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The Big Unit vs. The Rocket
Two pitchers headed for Cooperstown will be on display in the Fall Classic. Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson have both used blazing fastballs and ice cold intimidation to rewrite the history books and stockpile awards. Here's a look at how two of the best pitchers of this era match up. And for more on Johnson and the Diamondbacks' pitching staff, read Tom Verducci's Seventh Heaven from the October 29, 2001 issue of Sports Illustrated.
| Tale of the Tape |
 | |  |
| Randy Johnson | Category | Roger
Clemens |
| Randall David
Johnson | Full Name |
William Roger
Clemens |
| The Big
Unit | Nickname |
The
Rocket |
| 38 | Age |
39 |
| Walnut Creek,
Calif. | Birthplace |
Dayton,
Ohio |
|
Paradise Valley,
Ariz. | Resides |
Houston |
| 6-10, 232
pounds | Height/weight |
6-4, 235
pounds |
|
USC | College |
San Jacinto Junior College and University of
Texas |
|
Mark McGwire | Famous college teammate |
Calvin Schiraldi |
| Expos, Mariners, Astros,
Diamondbacks | Teams played for |
Red Sox, Blue Jays,
Yankees |
|
Sept. 15, 1988 (win against
Pittsburgh) | Major league debut |
May 15, 1984 (no-decision against
Cleveland) |
| 200-101 | Career won/loss
record |
280-145
|
| 3.13 | Career ERA |
3.10 |
| 3,412 (ninth on the all-time
list) | Career strikeouts |
3,717 (third on the all-time
list) |
| 30 | Career shutouts |
45
|
|
4-7, 3.19 (through NLCS) | Career postseason record/ERA |
5-6, 3.56 (through ALCS) |
| None | World Series rings |
Two
|
| Eight | All-Star appearances |
Eight |
| Three (1995, '99,
2000) | Cy Young awards |
Five (1986, '87, '91, '97,
'98) |
|
One | No-hitters |
None |
|
Two | 20-win seasons |
Six |
| 20
(once -- left in ninth with score tied) | Single-game strikeout high |
20 (twice) -- tied for Major League
record
|
|
None | MVP awards |
One |
| Three | Sports Illustrated covers |
Four
|
|
Little Big League, My Oh
My | Big screen appearances |
Kingpin,
Cobb |
| Playfully throwing behind John Kruk's head in the 1993 All-Star
Game | Famous beanball
incident |
Hitting Mike Piazza in the head on July 8,
2000
|
|
Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 1982 free agent
draft, but chose to attend
USC | What could have been |
Drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1981 free agent draft,
but chose to continue with
college |
Compiled by Jimmy Traina
Cover photographs by V.J. Lovero, John Biever
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