Randy Johnson, one of baseball's most formidable pitchers, left an indelible mark on the sport with a career studded with accolades and achievements. Known for his overpowering fastball and intimidating mound presence, Johnson collected five Cy Young Awards, an impressive 303 game wins, and led the league in strikeouts nine times.
After retiring following the 2009 season, Johnson shifted his focus to family and personal endeavors. Reflecting on this transition, Johnson remarked, "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."
His commitment to service and community did not end with his professional playing career. From 2010 to 2019, Johnson was actively involved in USO tours, visiting 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 involvement was spurred by a friend's suggestion, and he eagerly embraced the opportunity. "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.
Beyond his contributions to the military community, Johnson also participated in a unique promotional campaign with Sizzler, where he coached a youth baseball team. The team, comprised mostly of players between six and eight years old, bore a striking resemblance to the underdog squad from the ‘70s film, "The Bad News Bears." Johnson humorously likened his role to that of Walter Matthau's character, asserting, "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 challenges, Johnson found joy in their enthusiasm and camaraderie, 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."
Throughout his career, Johnson managed to avoid significant elbow issues, a feat that seems increasingly rare in modern baseball. Reflecting on the current prevalence of Tommy John surgeries, he stated, "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 attributed this discrepancy to differences in pitching workloads, "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."
His experiences have provided him a unique perspective, one that he recently shared with rookie pitcher Paul Skenes. Johnson's advice underscored the importance of resilience and self-advocacy in a pitcher's development, "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... You just have to mold your body and your body needs to become accustomed to that kind of workload. That's all it is." Skenes has already made a notable impact, logging 92 innings across 15 starts this season and hitting the 100-pitch mark seven times without exceeding 107 pitches in a single game.
Johnson, a proponent of the pitch clock in modern baseball, applauds its intention to speed up the 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 remarked.
Randy Johnson's journey from the mound to his myriad post-retirement commitments showcases a multifaceted individual dedicated to excellence, whether in sports, personal life, or community service. His legacy extends beyond his statistics, reflecting a deep commitment to giving back and influencing the next generation of baseball talent.