Randy Johnson's Forgotten Run of Dominance

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Many remember his heroics for the Mariners. Many remember his World Series win with Arizona. But we all tend to forget an unbelievable two-month stretch Randy Johnson had with the 1998 Houston Astros.
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00:00 - 00:51 Introduction
00:52 - 01:43 The 90's Astros
01:44 - 03:41 Randy in Seattle
03:42 - 06:25 Blockbuster Trade
06:26 - 08:26 NLDS Disaster
08:27 - 10:18 The Trade Aftermath
10:19 - 12:34 Conclusion / Today's Sponsor
#mlb #astros #jomboy

[@dvon1097]

When Randy was 20 he looked 40, when he was 40 he looked 40, now he's 60 and he looks 40

[@kiowastew]

All hail The Mullet

[@fioredeutchmark]

Larry David is basically the same he looked 60 at 35 and now looks 60 at 75. Men can effectively frontload their age 😂

[@pringlescan81]

His face reached an age very quickly and was like “we’re good here”

[@TheBlackWaltz]

Rick Flair and Hulk Hogan had a similar thing going on. They just always looked old. There are pictures of them as teenagers and they look like they're in their 30s.

[@brettrossi034]

@@TheBlackWaltz agree with this wholeheartedly!

[@ProofintheDoof]

The way Randy stared at hitters after striking them out was my favorite thing ever. Most intimating pitcher of our time

[@bigjared8946]

He was intimidating *after* he learned control. He was a wild man his first few years and that must have been legitimately terrifying.

[@fenixchief7]

You were very likely to get intimate with a baseball when Randy was pitching, thats for sure.

[@rocknrallsoul94rockero4]

Fun fact: Freddy Garcia who was traded for Johnson later actually beat the Astros in the 2005 WS

[@dylanwelter1508]

The MLB power pros theme in the background of this video so great didn’t think anybody remembered that game

[@robertjackson9333]

Glad I’m not the only one who remembered those guitar licks 😂

[@blaisecampbell9722]

Never ever sick of the amazing soundtrack no matter how much of the series I play

[@justinpotter3085]

Randy could’ve won a couple more cy young awards if he had any run support his last few years in AZ because his ERA was less than 2 but would lose many games he started by scores of 1-0, 2-1, etc. his stats were so good, but since the team couldn’t score, it effected his standing for awards. It’s nice when people mention him like here. He was an amazing pitcher and I’m glad I got to watch him play in AZ.

[@johnjohnsonjohn]

1 more CYA in 2004, maybe, although there's a solid argument for Clemens. Pitcher wins is a bad stat

[@tatevancleve1802]

Yup I was lucky to see alot of randy Johnsons starts from 2001-2004 & so many starts he would pitch 8-9 innings giving up 1-2 runs & still lose. That's how he ended up winning a cy young with only 16 or 17 wins. But I think he won 4 straight with the d-backs & only missed one season.

[@rustyshackelford]

I'll never forget how pumped my dad was when the Astros signed Randy Johnson. It was a late move so most people found out about it early in the morning. ..."those jerseys" are 🔥

[@Stg44guy]

Jolly using the MLB Power Pro 2007 music is absolutely amazing. Please make a video on that amazing game!!!

[@andrewremelius434]

Yes! Needs to happen

[@Rubberfooted]

08 is the greatest baseball game EVER

[@christiancox972]

i recognized it immediately! glad to see it still has its fans! i still play it to this day. the japanese got a bunch of versions of it-- iiuc, they're still making them for the japanese market!

[@Bikegod1]

​@@Rubberfooted mvp baseball 05 no debate

[@AlexAuldron]

I had that moment where I said "Randy Johnson played for the Astros?" then remembering seeing that run as it happened. I forget how dominate this run was. Thanks for the nostalgia!

[@siriusblack7714]

Astros have had so many old legendary pitchers now that i think about it. Nolan, randy, clemons, petite, verlander

[@bcourt4723]

MLB power pros audio. Chef’s kiss.

[@astrosfan5288]

I remember I was about 10 when he came over to the Astros. I still think it’s one of his best performances for a second half of a season.

[@josephpretorius8607]

That Dbacks rotation was scary with Johnson and Schilling

[@levisguy53]

so glad they beat the Skankees in the WS!

[@jaredmenard7645]

Schilling was even better than Randy that year, crazy as that sounds!

[@CharmCityGamer]

Ah the Big Unit. The greatest left-hander of all time in my opinion. Thanks Jolly!

[@patricknoonan3610]

Who had the better slider. Johnson or cone. Or is it a tie? Each had one type of (near) unhitable slider.

[@CharmCityGamer]

@@patricknoonan3610 I'd say Randy. Mr. Snappy was filthy.

[@waxknucklebearingjuice5592]

And it started out above your head and in the next county over... then breaks your right toe.

[@ILoveMisty1985]

Randy remembered his two months in Houston, as he cited those as his most dominant stretch after he won his 300th game and later in his Hall of Fame speech. Unfortunately the fact that Randy continued his postseason losing streak to go along with the Astros getting booted out in the Division Series so unceremoniously probably led to the dominant stretch being forgotten. Also it seems Randy never forgotten the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Sterling Hitchcock and the Padres, as he would face Hitchcock three times in the two ensuing seasons of 1999 and 2000 and won all three starts. It was of little consolation to the Astros as Randy was with the Diamondbacks in those years, but I'll bet it felt good to the Big Unit.

[@jaredmenard7645]

Randy actually was even better that second start. Spiers had a bad error, the team had a few that game 4. Randy got the loss technically, but it wasn't his fault. Now game 1, that was an unfortunate pitcher's duel that Randy barely lost.

[@ralphwiggum9811]

On a side note of the vid, I LOVE the MLB Power Pros 2008 game music in this vid haha. I got instant flashbacks to my childhood

[@scrubzrus9213]

Really, REALLY appreciate the PowerPros music! Legendary games!

[@RM-TheOctoroon]

Making me feel old. I was almost in my 30s when that came out. Lol

[@papaJBD]

It was so familiar I was wracking my brain trying to remember where it was from! Classic game

[@blaisecampbell9722]

Underrated game even better soundtrack

[@SamtheBravesFan]

I went to a Braves game in the middle of that Johnson Astros run. He outdueled Greg Maddux, who was tagged for three homers from Biggio, Bagwell and Sean Berry. Andruw Jones hit a homer off of Billy Wagner in the 9th to make it 4-2 but that was it.

[@collateral1123]

I remember that year for the Astro’s. I was 20 and Randy was so dominating for Houston. When they lost in the playoffs he called the killer bees the killer flea’s. 😂

[@adrianbautista2308]

How about that 2008 second half? I remember CC, Teixeira, and Manny going off after getting traded, but I didn't realize just how valuable they were. What a great season.

[@DrWhite006]

I was sitting by the bullpen watching him warm up the first time he pitched in Houston. Standing next to his 6'10" self was the 6'8" Scott Elarton. The two tallest pitchers I'd ever seen, now playing for the same team.

[@benignobrionesiii]

I remember that trade. I was so excited. Unfortunately they weren't able to do anything with that roster they had. But I went to that first game Randy Johnson pitched in the Astrodome for the astros. The crowd was psyched.

[@michaelyentch7320]

That 1998 Padres team is the reason for Petco Park now

[@SirJoelsuf1]

Love how the Big Unit was in his late 30s when he was with the D Backs too. I mean Pedro Martinez will always be my favorite pitcher of all time, but Randy Johnson and his Mr. Snappy 92 mph slider that moved more than most curve balls was just insane. And that man was more intimidating than ANY of the numerous pitching aces in the late 90s/early 00s.

[@TStizzle19]

Wasn't forgotten by me and I'm only 25. One of my favorite players of all time and an absolute legend on the mound

[@OGDeepStroke]

My mom and i met Randy when we lived in Tucson, he came into her business and everyone including myself knew who he was, the DBacks just won the series. She immediately bombed the conversation with him by saying “wow you’re tall”.

[@justingerald]

Some of us remember Sterling Hitchcock very well, thank you

[@mikeyf7039]

Johnson, Verlander, Clemens, RYAN. Scott, Framber, Keuchel, Reynolds, Hampton, Lima, Oswalt. Wagner, Lidge, Dotel, Abreu, Pressly… Astros always have had *SOLID* pitching

[@Matts_Smirkingrevenge]

Love this. I had not forgotten this OR CC doing the same damn thing 10 years later! Long live big southpaws!

[@jimmypop4539]

I was so angry when the Astros didn't even try to resign Randy... in their eyes.. Jose Lima and Mike Hampton.. were enough. Everyone from Houston remembers Lima more for his Casa Ole commercials than his actual pitching.

[@jaredmenard7645]

hurt them in 1999, Johnson beats the Braves that year, who had no depth and little offense really.

[@mrphelpsjr]

Love the mlb power pros music, wish they’d bring that game back

[@braheme1260]

Dude thank you, so much. I been thinkin' Randy being on the Astros was a strange fever dream for a decade.

[@jamesesterline]

Using MLB Power Pros music again, nice

[@RM-TheOctoroon]

I never forgot this. Then again, I grew up in the era.

[@samstrzelczyk2568]

One of my all time favorite pitchers. The big unit rocks

[@mwc1987]

That was an amazing run. I remember taking my son to go see him pitch in the dome his first game there after his arrival. We had an amazing team, but sadly, just couldn’t get the bats going at all in the postseason.

[@benk6153]

Love the MLB Powerpros music!!!!

[@MwdaShadow]

Hi. Pirates fan here! I remember it.

[@dukedematteo1995]

I remember the Astro run in 1998. He got Cy votes eventho he was in the league 2 months. He just ran into Kevin Brown (who was on a mission that year) and postseason wonderboy Jim Leyritz.

[@sadatx101]

If I remember right, Randy wanted to move closer home. That's why he went to Arizona. Houston wasn't in play since he didn't want to be in Texas.

[@cadian122]

Im 33 and have known of baseball since the late 90s and actually watching it since around 2000 so I def had no idea Randy even pitched for the Astros let alone pitched amazing... I only found out that he had pitched for Seattle like 7 or 8 years ago lol... I really just remember him from the Dbacks and Yankees

[@forever10gaming]

Olive still pumping out great content while burning it at both ends with Shea Station.

[@mariogaxiola8105]

Awesome video man !!!

[@SirJoelsuf1]

7:05 and yeah, no one talks about the lethal Kevin Brown/Trevor Hoffman combination. Think those guys ran an ERA under 1 for months on end.

[@toddhamels3237]

The MLB Power Pros music goes ridiculously hard

[@philsonslament9955]

I did not remember this. How did this go unnoticed from me…

[@JurassicParker13]

I wish we re-signed Randy so bad… him in AZ is iconic now, but man he could have been remembered as an Astro! Cmon guys!!

[@jbj7599]

CC with the Brewers was unbelievable, that was a fun year!

[@SRSMike]

You’re not sneaking the Power Pros music past me. Thought you were slick there…

[@yonh5350]

my fav pitcher ever, GOAT imo. every start was must watch when he came to AZ

[@JoseSanchez0795]

Amazing 🤩 ❤❤

[@jaimelannister1797]

Randy is the greatest pitcher of all time

[@jaredmenard7645]

Maddux had a lower career ERA, and the lowest playoff ERA of any ace in the 90s. Maddux was the man, but Randy was definitely top 5. Smoltz was a better playoff pitcher too.

[@jaimelannister1797]

@@jaredmenard7645 Randy has a better ERA+ than Maddux. And he won WS MVP. He has Maddux beat when it comes to postseason

[@jaredmenard7645]

@@jaimelannister1797 no way! Curt was the number one pitcher for Arizona that year! The cardinals beat Randy. It should have been over in 5. Curt Schilling pitched more innings but gave up fewer runs than Randy in the playoffs. Curt pitched games 1,4, and 7. Against the cardinals (who were better than my braves that year), Curt pitched games 1 and 5. They won 1-0 and 2-1 lol. No Schilling, no NLCS

[@jaimelannister1797]

@@jaredmenard7645 we weren’t talking about schilling

[@jaredmenard7645]

@@jaimelannister1797 yes, but that WS MVP was given to Randy because he helped finish game 7. Without Curt, they don't get out of the NLDS. Also, the Dbacks closer is to blame. If it ends in 5, Unit doesn't even get a third decision

[@mamacowwmc9382]

This my favorite KZbin channel ngl

[@levisguy53]

while watching, i was thinking how history repeated itself a decade later when CC was traded by The Tribe mid season to the Brew Crew.

[@charliebatho6814]

Fantastic Video, I would add that inflation in sports contracts has probaby inflated more than general inflation. DBacks contract could possibly equate to closer to 32m - 35m AAV

[@tmurr3452]

I love the MLB Power pros music in the intro

[@trickman01]

As an Astros fan I'll never forget.

[@KTF0]

Still love those Astros unis. I dunno why they switched to the red black and gold atrocities.

[@justinwood1078]

My favorite pitcher of all time !!

[@joezhou4356]

I couldn't believe they let him go after the season. The guy was on top of his game, and virtually unhittable.

[@georgegoldman3734]

@jollyolive Is that the MLB Power Pros music?? Love that game.

[@burzzz3009]

0:45 the best win now trade was CC to the Brewers. Dude single handedly carried the brewers into the playoffs with multiple complete games.

[@andrewpapanicolaou6175]

I’m not sure if the MLB power pros theme is in all your videos, but it’s an excellent touch nonetheless

[@benestrada5589]

Interesting uniforms? Those old Astros jerseys are dope in my opinion.

[@kensuter1441]

Is that the mlb power pros song in the background? Gotta find a way to play that again

[@NYY300]

Can you imagine 2001 Randy with Seattle instead of Arizona? They would've won 120 easily.

[@justinhartman7192]

Thanks for the power pros music

[@shoukatsukai]

I gotta turn on the emulator again after hearing the MLB Power Pros Soundtrack again.

[@fahimp]

I think people forget this period of Randy’s career because he basically ended up doing this to the entire league as a d’back for the next 4-5 years, though not to this extreme. Arizona randy was probably the most dominant pitcher that I ever saw. Period. And yes, I’m including 99-00 Pedro as well. Everytime I saw him pitch, I had a reasonable expectation of a no-hitter. His slider was up there with Pedro’s change and maddux’s 2-seamer as the most difficult pitches to hit and do anything with (honorable mention to Kevin brown’s sinker: so many groundballs……lol). God I miss how varied the pitching styles were during this era…..

[@fahimp]

@Bread And Circuses sorry I meant that era. You had pitchers with distinctive styles. You had your flamerthrowers like randy and Pedro, your control artists like maddux, groundball savants like Kevin brown, etc. Basically there was more variety in how pitchers pitched and could be successful. Now these days everyone wants to throw hard af and just overpower hitters. And yes, I was born in 1989, don’t know what that has to do with anything lol

[@TheDaltonBlessing]

Jolly with the MLB Power Pros 2008 music🔥

[@waxknucklebearingjuice5592]

Without a doubt my favorite pitcher...i would try to emulate his style more but I'm like 5ft 9 so i don't think his mechanics are for me lol...

[@successnet25]

The MLB Power Pros music in the background is fire.

[@gnosis6656]

The 1998 season was a testament to Gerry Hundsicker’s skill. Adding Alou and Carl Everett to the team at the beginning of ‘98, coupled with the trade for Randy, made this the best Astros team up to that point. It was an incredible disappointment losing to the Padres, a clearly inferior team. Almost as demoralizing as losing in 1980 or 1986.

[@jaredmenard7645]

the padres finished 98-64, just four games back, and their division wasn't may have been a tad stronger. Not an easy win at all imo. Tony Gwynn, Caminiti, Greg Vaughn, Leyritz, pretty good team. HOF Trevor Hoffman as closer. Kevin Brown, Andy Ashby, Sterling Hitchcock. Equal 1-3

[@ob_gynkenobi4014]

As a Piartes fan. I love when Derek Bell gets brought up. Operation Shutdown for anyone interested.

[@detroitdizthepoet313]

I haven’t forgotten 💯

[@tonyferch2130]

Loving the Power Pros music lol

[@johnnypalooka]

I remember it well. I knew the Padres were in trouble in game 1, but when 2 gunslingers go against each other someone has to lose. I was completely surprised that Hitchcock was able to pitch so well. He continued his success against Atlanta in the NLCS by winning 2 games and the NLCS MVP award. And pitched 6 innings with 1 ER in the WS against the Yankees. Sometimes an average pitcher can shine in the post season. I'm sure that was the highlight of his career.

[@jaredmenard7645]

I'm a Braves fan. The offense was meh outside of Chipper. Our problem was the bullpen and bench players. Maddux is arguably the GOAT

[@DublinSeafoodInc]

nice video!

[@jonflamming8775]

Wait, JOLLY. Are you playing music from MLB PowerPros 2008 in this video⁉️⁉️⁉️

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I'm shocked that you haven't made any mention about the Foundation for the Seagulls Orphaned by Randy Johnson. The autopsy report on the stomach contents of that seagull showed three Hapy Meals for his children. Johnson added fuel to the fire by listening to Jonathon Livingston Seagull on his walkman in the years after that horrific event.

[@jetstgtx6370]

we still remember

[@shermanngjazz]

Hitchcock also won the 1998 NLCS MVP

[@bobothegoat]

This video does miss out on one other big thing about the Randy Johnson trade. Freddy Garcia was actually the idol of Felix Hernandez, and him being on the Mariners was actually a big reason Hernandez signed with the Mariners.

[@strictlygoated]

i’m sorry for your loss

[@gfox9295]

7:17 phrasing was a bit confusing there... almost sounded like you were saying Billy Wagner was the Padres closer for a sec. ;)

[@SmoothCriminal12]

Supposedly the Yankees had actually offered up Mariano Rivera to Seattle for Randy but they turned it down in favor of the Houston deal. And that wasn't even the first time Rivera nearly got traded to Seattle. Before 96, NY nearly sent him away for journeyman shortstop Felix Fermin.

[@Samuel-ex8xp]

8:23 that's a bold claim

[@DarkFalcon]

Love the power pros music

[@benmallory6958]

MLB Power Pros 2008 music in the background🤯

[@casonschingoethe]

An absolute terror against my cubbies glad it was only for half a season

[@eoghbass2886]

Better not be shitting on those glorious 90s unis. Those unis (and Jeff Bagwell) were the reason I even got into baseball. I wish they would wear them as throwbacks every now and again.

[@RespectProcess]

The closest thing to this was when the Brewers picked up CC Sabathis who carried them on his back to the playoffs

[@kylejohansen689]

It may feel like it because he started later, but in 1998 Johnson was 34 when he got traded. He certainly wasn't at a "young" point in his career as you say at 1:49.

[@enriquelopez9157]

Dave Stewart had that 98 Pads pitchers pitching out of their minds

[@AutomatronBatch004]

The most forgotten player I feel like was Roger Clemens when he played for the Jays and won 2 Cy Young's in both consecutive years

[@EDF1919]

Playoff success will always be remembered over regular season success, Johnson will always be remembered first as D-Back then as a Mariner, Astro, etc. It's why I think that after this 2nd title and Cy Young, if JV signs with Houston for his (most likely) final contract he'll probably have a good chance of ending up with star and an H on his Cooperstown plaque instead of a D.

[@KevinSorbo.]

Everyone else on earth associates him as a mariner… some would argue he’s an expos legend… but AZ no

[@EDF1919]

@@KevinSorbo. So him going into the HoF with a Diamondbacks logo on his plaque (literally the first D-Back hall of fame inductee) is because people remember him as a Mariner?

[@KevinSorbo.]

@@EDF1919 no that has absolutely nothing to do with what people remember him as seeing as he picks the logo or team…

[@Extinguisher10]

Astros traded for maybe the greatest rental ever and have up a starting shortstop, a new ace, and a #5 starter. Win-win

[@whoishec7615]

Idk bro….cc sabathia was a very very great win now move as well….but I remember this trade….it was around the time where I was starting to fall in love with baseball ❤️

[@jaredmenard7645]

I give the edge to Randy because Sabathia wasn't good in his playoff start for the brewers. It was a decent start.

[@Osiris3657]

Johnson's wife is from Arizona, so the Dbacks had the upper hand over other teams in order to sign him. I don't think it was a lack of interest by the Astros (I'm an Astros fan and was back then too), it was a desire to pitch where he lived.

[@thelonelyphish]

Trevor Hoffman and Tony Gwynn playing the same year makes me wish I was born sooner, damn I bet the 98 playoffs were a riot in SD

[@chazzx1018]

Not the World Series. Down in 4 games. Completely forgettable World Series.

[@thelonelyphish]

@@chazzx1018 you from SD?

[@chazzx1018]

@@thelonelyphish that was a buzz kill for a team that doesn't win. Stop acting like that sweep didn't dampen SD high spirits.

[@thelonelyphish]

@@chazzx1018 dude I wasn't even alive then, I have no idea what the mood was like in SD at the time, my childhood idol was pitching for the team with my favorite player of all time so I figured spirits must've been pretty high in SD. Also notice how I said the 98 playoffs, they had to win games to get to the world series, no? This year was the first actual playoff run I got to witness in SD and it was electric out here, so I figured SD must've been buzzing at the time even if we didn't win the world series.

[@chazzx1018]

@@thelonelyphish they had a good run, but that ending destroyed any good spirits. I was 21 at time, it killed me. Especially because it was the Yankees

[@andrewsells3420]

The MLB power pros music is throwing back oh my God