You won’t believe what former MLB pitcher Randy Johnson is doing as a second career

Randy Johnson is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He’s second all-time in career strikeouts, and may very well be the last pitcher ever to win 300 games in his career. Johnson had toed the rubber in a different capacity after his playing days, but has brought the same energy and passion he did on the mound. All statistics are sourced from Baseball Reference.

The 6’10” Johnson has traded away his baseball glove for a camera to see the world through. On his photography website, RJ 51 Photos, the former Cy Young award winner showcases images he took at concerts, during his travels, and of animals in the wild.

According to RJ 51 Photos, Johnson’s passion for photography dates back to the mid 1980s, where he was a photojournalism student at the University of Southern California.

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Johnson wrote on his website, “I look forward to visiting places I’ve never been, shooting things I’ve never seen, and getting better each and every day.”

Johnson’s images have been featured in well known media publications like Rolling Stone, Spin and Metal Hammer.

The logo for Randy Johnson photography is an ode to a quirky moment that took place during his playing days.

The logo is of a dead bird. During a spring training game in 2001, Johnson fired one of his trademark fastballs to the plate. A bird flew in the path of the ball and was struck by the heater pitch. Feathers went everywhere, and the bird was no more. USA Today remembers the unusual moment.

In February 2024, the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts showcased Johnson’s work. “What you see in this room is a combination of about five or six trips to Africa of different areas, different regions.”

Johnson made an intriguing comparison between the skills needed to become a dominant pitcher and the ability needed to be a successful photographer. He told Yahoo Sports, “When I put that camera up to my face, it’s just me and the subject I’m taking a picture of.” Johnson likened this to the tunnel vision he had with the catcher while playing in MLB.

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Johnson has also used the opportunity to get a front row seat at professional sporting events to capture moments with his camera. He’s photographed NASCAR races, and has also worked on the sidelines of NFL games, according to Sports Illustrated.

MLB hitters loathed going up against Johnson, as many felt like they were out before they ever stepped into the batter’s box. Former major leaguer Jeff Huson told ESPN about facing Johnson, “What was the worst thing that Michael Jordan could do to you? He can dunk on you. He can embarrass you. What’s the worst thing Randy Johnson can do to you? He can kill you.”

Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett told Sports Illustrated in 1995, “Randy and Roger Clemens are the only people in this game who are capable of throwing a no-hitter every time they go out there.”

His wife Lisa told Sports Illustrated, “I pretty much don’t talk to him (when he pitches). All he wants is to be left alone with his simmering intensity and his requisite game-day breakfast: two scrambled eggs, three pancakes, a small glass of orange juice and a large milk.”

Johnson won his only World Series in 2001, as he and fellow Arizona Diamondbacks ace Curt Schilling powered the franchise to a championship. The duo shared World Series MVP honors for their masterful performances.

Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr. gave Seattle Mariners fans a bevy of wonderful memories during the 10 years they were teammates together. USA Today reports that these days, Griffey Jr. and Johnson spend more time talking about picture-taking than sports. Griffey is a credentialed sports photographer who has also worked NFL games. He has taken advice from Johnson about photographing remote locations, as Griffey visited Kenya in 2023.

“Just the opportunity of seeing this every day, living in a tent outside of their village, and interacting with a lot of these people, was just fascinating,” Johnson said of his trip to Ethiopia.

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