SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners are set to honor Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson by retiring his No. 51 jersey during a pregame ceremony next season. This announcement was made on Monday, and the ceremony will mark a significant tribute to Johnson, who was instrumental in the Mariners’ history.
Johnson, now 61, is celebrated for his remarkable contributions during his time with the Mariners, where he posted a record of 130-74 and maintained a 3.42 ERA over ten seasons. Notably, he pitched the Mariners’ first no-hitter on June 2, 1990, and in 1995, he earned the team’s first Cy Young Award. Speaking via Zoom, Johnson expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m happy that my contributions over the 10 years that I was there are being acknowledged now. It’s been a long time, that’s for sure.”
Although Johnson found even greater success with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he collected four straight Cy Young Awards and a World Series title in 2001, he holds fond memories of his time in Seattle. The towering left-hander, affectionately dubbed the “Big Unit” due to his imposing 6-foot-10 stature, recalls the 1995 season as particularly memorable. During that year, the Mariners faced an uncertain future when King County voters initially rejected the financial backing needed to construct a new stadium.
Despite the uncertainty, the Mariners enjoyed a stellar season at the Kingdome, culminating in their advancement to the AL Championship Series, where they were bested by the Cleveland Indians. This success, in turn, helped secure much-needed funding from the King County Council, ensuring the team’s continued presence in Seattle. “Looking back at it now and that story being documented by the Mariners, it worked out,” Johnson said. “I’m just thankful that I was a big part of that and everybody else was a big part of it, and everything just kind of jelled for all the players.”
1995 saw Johnson achieve 18 wins against 2 losses, with a 2.48 ERA during the 145-game season, along with his first of five Cy Young Awards. However, his time in Seattle came to an end in 1998 when he was traded to the Houston Astros mid-season. Johnson later joined the Diamondbacks as a free agent in 1999, enjoying eight triumphant years in Arizona. Consequently, his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame saw him don a Diamondbacks cap.
“To me, it was a difficult choice,” Johnson commented, “But, it was the right choice because statistically, I did more (in Arizona). Now if I could split the plaque and put a little bit of an M and a little bit of an A.” Despite this, Johnson holds deep appreciation for his years with the Mariners and eagerly anticipates the upcoming ceremony. This event will be distinct from the No. 51 jersey retirement planned for right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, scheduled for August 9.
Suzuki, who arrived in Seattle in 2001, three years following Johnson’s departure, also sported the No. 51 jersey. Johnson entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015, while Suzuki’s induction is set for July 27. The retiring of Johnson’s number will mark it as the fifth such honor in Mariners’ history, joining the ranks of Ken Griffey Jr. (No. 24), Edgar Martinez (No. 11), and Suzuki. Additionally, Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 has been retired across all Major League Baseball teams.
Regarding the timing of the ceremony, Johnson noted, “I know the significance of Ichiro and his accomplishments, and I didn’t want to interfere with his Hall of Fame induction this year or his number retirement this year. And so, the one contingent factor I had was if this was going to happen that I didn’t want to take away anything from his deserving day.”