Randy Johnson

Guide Note:

Randy Johnson is a five-time Cy Young Award-winning left-handed pitcher, currently playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hold the Major League record for most strikeouts by a left-hander, with over 4,600 and counting.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: September 10, 1963
2. Height: 6'10"
3. Best pitch: Fastball
4. 1988: Debuted with Montreal Expos
5. 5-time Cy Young Award Winner

A native of Walnut Creek, California, Johnson showed promise as a high school pitcher, and debuted with the Montreal Expos briefly in 1988 and 1989, before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 1989 in a deal involving Mark Langston. In his early years, the towering 6'10" left-hander exhibited severe control problems, leading the American League in walks every season between 1990 and 1992.

On the mound, Johnson is an intimidating presence, partly due to his height, and partly due to his aggressive and angry demeanor towards hitters. After a meeting with future Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, Johnson adjusted his delivery and soon became one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball. He won his first Cy Young Award as a member of the Mariners in 1995, and after signing a lucrative free agent deal with the recently constituted Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999, went on to win the Cy Young Award every year between 1999 and 2002, and led the Diamondbacks to a World Series victory over the New York Yankees in 2001.

In 2005, Johnson signed with the New York Yankees, pitching for the storied franchise through the end of the 2006 season. In 2007, the Yankees traded Johnson back to the Diamondbacks, and despite nagging back injuries and advancing age, is still a feared presence on the mound.