LestersLegends.com

On the eve of the 2010 Hall of Fame class announcement,the Big Unit made big news of his own.

After dominating hitters for 22 seasons, Randy Johnson has retired. After becoming a member of the 300-win club, this was to be expected. Randy was easily one of the best pitchers of his era, and one of the finest lefties in baseball history.

He won 303 games, struck out 4875 batters, three a pair of no-hitters  and won five Cy Young Awards. The list of accolades is a mile long.

Whoever gets named to the Hall of Fame tomorrow will welcome Randy as a first ballot Hall of Famer in a few years.

Image Courtesy of Icon SMI

As if Randy Johnson needed any more ammunition to support his case for the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Well, he got another notch on his belt tonight as he became the 24th pitcher in Major League history to join the 300 Win Club.  Ironically, the last member of the club (Tom Glavine) was released yesterday by the Atlanta Braves.

Just how good was Randy?  Let’s take a look at the numbers.

300-164 Record
.647 Winning Percentage
3.28 ERA
4845 Strikeouts
100 Complete Games
37 Shutouts
Three 20+ Win Seasons
Fourteen 200+ Strikeout Seasons
Six 300+ Strikeout Seasons
4097-1/3 IP
597 Starts
5 Cy Young Awards
10 All-Star Appearances

Hall of Fame Yardsticks

As long as Randy Johnson’s name doesn’t come up in steroid talk, he is a first ballot Hall of Famer.  He is one of the best Lefthanded Pitchers in baseball history.

Here’s the list of 300 Game Winners:

Congratulations Randy.  Cooperstown awaits.

May 25, 1999

Hitters
Fred McGriff – 4 for 5, Double, RBI
Bret Boone – 4 for 5, Double
Alex Rodriguez – 3 for 5, 3 Runs, Double, RBI, Walk, SB
Kenny Lofton – 3 for 3, Run, Walk
Shannon Stewart – 3 for 5, Run, 2 RBIs
Damien Easley – 3 for 4, Run, Double, HR, RBI
Paul O’Neill – 3 for 4, Double, Triple
Tom Goodwin – 3 for 5, Run, RBI, SB
Royce Clayton -3 for 3, Run, RBI
Matt Mieske – 3 for6, 3 Runs, HR, 4 RBIs
Travis Lee – 3 for 4, Run, HR, 2 RBIs
Jose Hernandez – 3 for 4, Run, RBI
Richard Hildago – 3 for 5, 3 Doubles
Mike Piazza – 3 for 5, Run, Double, HR, 3 RBIs
J.T. Snow – 3 for 4, 2 Runs, Double, HR, 3 RBIs
Jeff Kent – 3 for 4, 2 Runs, Double, HR, 3 RBIs
Stan Javier – 3 for 5, Run, 2 Doubles, 2 RBIs, Walk
Scott Servais – 3 for 5, 2 Runs, Double, 2 RBIs
Darren Bragg – 3 for 4
Ken Griffey, Jr. – 2 for 4, Run, HR, 3 RBIs, Walk
Brian McRae – 2 for 3, Run, HR, 3 RBIs
Preston Wilson – 2 for 4, 2 Runs, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs
Mike Stanley – 2 for 4, Run, HR, 3 RBIs
Bill Mueller – 2 for 5, 3 Runs, HR, 4 RBIs, Walk
Butch Huskey – 2 for 5, 2 Runs, HR, 3 RBIs
Garrett Anderson – 2 for 4, 2 Runs, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs

Pitchers
Randy Johnson – W, GG, Shutout, 9 IP, 0 Runs, 6 Hits, 12 Ks
Omar Olivares – W, 8 IP, 1 Run 
Steve Parris – W, 7 IP, 1 Run, 5 Hits, 9 Ks
Charles Nagy – W, 7 IP, 1 Run, 5 Hits
Brian Rose – W, 6 IP, 1 Run, 3 Hits
Chris Brock – W, 6 IP, 1 Run, 4 Hits
Mike Oquist – W, 6-2/3 IP, 2 Runs, 2 Hits
Masato Yoshii – W, 6-2/3 IP, 2 Runs, 6 Ks
Brian Meadows – W, 6 IP, 2 Runs
Darryl Kile – ND, 7 IP, 0 Runs, 4 Hits, 5 Ks
Greg Maddux – ND, 7 IP, 6 Ks
Mike Hampton – ND, 9 IP, 1 Run, 5 Hits, 6 Ks
Dustin Hermanson – ND, 7 IP, 2 Runs, 8 Ks
Chad Ogea – ND, 6 IP, 2 Runs
Jim Abbot – ND, 6-2/3 IP, 2 Runs
Kevin Brown – CG, 8 IP, 1 Earned Run, 12 Ks

Once again Ryan Zimmerman did not waste any time taking care of his hitting streak.  He extended it to 29 games with a first inning Single.  He is 1 for 2 in the game and is currently hitting .348.

If Randy Johnson can hold on to his 3-2 lead he’s in line to win his 298th career game.

Wednesday, August 27th
Dustin Pedroia went 3 for 5 with 3 Runs, and a Grand Slam.  Carlos Delgado continued his torrid hitting going 3 for 4 with 2 Runs, 2  HRs, and 3 RBI.  Jason Bay had 4 RBI.  Rajai Davis went 4 for 5 with 2 Runs.  Kelly Shoppach (3 RBI), Aubrey Huff (3 RBI), Curtis Granderson (3 Runs), Andre Ethier, James Loney, Jody Gerut, Shin-Soo Choo, Melvin Mora, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, J.J. Hardy, Ryan Ludwick, Frank Thomas, Mark Teixeira, and Chris Iannetta each had 3 Hits.  Dan Uggla scored 3 Runs.  Brian Roberts, Emil Brown, Erick Aybar, and Magglio Ordonez each had 3 RBI.

Josh Johnson pitched a Complete Game allowing 1 Run on 4  Hits with 8 Ks to improve to 4-0 with a 3.12 ERA.  Matt Garza gave up 6 Hits in 7-2/3 scoreless Innings with 5 Ks to improve to 11-7 with a 3.53 ERA.  Jason Marquis went 7 scoreless Innings allowing 5 Hits to improve to 9-7.  Tim Lincecum gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits with 10 Ks to improve to 15-3 with a 2.43 ERA.  Could the Cy Young winners be from teams that finish 3rd and 4th in their divisions?  Roy Oswalt gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits to improve to 12-9.  Matt Harrison gave up 1 Earned Run in 6-2/3 Innings to improve to 6-3.  Paul Byrd gave up 2 Runs on 5 Hits in 6 Innings to improve to 9-11.  Randy Johnson gave up 3 Runs on 5 Hits in 7 Innings with 9 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Manny Parra gave up 1 Run in 6 Innings with 7 Ks, but got a no-decision.  Zach Duke gave up 2 Runs in 8 Innings with 6 Ks, but lost.  David Purcey gave up 1 Run on 5 Hits with 11 Ks, but lost.  Josh Fogg gave up 2 Runs in 6 Innings, but lost.  Brian Bannister gave up 2 Earned Runs in 6-2/3 Innings with 8 Ks, but lost.  Livan Hernandez gave up 2 Runs in 6-1/3 Innings, but lost.