Is Randy Johnson the best pitcher of all time?

[pinkgoat_13]

In Randy Johnson's amazing 20 year career he has accumulated 4,686 K's. 1,028 K's behind Nolan Ryan for #1 all time. He racked up 288 wins, with 3 seasons w/ 20+ wins. He has 5 seasons of 300+ K's in his 20 year career. 15 seasons w/ 10+ wins in a season. His career ERA is a great 3.25. In the steriod era, Randy Johnson has shined where most pitchers broke down.

[cbenson5]

The steroid issue very well might push Clemens below Johnson. However, I think Maddux is the best pitcher from this generation. His durability puts him just a shade above Johnson in my estimation. I think Johnson is fighting for a spot in the top five. My top five are:

1. Walter Johnson
2. Greg Maddux
3. Pete Alexander
4. Cy Young
5. Christy Mathewson

I have Johnson at 8'th just below Grove and Spahn. I've been considering moving him above those two. He might deserve to be above Mathewson as well. I don't see him cracking my top four however.

[PVNICK]

I would still have Grove ahead of Johnson for the greatest LHP of all time. I could be persuaded otherwise but Johsnon may not even be top 3 of his generation considering it includes Maddux, Clemens and Pedro.

[KCGHOST]

To paraphrase Bum Phillips, "He may not be the best, but it don't take long to call the roll".

[gman5431]

If we are going all time then you have to put Grove ahead of Johnson, in my opinion. I probably will take Spahnie ahead of Johnson as well. If i did an all-time cummulative list i think Randy Johnson would be somewhere around the 9-15 rank, and he definately would be the second Johnson on the list. He has had a great career, has accomplished pretty much anything that could be asked.

G Man

[STLCards2]

I have R. Johnson ranked 7th, ahead of Seaver and Spahn. Not to shabby.

[Seattle1]

Randy Johnson can be summed up with the old phrase: "total domination." He was definitely the best pitcher in the entire history of both the Seattle Mariners and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Anyone else remember the 2001 ASG at Safeco Field? Ichiro legged out an infield single against Johnson to open up the bottom of the 1st. That was a classic match-up for so many reasons.

[STLCards2]

Randy Johnson can be summed up with the old phrase: "total domination." He was definitely the best pitcher in the entire history of both the Seattle Mariners and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Anyone else remember the 2001 ASG at Safeco Field? Ichiro legged out an infield single against Johnson to open up the bottom of the 1st. That was a classic match-up for so many reasons.

Sorry, most of us don't remember obscure Ichiro Suzuki moments the way you do!:)

[PatTheBat5]

One must not forget Steve Carlton when naming great lefties.

[Old Sweater]

Like always it's just to hard to say for all time.

IMO<<<<<<< All the one's that have Johnson rated #1 and don't have Ryan in their top 20 would reverse the 2 pitchers on their list if Ryan had pitched against the smaller players with the larger strike zone in the early 20th century. Ryan had a better curve towards the end of his career from what you read and a 95mph fastball with movement works in any era with a bigger zone.

One thing for sure though. Randy Johnson was as intimidating as any pitcher was of any era among his peers.

[Wall-E]

He really is a great pitcher, and he will go down as one of the best ever.

However, his stint with the Yankees hurt his legacy a bit. :shhh:

[Danielh41]

With all the talk about left handed pitchers, I can't believe that nobody has brought up the greatest left handed pitcher who ever lived, Sandy Koufax. Yes, I hate the Dodgers, but Koufax was truly greatnesss on the mound.

[mtortolero]

Well, the best ten seasons in history regarding K/9IP are a good example about how dominant he was :
Rank Player (age that year) Strikeouts/9IP Year Throws
1. Randy Johnson* (37) 13.410 2001 L
2. Pedro Martinez (27) 13.205 1999 R
3. Kerry Wood (21) 12.582 1998 R
4. Randy Johnson* (36) 12.559 2000 L
5. Randy Johnson* (31) 12.345 1995 L
6. Randy Johnson* (33) 12.296 1997 L
7. Randy Johnson* (34) 12.119 1998 L
8. Randy Johnson* (35) 12.059 1999 L
9. Pedro Martinez (28) 11.779 2000 R
10. Randy Johnson* (38) 11.562 2002 L

[Seattle1]

What you have to understand is that The Big Unit can get a tremendous amount of velocity on a pitched baseball. Especially in his heyday.

[RockyC]

Walter Johnson is my #1 pick, but I rank Randy among my top five lefties of all-time.

1- Sandy Koufax
2- Lefty Grove
3- Randy Johnson
4- Warren Spahn
5- Steve Carlton

[gman5431]

Walter Johnson is my #1 pick, but I rank Randy among my top five lefties of all-time.

1- Sandy Koufax
2- Lefty Grove
3- Randy Johnson
4- Warren Spahn
5- Steve Carlton

I agree with your ranking but i prefer Grove over Koufax (although it is hard to argue against Koufax at all, just my personal preference) and i would flip flop Johnson and Spahn.

G Man

[STLCards2]

1. Lefty Grove
2. Randy Johnson
3. Warren Spahn
4. Steve Carlton
5. Carl Hubbell
6. Eddie Plank
7. Sandy Koufax
8. Whitey Ford
9. Tom Glavine
10.Rube Waddell

[Seattle1]

Randy Johnson has three wins in three starts since July 6!!! He now has 291 career wins!!! He only needs nine more wins for 300!!!

:hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper: