The Big Unit retires, what a wonderful career......46 years old and pitched in '09

[DainBramaged]

Randy Johnson looked so awkward on the mound early in his career, that shaggy hair dangling down his neck as he fired a blazing fastball in every direction but the strike zone.
Now, after 22 major league seasons, The Big Unit is walking away from baseball as one of the game's greatest pitchers.

The 6-foot-10 Johnson announced his retirement on a conference call Tuesday, a decision that had been expected from the overpowering left-hander who reached 300 wins last June.

"I really wanted to go out on my terms," Johnson said. "I just feel like there's not a lot more for me to do in this game. I just think it's a natural progression when you play this long. Eventually you have to say it's time."

A five-time Cy Young Award winner, the 46-year-old Johnson accomplished just about everything in his remarkable career that a player hopes for in baseball.

He owns a World Series ring and co-MVP honors, and was a 10-time All-Star. He threw two no-hitters, including a perfect game, and ranks second on the career strikeout list.

Johnson finishes with a record of 303-166 and 4,875 strikeouts in 4,135⅓ innings for Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona, the New York Yankees and San Francisco. His strikeouts are the most by a left-hander and second to Nolan Ryan's 5,714.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/giants/2010-01-05-randy-johnson-retires_N.htm

[Captain Hilts]

1. I LOVE the Big Unit. Especially when he was pitching against Atlanta. nt

[Burma Jones]

2. HOF in his first year of eligibility.......

He's so old, they had better put him in quick.......

[Zomby Woof]

3. Great pitcher, but a real asshole

Pretty much purposely threw his last half season in Seattle away just to force a trade. With that kind of unprofessionalism, I was not sorry to see him or his greasy mullet go.

A colossal jerk from the get-go, even when he did win games for the M's. Great pitcher, but never one of my favorite Mariners. The fans knew that "Big Unit" actually was a euphemism for Big Dick.

[Pool Hall Ace]

4. Aw, that's a shame. I had a crush on him.

Then again, most of my crushes turn out to be dicks. :(

[DainBramaged]

5. No matter, he's IN at the HOF, you don't have to be a minister, just good

[Zomby Woof]

6. Never said he wouldn't be in the Hall

Nor did I say he shouldn't be. Are all Yankees fan this dense?

[DainBramaged]

8. (sigh) your insults are not taken lightly

[Mojambo]

7. Best lefthander of all-time.

I was a huge fan when he was with Seattle.

It was fucking electric in that dome when he pitched. Awesome times.

[rurallib]

9. HMMMM - I'd go with Koufax as the greatest lefty

Johnson a solid #2 though.
Didn't he knock his own tooth out due to the strain of his follow through?