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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 38 · NOVEMBER 16, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #038 · STEROID ERA
Randy Johnson — 4,875
Strikeouts And The Bird
On March 24, 2001, Randy Johnson threw a fastball that struck a dove in mid-flight during a spring training
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL game. He still had a 2.49 ERA that year.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
HE WAS 6-FOOT-10, THREW 102 MPH, AND STRUCK OUT MORE BATTERS THAN ANYONE EXCEPT NOLAN RYAN.
4,875 Strikeouts. 303 Wins. 5 Cy Young Awards.
The Most Physically Imposing Pitcher In History.
RANDY JOHNSON CAREER K NOLAN RYAN ROGER CLEMENS
CY YOUNG AWARDS CAREER ERA ERA
FOUR-YEAR PEAK (1999-02)
Johnson struck out 4,875 batters — second all-time only to Nolan Ryan — across 22 seasons. He won 5
Cy Young awards and posted a career ERA of 3.29. From 1999 to 2002 he went 81-27 with a 2.48 ERA —
the most dominant four-year pitching stretch of the steroid era.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Atlanta Braves MAY 18, 2004
13 0 2 W 2-0
IP K HITS WALKS RESULT
Perfect Game at 40
THREW A PERFECT GAME AT AGE 40 — THE OLDEST IN HISTORY
Randy Johnson threw a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves on May 18, 2004 — at age 40 years, 11
months. He struck out 13 and walked nobody. He is the oldest pitcher in baseball history to throw a perfect
game. The final out was a groundout to second. When he walked off the mound, the Diamondbacks dugout
mobbed him. He was so large that half the guys bounced off.
ERA VS ERA 03
Greatest Pure Stuff In Baseball History — Johnson or Ryan?
RANDY JOHNSON NOLAN RYAN
CAREER K CAREER K
CAREER ERA VS NO-HITTERS
CY YOUNGS PITCHED UNTIL
5 Age 46
Ryan's 5,714 K is the record. Johnson was more efficient — 3.29 ERA vs Ryan's 3.19 (virtually identical).
Johnson had more Cy Youngs (5 vs 0). Ryan had more longevity and mystique. The honest answer: Johnson
was the better pitcher. Ryan was the more extraordinary phenomenon.
Who had better pure stuff — Johnson or Ryan?
RANDY JOHNSON — MORE EFFICIENT, MORE CY YOUNGS NOLAN RYAN — 7 NO-HITTERS, 46 YEARS OLD
TIE — DIFFERENT ERAS, DIFFERENT ANIMALS NEITHER — PEDRO AT HIS PEAK WAS BETTER THAN BOTH
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
MARCH 24, 2001 · SPRING TRAINING · TUCSON
During Spring Training In 2001, He Threw A
Fastball That Killed A Bird Mid-Pitch. On Camera.
On March 24, 2001, Randy Johnson threw a fastball during a spring training at-bat in Cactus
League play. A dove flew across the field directly into the path of the pitch. The ball hit the bird
directly, killing it instantly. Feathers exploded. The footage exists on YouTube. Johnson was
called for no pitch. He was mortified. He also went 21-6 that season with a 2.49 ERA and won
the Cy Young. The bird did not affect his performance.
I felt terrible about that. I'm an animal lover. It was an accident.
— RANDY JOHNSON
THE STAT VAULT 05
CY YOUNG AWARDS
CAREER STRIKEOUTS
4,875 5 Second-most in history behind Roger
2nd all-time behind Nolan Ryan. He struck
Clemens (7). Won 4 consecutive from
out 300+ in a season four times.
CAREER HEIGHT
AGE AT HIS PERFECT GAME
40 6'10" The tallest pitcher in MLB history. His
Oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game in
release point was closer to the hitter than
MLB history. May 18, 2004.
any pitcher before.
1 BIRD KILLED MID-PITCH
Spring Training 2001. The only documented in-game bird fatality by a pitched baseball.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Mark Grace
CHICAGO CUBS · 1988-2003
.303 BA · 2,445 HITS · 4 GOLD GLOVES
Most Hits Of Any Player In The 1990s. .303 Career BA. 4 Gold Gloves.
Forgotten.
Mark Grace had the most hits of any player in the 1990s — more than Gwynn, Jeter, or anyone else that
decade. He hit .303 for his career and won 4 Gold Gloves at first base. He played 16 seasons and never
made an All-Star team's starting lineup. He's not in the Hall of Fame and rarely makes any lists.
THE CONNECTION:
Grace had more hits in the 1990s than anyone. The 1990s are defined by home run hitters. Grace hit
singles and doubles and was better at it than everyone. Nobody cared.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Derek Jeter played 20 seasons in New York City. The Flip Play. Mr. November. 3,465 hits. The
most famous shortstop in baseball history.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.