In honor of the great, great Randy Johnson, who announced his retirement today after 22 seasons, 303 wins and an astounding, only-Nolan-can-relate 4,875 strikeouts (including nine league strikeout titles) and five Cy Young Awards (including one unanimously) ... well, let's ask this question: is he the greatest left-handed starting pitcher in the history of the great game?
From a career perspective, there are only a few other serious candidates ... Left Grove, of course. Warren Spahn. Maybe Steve Carlton and Sandy Koufax. Carl Hubbell and Eddie Plank are one tiny notch down the ladder. A distant shout-out to Whitey Ford. Does anyone else even merit consideration?
Personally ...
... I think it's Spahn first, Grove second and Johnson a frustratingly close third for the bronze medal.
So he's probably not the greatest LHP of all time, and he's almost certainly not the greatest SP of his era (hello, Mr. Maddux -- no, not you, Mike, sorry, we meant brother Greg). But I could be talked into either proposition ... and dang, when you're even in that discussion .... well. Cooperstown class of '15, your first guaranteed lock inductee is now in place ...
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20100105222148146