Randy Johnson: A Legacy Beyond Baseball
Randy Johnson, known for his towering presence on the mound and his formidable pitching skills, has left an indelible mark on the world of baseball. With a career that includes five Cy Young Awards, 303 game wins, and leading the league in strikeouts nine times, Johnson's impact on the sport is undeniable. Despite a series of accomplishments that would be hard for any pitcher to match, Johnson's journey did not end when he retired after the 2009 baseball season.
Post-retirement Commitment
Following his retirement, Johnson chose to focus on family and personal endeavors. "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 reflected. His commitment to family time was evident, but so was his desire to give back in other ways.
From 2010 to 2019, Johnson participated in USO tours, supporting U.S. troops around the world. "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 shared. Johnson's participation in these tours was inspired by a friend who was in charge of recruiting celebrities and high-profile athletes for the cause. "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," Johnson explained.
Giving Back Through Coaching
In addition to his USO work, Johnson also got involved in youth baseball. In a promotional campaign with Sizzler, he coached a team of young baseball players, most of whom were between the ages of six and eight. Johnson compared the experience to the classic film, "The Bad News Bears." "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 said, adding, "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."
Insights on Modern Baseball
Johnson's career was notable not just for his accolades but also for his relative lack of major injuries, particularly elbow issues. "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 observed. This disparity puzzles him, given that pitchers in his day often threw significantly more pitches per game. "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," he remarked.
When it comes to modern pitching, Johnson has shared his wisdom with up-and-coming players like rookie pitcher Paul Skenes. "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 advised, adding, "You just have to mold your body and your body needs to become accustomed to that kind of workload. That's all it is." Indeed, Skenes has already shown resilience, having logged 92 innings over 15 starts this season and reached the 100-pitch mark seven times, yet never throwing more than 107 pitches in a single game.
Johnson is also a supporter of the pitch clock in modern baseball, which aims 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 stated.
Through his post-retirement activities and his ongoing influence on the game, Randy Johnson continues to be a significant figure both on and off the field. His commitment to family, service, and the future of baseball exemplifies the enduring legacy of one of the sport's greats.