Randy Johnson’s legendary No. 51 gets its long-awaited Seattle tribute

Rodney Knuppel

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Randy Johnson’s legendary No. 51 gets its long-awaited Seattle tribute image

Seattle fans finally have a date to circle, and it is a big one.

The Mariners announced that Randy Johnson’s number 51 will be officially retired on May 2, 2026, during a pregame ceremony at T-Mobile Park.

A milestone moment for Mariners history

It is a moment many in the Pacific Northwest have waited for years, especially fans who watched “The Big Unit” grow from a wild fireballer into one of the most dominant pitchers the game has ever seen.

Johnson’s number becomes the fifth ever retired by the organization, joining Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Ichiro Suzuki and Jackie Robinson. Few pitchers shaped a franchise’s identity the way Johnson did, and this ceremony places him firmly among Seattle’s most cherished icons.

The rise of the Big Unit in Seattle

When Johnson arrived in 1989 after a trade with Montreal, he brought an electric arm that was still trying to figure itself out.

By 1993, everything clicked.

Johnson stormed to a 19-8 record, a 3.24 ERA and the first of six different seasons with more than 300 strikeouts. That year launched him into elite territory and laid the foundation for what would become a Hall of Fame career.

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Across 10 seasons with Seattle, Johnson piled up numbers that still stack high on the franchise leaderboard. He recorded 2,162 strikeouts in a Mariners uniform, ranking second in club history, and also sits near the top in wins, innings pitched and starts. His 51 complete games feel almost impossible in today’s version of baseball, where bullpens rule the late innings.

Fans remember more than the stats. They remember the intimidation factor. They remember the 1995 postseason push. They remember the nights when opposing hitters walked to the box knowing they were in survival mode.

A career that stretched beyond eras

Johnson’s Seattle chapter was only part of a remarkable 22-year journey. He pitched for six organizations, won five Cy Young Awards and reached the 300-win milestone while striking out more batters than any left-hander in the history of the sport. His 4,875 strikeouts trail only Nolan Ryan on the all-time list.

There were signature memories along the way. A no-hitter in 1990. A perfect game in Atlanta in 2004. Ten All-Star selections. A World Series co-MVP award with Curt Schilling during the unforgettable 2001 championship run in Arizona. And a reputation as one of the sport’s true singular forces.

The Diamondbacks retired his number 51 in 2015, the same year he entered the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Seattle honored him with induction into the Mariners Hall of Fame three years earlier, but the jersey retirement brings an even deeper level of recognition.

A weekend built for Mariners faithful

Seattle’s celebration will span two nights.

On May 1, fans will get Randy Johnson ’80s Jersey Night presented by T-Mobile, with the first 20,000 guests receiving a themed giveaway that throws back to Johnson’s early Mariners look. The following night brings the official retirement ceremony, which is expected to draw one of the biggest crowds of the season.

For longtime fans, the tribute serves as a reminder of how far the franchise has come and who helped build that foundation. For newer fans, it is a chance to appreciate a pitcher whose legend only grows with time.

Randy Johnson gave Seattle an identity, a swagger and a reason to believe every fifth day. In 2026, the Mariners will give him the honor that feels long overdue.

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Editorial Team