Randy Johnson Four Cy Young Awards
The Big Unit threw four Cy Young seasons in Arizona — no other pitcher on this roster comes close.
Four Cy Young Awards. Say that number out loud and you're talking about Randy Johnson — The Big Unit — and the stretch from the late 1990s into the early 2000s where he and Curt Schilling turned the Diamondbacks' rotation into something opponents simply couldn't touch. Those four trophies weren't just individual hardware; they were the groundwork the Diamondbacks stacked on to take home their first World Series championship in 2001.
- Player
- Randy Johnson
- Team
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Award
- NL Cy Young Award
- Count with D-Backs
- 3
- Total Career Awards
- 5
- Era
- 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002 (D-Backs wins in '99, '00, '01)
- Legacy Status
- Hall of Famer
Lore & Background
Johnson's tenure in Arizona is often viewed as the golden age of D-Backs pitching. The visual of him on the mound at Chase Field, towering over batters with a delivery that seemed to defy physics, became iconic. His Cy Young Awards were not just statistical achievements; they represented a shift in power dynamics within the National League, proving that an expansion team could house a generational talent capable of winning the league's most prestigious individual pitching honor multiple times.
In Their Own Story
The desert air hung heavy over Chase Field on a sweltering July night. Randy Johnson stepped onto the mound, his long limbs casting a shadow that seemed to stretch across the entire infield. He adjusted his cap, eyes locked on home plate with an intensity that silenced the crowd. As he wound up and unleashed a fastball clocked well over 95 mph, the batter swung at nothing but air. Another strikeout, another step toward immortality. In that moment, amidst the roar of the fans, it was clear: The Big Unit was not just playing for a win; he was etching his name into the history books.
Reader's Guide
Randy Johnson's Cy Young Awards with Arizona are among the most significant achievements in franchise history. He won his first D-Backs Cy Young in 1999, leading the National League in strikeouts and ERA+, establishing himself as an ace immediately.
In 2000, he secured his second award with a dominant season that included 31 wins and 373 strikeouts, further solidifying his status as the league's premier pitcher. This performance was crucial in building momentum for the team's championship run.
The 2001 Cy Young Award is perhaps his most celebrated, coming during the year he led Arizona to a World Series title. His postseason heroics, including a complete-game shutout in Game 5 of the NLCS and a dominant performance in the World Series, made this award particularly historic.
Finally, in 2002, Johnson won his fourth Cy Young Award while with Arizona, completing a rare four-year sweep of the honor. This achievement highlighted his unprecedented consistency and longevity at an elite level, setting a standard for future pitchers.
Did You Know?
- Randy Johnson is one of only two pitchers in MLB history to win five Cy Young Awards, winning three of them with Arizona.
- In 2001, Johnson became the oldest pitcher (at age 39) to lead the league in strikeouts while winning a Cy Young Award.
- Johnson's four consecutive Cy Young wins from 1999 to 2002 included three straight awards with the Diamondbacks before he won his fifth later with Seattle.
- He is the only pitcher to win a Cy Young Award after turning 40, though that specific award came with Seattle, not Arizona.