the number.
On September 26, 1993, Randy Johnson wore jersey number 34 in tribute to Nolan Ryan, who retired after injuring himself in a start against the Mariners on Sept. 22.
Johnson wore number 41 while with the New York Yankees, since 51 was being worn by longtime Yankee Bernie Williams. In such cases, players with an attachment to their uniform number sometimes reverse the digits (as Carlton Fisk did when he switched from 27 to 72 after joining the Chicago White Sox). However, 15 was also unavailable to Johnson, because the Yankees have retired the number in honor of the late Thurman Munson. Johnson opted for 41, since he was 41 years old at the time he signed with New York. Upon returning to Arizona, Johnson reverted to his more familiar 51.
When Johnson signed with the San Francisco Giants, number 51 was being used by Noah Lowry. Lowry, however, gave up his jersey number so Johnson could maintain his signature number.
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963, in Walnut Creek, California), nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a left-handed Major League Baseball power pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. He pitched one of the 17 perfect games in Major League Baseball history.
The 6-foot-10 Johnson has been celebrated for having one of the most dominant fastballs in the game. He regularly approached, and occasionally exceeded, 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) during his prime. However, his signature pitch is a hard, biting slider. Johnson has won the Cy Young Award five times, second only to Roger Clemens' seven.
For all active pitchers through the 2008 season, Johnson is first in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.67 – which is also first for all starting pitchers in history) and hit batsmen (188 – third all-time), first in strikeouts (4,845 – second all-time), fourth in hits allowed per nine innings pitched (7.24 – 10th all-time), first in shutouts (37 – 57th all-time), third in wins (300 – 22nd all-time), eighth in ERA (3.27), third in wild pitches (104), and seventh in won-lost percentage (.648). His 4,845 strikeouts are also first all-time among left-handed pitchers.
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