Randy Johnson provided one of the most iconic moments in MLB history 21 years ago when his pitch missed home plate.
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It’s not often that a spring training game is remembered as one of the most memorable games in MLB history. Instead, a bird was struck.
On March 24, 2001, Johnson was pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks in a spring training game against the San Francisco Giants in Tucson, Arizona.
Johnson, a Hall of Famer, won 303 games in 22 seasons.
In the seventh inning, left-handed Johnson was about to throw a fastball when a bird fluttered in. The bird was struck by the ball as it was flying toward home plate.
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Did Randy Johnson get charged for hitting a bird?
The Big Unit’s performance that day was far from flawless. But environmentalists claim he intentionally struck the bird. Johnson ultimately avoided being charged for the pitch.
