Hall of Famer Randy Johnson’s No. 51 will be retired by the Seattle Mariners during a pregame ceremony next season, the club announced Monday.Johnson threw the first no-hitter in Mariners’ history on June 2, 1990 — 35 years ago Monday — and in 1995 became their first Cy Young Award winner.The exact date of the ceremony will be announced after the 2026 major league schedule is finalized.Johnson, 61, went 130-74 with a 3.42 ERA across 10 seasons with the Mariners.”I’m happy that my contributions over the 10 years that I was there are being acknowledged now,” Johnson said via Zoom. “It’s been a long time, that’s for sure.Johnson enjoyed greater success with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He won four consecutive Cy Young Awards and a World Series Championship in 2001. Johnson, who was nicknamed “Big Unit” for his 6-foot-10 frame, fondly recalls his Seattle tenure. The 1995 season is one that Johnson remembers with fondness. The Mariners’ future in Seattle was cast into doubt when in September of that year, King County voters rejected subsidy taxes to build a new stadium.Simultaneously, the Mariners enjoyed a prosperous season on the field at the Kingdome, which culminated in reaching the AL Championship Series before falling to the Cleveland Indians. King County Council eventually approved funding for the new stadium.Johnson stated that, “looking back and seeing the Mariners’ story documented now, everything worked out.” “I’m just thankful that I was a big part of that and everybody else was a big part of it, and everything just kind of jelled for all the players.Johnson won his first Cy Young Award that year after going 18-2 and having a 2.48 ERA in 145 games. But Johnson didn’t hang around Seattle much longer; he was traded to the Houston Astros midway through the 1998 season.Johnson signed with the Diamondbacks as a free agent ahead of the 1999 campaign, and enjoyed some of the most successful seasons of his major league career across eight years in Arizona. Johnson was subsequently inducted into National Baseball Hall of Fame while wearing a Diamondbacks’ cap.Johnson stated that it was difficult for him to make the decision. But, statistically speaking, I performed better (in Arizona). If I could split up the plaque, and put on a bit of M and a bit of A.Johnson, however, is thankful for his time in Seattle and looks forward to his chance in the spotlight. It…
Try WordAi Free
2025-11-21 19:53:14
