Randy Johnson

On a cold Monday in January, it helps to remember another time, say, a Thursday afternoon in June of 1990 at the real Comiskey Park.  Randy Johnson was in his second full season as a starting pitcher.  My friend Frank and I sat a few rows back of home plate.

Johnson was masterful, and slow.  He allowed one run on five hits and a walk in a complete-game, 2-1 win; and still the game took just under three hours.  I have pictures on the basement wall of Ivan Calderon and Carlton Fisk trying to stand in against Johnson with his nasty leg kick (or was it a fastball or possibly a curve or both together at once?). 

Calderon connected for a homerun while a young, thin South-Side Sammy Sosa struck out twice; then again, so did Robin Ventura.  Twenty-year old Ken Griffey also played for the Mariners that day.  It was after the season, when the White Sox finished with a surprising record of 94-68, that we finally decided to start a family. 

That would be Clare.