Randy Johnson stops by Phoenix-area school to check out Big Unit mural
Jan 28, 2016, 4:35 PM
(KTAR Photo/Mike Sackley)
PHOENIX — Former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson stopped by a Phoenix-area high school on Thursday to check out a World Series-class mural of him painted by students.
The Big Unit talked with students at Peoria High School while autographing the 18-by-14-foot mural created by art students.
The mural was created to commemorate Johnson’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was inducted last year after a long career, including a World Series title with the D-backs in 2001.
“Prior [to] and after the Hall of Fame, there’s been a lot of things such as this that have been very humbling,” Johnson said.
Johnson is the lone player to represent the Diamondbacks in the Hall of Fame. The team retired his number after his induction.
It took about 25 students two weeks to finish the mural. Johnson said he is very impressed not only by the mural of himself, but all the artwork being displayed around campus.
“You have to have a passion and I think a lot of these kids have a passion,” he said. “Some of them will go on to do greater things in the field of art.”
Johnson also shared with students his love of photography. He has been a professional photographer since he retired from baseball in 2009.