Randy Johnson's Post-Retirement Journey
Randy Johnson, known as one of baseball's most formidable pitchers, has built an impressive post-retirement life enriched with family, personal endeavors, and giving back to the community.
Johnson's illustrious career boasts a litany of accolades, including five Cy Young Awards, 303 game wins, and leading the league in strikeouts nine times. Despite the heavy workload of pitching, he remarkably avoided major elbow issues, a rarity in today's game.
The legendary pitcher retired after the 2009 season, redirecting his focus towards family and other passions. As Johnson stated, "I retired after the 2009 season and in 2010, married and with my kids, [I was] just trying to give back time that I had been giving baseball."
USO Tours: A Decade of Support
One of the most significant commitments Johnson took up was participating in United Service Organizations (USO) tours from 2010 to 2019. "The first tour I went on [was in] 2010, and I went all the way to 2019, so for nine years, I went all over the world supporting our men and women," Johnson said.
This dedication stemmed from his close friendship with a USO organizer who invited him to join the effort. "That came about because a friend of mine ... was in charge of getting the celebrities or high-profile athletes and he asked me if I wanted to do it and I said I'd love to do it when I retire," Johnson shared.
Mentoring the Next Generation
Johnson's transition from player to mentor has also been impactful. In a promotional campaign with Sizzler, he coached a youth baseball team, fondly comparing the experience to the 1970s movie "The Bad News Bears." "The whole premise was they weren't unfortunately a very good team, basically like 'The Bad News Bears' of the '70s and I'm playing Walter Matthau, if you will," he humorously remarked.
Reflecting on the experience, he noted, "It was really pretty cool to be out there and watch their effort and their excitement and their exhilaration and their camaraderie among one another."
Further extending his mentorship, Johnson shared insights and advice with rookie pitcher Paul Skenes, encouraging him to embrace the workload and challenges of professional baseball. "If you want to be the pitcher that you're capable of being, you need to step up and show people what you're capable of doing and voice your opinion," Johnson advised. "You just have to mold your body, and your body needs to become accustomed to that kind of workload. That's all it is."
A Changing Game
The evolution of baseball, particularly in terms of player health and game pace, hasn't escaped Johnson's notice. The veteran pitcher observed a significant increase in elbow injuries compared to his era, stating, "For every 15 Tommy John surgeries that are happening in today's game, there might've been one every year in my era, that I heard of. They would throw 250-260 innings and 135 pitches a game, so I don't know why there are so many injuries in today's game, I really don't."
Johnson also expressed support for the implementation of the pitch clock in modern baseball, believing it to be beneficial for the sport. "I think the big benefit is what it was meant to do is quicken the games up, and I think that's good. I think it's better that pitchers get on the mound and pitch," he said.
With his post-retirement activities, Randy Johnson continues to influence the sport he loves, contributing his expertise and passion to both the community and the next generation of players.