USC’s Randy Johnson becomes third Trojan enshrined in Cooperstown

USC Trojan great Randy Johnson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, becoming the third Trojan to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

“So many of the reasons I was inducted into the Hall of Fame are long gone now,” Johnson said. I no longer have a fastball. I no longer have a bad mullet. And my scowl is long gone. I’m so happy to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and be in the greatest fraternity of all time, and [thanks] to you, the fans, for sharing this great moment with me.”

Johnson, a left-handed pitcher, joins fellow Trojans, New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver (1992) and Toronto Blue Jays front office executive Pat Gillick (2011), in the Hall of Fame.

Seaver (98.84) has the highest voting percentage of all time. Johnson was elected to the Hall with a voting percentage of 97.3.

Class acts

Johnson enters the Hall of Fame as an Arizona Diamondback along with pitchers Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and infielder/outfielder Craig Biggio.

Known as the “Big Unit,” Johnson had a 22-year career in the big leagues. Over those two decades, he was named to 10 All-Star teams, winning a Most Valuable Player award in the 2001 World Series and five Cy Young Awards, tossing a perfect game and winning 303 games with the Expos, Mariners, Astros, Diamondbacks, Yankees and Giants. He is one of only five pitchers to toss no-hitters in both leagues.

Standing 6-foot-10, Johnson threw a blazing fastball, a devastating slider and flashed a fiery demeanor, taming hitters in both leagues after being drafted in 1985 by the Montreal Expos.

Johnson was traded to the Mariners in a five-player deal in 1989. He went 7-9 with a 4.40 ERA in 22 starts that year, but hit his stride in 1990 as he won 14 games and made his first All-Star team. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 1995 with the Mariners and four straight National League Cy Young Awards with the Diamondbacks from 1999 to 2002. Johnson went on to lead his league in ERA four times and in strikeouts nine times. He currently stands as baseball’s all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings (10.6), and his 4,875 strikeouts rank second behind Nolan Ryan and first among left-handers.

He finished his career in 2009 with the Giants when he won his 300th game. He finished with a career 3.29 ERA with 4,875 strikeouts. Johnson’s career highlight came in 2001 when he led the Diamondbacks to the World Series title in seven games over the Yankees. Johnson shared World Series MVP honors with teammate Curt Schilling after going 3-0 in the fall classic.

Johnson pitched for the Trojans from 1983-85, with his best year coming as a senior in 1985. He led the team that year with 118.1 innings pitched, 99 strikeouts and six starts.