When you think of Seattle Mariners legends, a few names immediately come to mind: Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and Ichiro Suzuki. Now, there's another iconic number permanently enshrined in the left-center field wall at T-Mobile Park. On a memorable Saturday, the franchise officially retired Randy Johnson's No. 51, honoring one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers baseball has ever seen.
The ceremony marked the second time in as many years that a Mariners great wearing No. 51 received this ultimate tribute. Just last season, the team retired the same number for Ichiro Suzuki, who was a near-unanimous inductee into the 2025 National Baseball Hall of Fame. Now, the legendary "Big Unit" joins that elite company, becoming the second player in franchise history to have his No. 51 hang alongside the likes of Griffey (No. 24), Edgar Martinez (No. 11), and the universally retired No. 42 of Jackie Robinson.
"I'm grateful and honored there's room for another No. 51 to be retired," Johnson shared during his heartfelt ceremony. "One number, two players representing one team."
It's a milestone that many fans felt was long overdue. Johnson's journey with the Mariners began in 1989 when he was acquired in a trade with the Montreal Expos. Over the next decade in the Pacific Northwest, the 6-foot-10 flamethrower earned five of his 10 career All-Star selections (1990, 1993-1995, 1997) and captured the first of his five Cy Young Awards in 1995. That season, he posted a stellar 2.48 ERA with 294 strikeouts, cementing his place as the ace of a memorable Mariners squad.
Why the wait for such a deserving honor? In a Zoom press conference last year, Johnson candidly explained that strained relationships with previous Mariners ownership—dating back to his trade to the Houston Astros in 1998—had delayed the recognition. But with that chapter now closed, the franchise has made things right. Johnson becomes one of the rare players to have his number retired by multiple organizations, joining the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team he represented during his Hall of Fame induction in Cooperstown.
For Mariners fans and baseball purists alike, seeing No. 51 take its rightful place in Seattle's outfield is a powerful reminder of an era defined by electric fastballs, intimidating presence, and pure dominance on the mound. Whether you're rocking a vintage Johnson throwback or a modern Ichiro jersey, this is a moment that connects two generations of greatness under one unforgettable number.