Top 10 moments of Randy Johnson's career

With some players, coming up with 10 moments from their career worthy of highlights can be a challenge. When it comes to Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson, though, the challenge is narrowing down his big moments to just 10.

That's what happens when you spend 22 years in the big leagues compiling 303 wins, 4,875 strikeouts, a pair of no-hitters and World Series heroics like the Big Unit did.

Here are 10 moments that help define Johnson's career.

1. A perfect evening
There wasn't much to celebrate during a 2004 season in which the D-backs lost a franchise-record 111 games, but May 18 at Atlanta's Turner Field was certainly one of them as Johnson tossed the 17th perfect game in MLB history. Johnson struck out 13 that night, including Eddie Perez with a 98-mph fastball -- his 117th pitch of the night -- to end the game.

“I don't think my stuff has been any better than it was today,” Johnson said after the game.

The closest the Braves came to reaching base was in the sixth when shortstop Alex Cintron made a do-or-die play on Mike Hampton’s grounder.

“It was one of those nights where a superior athlete was on top of his game and was in a tremendous rhythm out there," then-D-backs manager Bob Brenly said. "His focus, his concentration, his stuff -- everything was as good as it could possibly be, and that's the end result.”

2. You again?!?!
Trailing the Yankees three games to two in the 2001 World Series, the D-backs returned home for Game 6 and Johnson held the Yankees to two runs over seven innings. Brenly pulled Johnson after 104 pitches in the hope that he might be available to pitch in relief in Game 7.

That's exactly what happened, as Johnson walked to the mound with a runner on first and two outs in the eighth and the D-backs trailing 2-1. Johnson retired the final batter of the eighth and put the Yankees down in order in the ninth.

The D-backs rallied to win the game and the series in the bottom of the ninth, and Johnson became the first pitcher in 55 years to win as a starter in Game 6 and as a reliever in Game 7. He was rewarded by being named co-MVP of the World Series, along with fellow starter Curt Schilling.

3. Big win for Big Unit
Johnson joined one of baseball's most exclusive clubs on June 4, 2009, when he picked up career win No. 300 against the Nationals at Nationals Park. Johnson allowed two hits and one unearned run over six innings in the Giants’ 5-1 win.

Johnson had signed with the Giants as a free agent following his 2008 season in Arizona.

4. No win, but 20 K’s
Early on May 8, 2001, it was clear that Johnson had his best stuff working. That spelled trouble for the Reds at Chase Field. Johnson was dominant in striking out 20 while allowing one run on just three hits and no walks.

The D-backs’ offense struggled against the Reds and the game remained tied after nine innings when Johnson was removed from the game, making it arguably one of the greatest no-decisions in baseball history.

“This was a game to put in a time capsule and let people of the future watch it,” Johnson said.

5. Playoff bound
The Mariners overcame a 13-game deficit on Aug. 3 to tie the Angels, and the two teams had a one-game playoff on Oct. 2, 1995, at the Kingdome to determine who would win the AL West and advance to the playoffs.

Johnson tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits and a walk while striking out 12 and throwing 125 pitches, as the Mariners won 9-1 and made the postseason for the first time in franchise history.

6. 19 redux
Johnson already had one 19-strikeout game under his belt in 1997 by the time he faced the White Sox at the Kingdome on Aug. 8, and when he punctuated a 5-0 Mariners win by striking out three in the ninth, he had another.

Johnson allowed five hits and three walks and threw 148 pitches, striking out White Sox stars Frank Thomas and Albert Belle three times each.

7. Quite the encore
Following a 2001 season where he won his third straight NL Cy Young and was named co-MVP of the World Series, Johnson found a way to put up an even better season statistically in 2002.

Johnson captured the pitching Triple Crown -- leading the NL in wins (24), ERA (2.32) and strikeouts (334) while also throwing 260 innings and tossing eight complete games. The season earned him his fifth and final Cy Young.

8. The "other" no-no
When he threw a perfect game in 2004, it was the second no-hitter of his career -- his first came on June 2, 1990, against the Tigers at the Kingdome. Just 26 years old at the time, Johnson was still learning to harness his overpowering stuff, as evidenced by his six walks that night to go with eight strikeouts.

“I was far from perfect that day,” Johnson said after his perfect game reflecting on the first no-hitter. “I was a very young pitcher who really didn't have any idea where the ball was going. Fourteen years later, I've come a long ways.”

9. No. 2 all-time
Nolan Ryan was a mentor to Johnson, and the Big Unit etched his name just behind Ryan's when he recorded career strikeout No. 4,673 on June 3, 2008, against the Brewers at Chase Field.

With the strikeout, Johnson passed Roger Clemens for second on the all-time list behind Ryan's 5,714. Johnson retired with 4,875 strikeouts.

10. Bad timing, bird
It was just a regular Spring Training game on March 24, 2001, when the D-backs hosted the Giants at Tucson Electric Park. That changed in the seventh inning when Johnson uncorked one of his trademark fastballs.

Before the pitch could reach catcher Rod Barajas, though, a bird flew in its path and was struck dead with feathers flying everywhere.

"I can honestly say I have never seen that before," Brenly said.