Known as one of the most formidable pitchers in baseball history, Randy Johnson has left an indelible mark on the sport. Over his illustrious career, Johnson accrued five Cy Young Awards, 303 game wins, and led the league in strikeouts nine times.
Johnson's Retirement and New Endeavors
Johnson retired after the 2009 baseball season. Reflecting on his post-retirement life, he stated, "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." True to his word, Johnson focused on his family and personal endeavors after stepping away from the mound.
Among those endeavors was his active participation in USO tours, an initiative deeply personal to him. "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, went all over the world supporting our men and women," he shared. Johnson's participation stemmed from a friend's invitation: "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."
Supporting the Next Generation
Beyond his dedication to supporting the troops, Johnson took on a role close to his heart by coaching a youth baseball team in a promotional campaign with Sizzler. Describing the experience, he said, "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." Johnson found joy in the endeavor, commenting, "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."
Diving into the intricacies of today’s baseball landscape, Johnson shared his insights and advice with rookie pitcher Paul Skenes. Skenes, performing impressively this season, has logged 92 innings across 15 starts and has hit the 100-pitch mark seven times, not exceeding 107 pitches per game. Johnson’s advice for Skenes emphasized the importance of resilience and adaptation, "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."
Reflections on Modern Baseball
Johnson didn’t shy away from voicing his concerns about the current state of pitchers' health and efficiency. Notably, he pointed out the stark increase in Tommy John surgeries, comparing his era to today's game. "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 noted, baffled by the current injury rates. "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."
Johnson attributes some of these changes to the way pitchers manage their workload. "You just have to mold your body and your body needs to become accustomed to that kind of workload. That's all it is," he added, suggesting a need for pitchers to build more endurance over time.
One modern adaptation that Johnson supports is the introduction of the pitch clock, designed 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, approvingly.
Randy Johnson's career and post-retirement contributions reflect a deep passion for baseball and an enduring commitment to those around him, from young athletes to military personnel. His reflections offer a blend of nostalgia and pragmatic advice, illustrating the evolution of the sport while advocating for essential values in athletic performance and community involvement.