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Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez make the perfect first-pitch pair for World Series Game 3

jack mckessy, usa today
·6 min read

The Fall Classic heads to Arizona with the Diamondbacks and Rangers tied at one game apiece in the best-of-seven series. To honor the return of World Series baseball to Phoenix, the Diamondbacks have brought back an MVP of their 2001 championship victory to throw out the first pitch.

Randy Johnson, the former left-handed pitcher that is perhaps the greatest player in the team's history, threw out the first pitch of Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night. Luis Gonzalez, one of the other members of the Diamondbacks' 2001 championship team, caught Johnson's first pitch at Chase Field.

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Randy Johnson's Diamondbacks legacy

During an era in MLB history when hitters were at their most dominant, Johnson stood out because of the way he was able to shut down opponents' bats. Throughout his storied, Hall of Fame career, "the Big Unit" never shined brighter than he did with Arizona.

In his first stint with the Diamondbacks, which spanned from 1999-2004, Johnson started at least 34 games in every season besides 2003 (injury), won four straight Cy Young Awards (1999-2002) and was an All-Star every year besides the injury-marred 2003 season. On May 18, 2004, when he was 40 years old, Johnson pitched the 17th perfect game in MLB history against the Atlanta Braves.

During the 2001 World Series, Johnson pitched a complete-game shutout in Arizona's Game 2 win over the New York Yankees with 11 strikeouts. In Game 6, he tallied seven strikeouts over seven innings and earned another win for the Diamondbacks.

One night later, Johnson entered Game 7 in the eighth inning after throwing 104 pitches in Game 6. He pitched 1 1/3 innings and earned the win over Yankees closer Mariano Rivera as Arizona took home its first title. The left-hander was named co-World Series MVP with fellow pitcher Curt Schilling for his efforts.

Johnson retired after the 2009 season when he was 46 years old. He finished his career with 4,875 strikeouts, second in MLB history only to Nolan Ryan, a career record of 303-166 and an ERA of 3.29.

In 2015, Johnson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Diamondbacks retired his number 51 that season.

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Luis Gonzalez's Diamondbacks legacy

Gonzalez, the man catching Johnson's first pitch on Monday night, has a very important place in Arizona baseball history as well.

In the 10th year of his career, the Tampa, Fl. native played in his first season with the Diamondbacks after a trade sent him to Phoenix from Detroit in 1999. In that first season, Gonzalez became a star. He led the National League with 206 hits after never accumulating more than 162 hits in any prior season and slugged a then-career-high 26 home runs with a .336 batting average. He was selected to the All-Star team that year for the first time.

It was during the 2001 season that Gonzalez cemented his Diamondbacks legacy. He recorded 198 hits, batted .325, mashed a career-high 57 home runs and tallied 142 RBIs. Gonzalez won the Silver Slugger that year, was named to his second All-Star team and finished third in MVP voting.

In Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, Gonzalez faced Rivera, the Yankees' legendary closer, in a tie game with one out in the bottom of the ninth. He lined the second pitch he saw over the head of shortstop Derek Jeter and the packed crowd at what was then called Bank One Ballpark exploded.

Gonzalez played his final season with the Marlins in 2008 and officially retired in 2009. In 2010, the Diamondbacks retired his number 20 jersey, making him the first player in franchise history with a retired number.

Who's throwing the first pitch at the World Series?

Johnson will throw the first pitch to Gonzalez on Monday night for Game 3, the first game in Arizona of the series.

Ahead of Game 1, former United States President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch in Texas. Rangers legend and Hall of Famer Adrián Beltré threw out the first pitch in Game 2.

MLB has announced that Arizona State alum and 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm will throw out the first pitch of Game 4.

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World Series schedule 2023

Game 3 of the 2023 World Series will begin at 8:03 p.m. ET, on Oct. 30 at Chase Field. The series is tied, 1-1.

  • Game 1: Diamondbacks 5 - 6 Rangers F/11 (Rangers lead series 1-0)

  • Game 2: Diamondbacks 9 - 1 Rangers F (Series tied, 1-1)

  • Game 3: Rangers at Diamondbacks, Monday, Oct. 30, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX

  • Game 4: Rangers at Diamondbacks, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX

  • Game 5: Rangers at Diamondbacks, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX (If necessary)

  • Game 6: Diamondbacks at Rangers, Friday, Nov. 3, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX (If necessary)

  • Game 7: Diamondbacks at Rangers, Saturday, Nov. 4, 8:03 p.m. ET, FOX (If necessary)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Series first pitch features legends Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez