Randy Johnson Reflects on Storied Career and Active Retirement
Randy Johnson, known as one of the fiercest pitchers in baseball history, boasts an impressive array of achievements, including five Cy Young Awards, 303 game wins, and leading the league in strikeouts nine times. These accolades underscore his dominance on the mound, a legacy that remains formidable to this day.
Johnson, who retired after the 2009 baseball season, shifted his focus to family and personal endeavors post-retirement. He 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."
USO Tours and Giving Back
One of Johnson's significant post-retirement commitments was participating in 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," Johnson shared. His involvement with the USO tours started when a friend, responsible for recruiting celebrities and high-profile athletes, invited him to join. Johnson readily accepted, saying, "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."
Coaching and Community Engagement
In a notable promotional campaign with Sizzler, Johnson took on the role of coaching a youth baseball team comprised mainly of players aged six to eight years old. Reflecting on the experience, Johnson likened it to the classic film "The Bad News Bears," stating, "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 initial challenges, Johnson found fulfillment in their journey, observing, "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, having avoided major elbow issues throughout his illustrious career, has offered insights into the evolving landscape of baseball, particularly concerning pitcher health and workload. He noted the stark contrast in the prevalence of Tommy John surgeries between eras: "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 recalled the rigorous demands placed on pitchers in his time, "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."
When advising rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, who has logged 92 innings across 15 starts this season, Johnson emphasized the importance of adapting to workload demands. Skenes, who has hit the 100-pitch mark seven times and never exceeded 107 pitches in a single game, received a significant piece of advice from Johnson: "You just have to mold your body and your body needs to become accustomed to that kind of workload. That's all it is."
On the topic of the pitch clock introduced to expedite games, Johnson expressed his approval, "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." His support for the pitch clock aligns with his broader philosophy of maintaining the pace and integrity of the game.
Legacy and Influence
Despite stepping away from the professional arena, Randy Johnson's influence on the sport remains significant. His career, marked by endurance and excellence, continues to inspire young pitchers and players striving to leave their mark. His post-retirement activities, from the USO tours to coaching young athletes, reflect a commitment to giving back and supporting the next generation, both within and beyond the baseball community.