Mariners to Retire Randy Johnson's #51 During 2026 Season
Thirty-five years ago today – June 2, 1990 – a young Mariners left-hander strode to the mound in the Kingdome to face the Detroit Tigers. Randy Johnson left the mound that day having spun the Mariners first no-hitter. Prior to his history-making start, Randy had a career mark of 13-16 with a 4.54 earned run average, but the no-hit victory over the Tigers launched his Hall of Fame career as he posted a 290-150 mark with a 3.21 ERA from that date on.
On the anniversary of that historic event, the Mariners today are announcing that Randy Johnson’s number 51 will be retired by the club in a pre-game ceremony during the 2026 season. The exact date of the ceremony will be announced after the 2026 Major League Schedule has been finalized.
“Randy is both one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history, and one of the most important figures in our organization’s history,” Mariners Chairman and Managing Partner John Stanton said. “During the 1995 season that changed the future of this franchise, his 18-2 record (in a 145-game season) was properly recognized with his first Cy Young Award.
“More importantly, and somewhat lost to history, the Mariners were an amazing 27-3 in his 30 starts that season, an incredible 24 games over .500, compared to a record of 52-63 when any other starter took to the hill for the club. His domination that year carried the Mariners to our first-ever postseason, which led directly to the construction of T-Mobile Park and the Mariners remaining safely in Seattle forever.
“Randy's extraordinary accomplishments will forever be remembered and recognized with the retirement of his number 51," Stanton concluded.
Johnson came to Seattle in 1989 in a trade with the Montreal Expos. The “Big Unit” had his breakout season in 1993 when he went 19-8 with 3.24 ERA and the first of his six 300+ strikeout seasons. Overall, he posted a 130-74 record with 2 saves, a 3.42 ERA (698 ER, 1838.1 IP) and 51 complete games with Seattle, striking out 2,162 in 274 games (266 starts). He remains among the all-time franchise leaders in strikeouts (2nd) and wins, starts and innings pitched (3rd), among other categories. Randy was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame in 2012 and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015. The Arizona Diamondbacks retired his #51 in 2015.
“From his arrival in Seattle in 1989 and over the next decade, Randy helped define Mariners baseball in our region and across the country,” Mariners President of Business Operations Kevin Martinez said. “He was as fierce as any player in baseball, and he provided Mariners fans with some of the greatest moments in Seattle sports history.
“Through the years, he’s always made time to help to me, and others, in our organization whenever we have reached out to him. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing him in Cooperstown in July, here at the ballpark in August and next year on the field when we raise his #51 to its rightful place in T-Mobile Park.”
Johnson’s number 51 will be the fifth number retired in Mariners history, joining fellow Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. (#24), Edgar Martinez (#11) and Ichiro Suzuki (#51, on Aug. 9). As with all MLB teams, the Mariners have also retired Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson’s #42.
At his Hall of Fame news conference in January, Ichiro said: “When I first got the number 51, I knew that number 51 was a special number. I knew it was a special number to the organization, and I knew that it was a special number to the fans here in Seattle. Obviously, I wanted to make sure number 51 was (done) justice, make sure that 51 wasn't going to be embarrassed. And I felt like if number 51 was just an average player, I wouldn't do Randy Johnson justice. I knew (what it meant) for that number to keep going and for that, I took very seriously. I needed to do well to make sure I performed well in that number. I remember feeling that pressure when I got that number."
Johnson had a 22-year Major League career, playing for six teams including from 1989 to 1998 for the Mariners. He also played for the Montreal Expos (1988-89), Houston Astros (1998), Arizona Diamondbacks (1999-2004, 2007-08), New York Yankees (2005-06) and San Francisco Giants (2009). He won five Cy Young Awards (1995, 1999-2002), including the first by a Mariners pitcher when he went 18-2 with a 2.48 ERA in 1995. Johnson pitched two no-hitters—June 2, 1990 vs. DET and MLB’s 17th perfect game on May 18, 2004 at Atlanta (with Arizona).
Johnson retired following the 2009 season with a career win-loss record of 303-166, ERA of 3.29 and 4,875 strikeouts, second only to Nolan Ryan’s 5,714. Randy is among just four pitchers in MLB history with at least 300 wins and 4,000 strikeouts (also: Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Steve Carlton). In addition to his 10 trips to the All-Star Game (1990, 1993-95, 1997, 1999, 2001-02) and five Cy Young Awards (1995, 1999-2002), Johnson led the league in ERA four times (1995, 1999, 2001, 2002) and strikeouts 10 times (1992-1995, 1998-2002, 2004). He was 2001 World Series co-MVP with Curt Schilling, and during his career, Johnson defeated every Major League team at least once.