Above: Two Pacific Northwest legends of my childhood in a 30-second burrito: Eagle Hardware & Garden, and Randy Johnson.
The Seattle Mariners are my adopted pro baseball team as we don’t have one here in Portland. As such, I grew up rooting for the M’s hardcore.
I remember when the team made it to the playoffs in ’95 and simply tired out against the Cleveland Indians. Randy Johnson helped them get there, especially with his complete game in the one-game playoff against the Angels and pitching relief in extra innings of Game 5 of the ALDS against the Yanks.
My first Mariner game that I ever saw in person was in 1997, a duel between The Big Unit and Charles Nagy of Cleveland. It was an exciting pitchers’ duel that saw our M’s come out on top 1-0. I’ll never forget seeing how overpowering RJ looked in person.
Of course, he departed Seattle in 1998 and I remember hearing the news over a small radio my parents had bought me. I was messing around with Legos and heard Dave Niehaus announce that Randy Johnson had been traded to Houston for Freddy Garcia, Carlos Guillen and a player to be named later.
The Big Unit would move from team to team over the years, but he would continue to dominate. I was particularly thrilled to see him win it all with Arizona in 2001, and I was ecstatic when he threw a perfect game in ’04. I seriously hoped he would threaten Nolan Ryan’s strikeout record but it wasn’t meant to be. A couple of days ago, Randy Johnson said goodbye to the game of baseball…it goes without saying he left a legacy all his own.
When he made the announcement he was walking away from the game after 22 years, images of the game I went to in 1997 flashed through my mind. They’re much more vibrant now, and I’ll make sure not to forget them.
I hope Randy Johnson enters the Hall of Fame and does so as a Mariner. He and Griffey put Seattle on the baseball map.
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Comments ( 3 )
A “quality pitcher,” no,,,,,,,,? Mr. Johnson was good 4 the game and good 4 the “Mariners.” So “sad” to see him go,,,,a Hall of Famer “for sure!”
John Stevens added these pithy words on
Jan 07 10 at
10:02 am
Talk about timing! I was out in the garage the other day and opened one of your boxes of “stuff” to see what it was and guess what? Lo and behold I pulled out the Mariner baseball that we got there at the game! I smiled as I thought about the fun time we had up there with Don Blumenthal.
Think I could make a few bucks if I forge Randy’s signature and put it up on Ebay?
Love ya kiddo!!
Dad added these pithy words on
Jan 07 10 at
10:43 am
I loved watching Johnson on the hill. His appearance against John Kruk in the All Star game where Kruk just stood in the corner of the batter’s box cowering still makes me laugh.
Jason added these pithy words on
Jan 07 10 at
2:04 pm
