By Sam Grigsby, PSO Director of Sports History
Jul 21, 2021



Randy Johnson ended his career as one of the most elite pitchers to play the game. He finished number two on the career strikeouts list behind Nolan Ryan at 4,875 total, earning him a spot in the exclusive four-man 4,000 Strikeout Club. The Big Unit’s path to greatness was unlike any of his fellow greats. Johnson created his own category as the only player to notch over 2,000 strikeouts for two different teams on this day in 2008. 

RANDY JOHNSON BECAME THE ONLY PLAYER WITH 2,000 Ks ON 2 TEAMS

Johnson was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1985 and made his debut three years later. After two seasons, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. He struck out 2,162 batters during his tenure there, winning one Cy Young award and leading the league in strikeouts four times. Later, he joined the D-backs for six seasons starting in 1999 and returned there in 2007 after a stint with the Yankees in ’05 and ’06. He pushed his strikeout total with Arizona to over 2,000 on July 21, 2008, earning his spot in history.

  • Randy Johnson 2,000 strikeouts

 

  • Johnson 2008 D-Backs highlights

 

  • Career highlights (1988-2009)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtERj3kYd6c

 

 

 

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