What was Randy Johnson bird pitch called?

On March 24, 2001, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson threw a fastball to San Francisco Giants center fielder Calvin Murray in a spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona. As Johnson went into his windup and released the pitch, a fast-flying bird suddenly crossed directly over home plate. The ball struck the bird at a high velocity, causing feathers to explode in all directions as the bird was obliterated in an instant.

The Infamous “Exploding Bird” Pitch

The pitch that struck and killed the bird came to be known as the “Exploding Bird Pitch” or simply the “Bird Pitch.” It was just one of the many fastballs that Randy Johnson threw during his 22-year Major League Baseball career, but it stands out for its freak occurrence and grizzly outcome. The event was captured on video and photographs, allowing it to live on in infamy.

Randy Johnson was one of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball history, standing at 6 feet 10 inches tall and featuring a 100 mph fastball and hard slider. When the muscular “Big Unit” went into his sweeping sidearm delivery, batters often felt overmatched. Johnson led the league in strikeouts nine times, won five Cy Young Awards as the best pitcher in his league, and amassed over 4,800 career strikeouts.

So when Johnson’s sizzling fastball obliterated an unsuspecting bird that day in Scottsdale, it was a case of unfortunate but astronomical odds. The bird just happened to be flying directly across home plate at the precise moment that the fearsome Randy Johnson unleashed one of his trademark heaters. The result was a messy explosion of feathers and a freak accident that would live on as one of baseball’s most legendary fluke moments.

Reactions to the Infamous Pitch

The exploding bird pitch elicited a mix of reactions from those who witnessed it. Some were shocked, others found humor in the absurdity of the situation. Here’s a look at some of the reactions:

• Randy Johnson himself seemed stunned in the immediate aftermath of the pitch. He put his hands on his hips and stared in disbelief as the obliterated bird’s feathers floated around the infield.
• Catcher Rod Barajas put his hands on his head in amazement after seeing the bird explode. In a post-game interview he commented, “I couldn’t believe what I just saw.”
• Umpire Bruce Froemming was so amazed that he called time and walked out to the mound to speak with Johnson about the incident.
• Fans in the stands reacted with a mix of shocked exclamations and laughter as they processed the absurdity of what they had witnessed.
• Giants manager Dusty Baker quipped after the game: “He’s the only man I know who can kill a bird with a pitch.”
• Johnson’s teammate Mark Grace compared it to a scene out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
• The reaction on social media after video circulated was laughter at the freak nature of the occurrence.

While stunning and gruesome, the incident was recognized by most as a freak accident involving incredibly unlikely timing. It became known as one of the most unique and memorable moments in baseball history.

The Bird Pitch in Pop Culture

The notorious Randy Johnson bird pitch has lived on in pop culture infamy over the years since it happened:

• The pitch is featured in Johnson’s video montage when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.
• A YouTube video of the pitch has over 3 million views.
• The bird explosion was featured in Nike commercials with Johnson.
• It has been included on lists of greatest freak moments in sports history.
• The pitch has been referenced in TV shows like How I Met Your Mother and Criminal Minds.
• Comedians like Jon Stewart and Conan O’Brien incorporated the pitch into jokes and comedy bits.
• Musical groups have referenced the pitch in songs.
• It is frequently mentioned by sports analysts and baseball broadcasters.
• The moment lives on in countless memes and gif animations that circulate online.

While certainly grim, the absurdity and rarity of the exploding bird pitch has cemented its place in baseball lore. It remains indelible part of Randy Johnson’s legacy and one of the most unforgettable moments in sports.

Details of the Ill-Fated Bird

The bird that met its fate against Randy Johnson’s fastball was described by witnesses as a small gray and white dove, although its exact species was never officially determined. Here are some details about the ill-fated bird:

• It was estimated to be about 6-8 inches in size, with white feathers on its underbelly and gray on top.
• The bird looked to be a juvenile, based on its small size.
• It was likely a mourning dove, common to the Arizona desert environment.
• The bird was flying swiftly on a path that intersected home plate as the pitch was released.
• It exploded in a burst of feathers on impact with the 90+ mph fastball.
• The bird itself was obliterated completely, with no discernible remains found in the aftermath.
• It’s assumed the bird died instantly, being struck flush by the speeding ball.
• The freak accident was determined to be completely unintentional on the bird’s part.

While all the gory details might seem morbid, the fact that the bird met its untimely demise on one of baseball’s biggest stages has elevated it to a strange sort of posthumous fame. Its sacrifice made for one of the most unique moments in sports history.

Randy Johnson’s Reaction

Randy Johnson himself seemed conflicted about the famous bird pitch when reflecting on it over the years:

• He expressed regret about the bird’s death, saying it was just an unfortunate accident.
• He seemed uneasy about the notoriety of the moment, given the gruesome nature of it.
• Johnson said he tried to release the pitch high and away to lessen the chance of hitting the bird.
• He highlighted that the timing was improbable and that he was not aiming for the bird.
• He did recognize the freak moment was now part of sports lore that people remembered.
• Johnson commented that he would not have wanted to hurt any animal intentionally.
• Overall, he seemed slightly disturbed and bewildered whenever the subject of the bird pitch came up.

For his part, Johnson handled the notoriety with grace and humility. He understood the absurdity of the situation but also knew a living creature had lost its life in an instant, through no fault of his own. The exploding bird pitch remained a fixture in his career, despite being an unintended accident.

Preventing Future Bird-Related Pitching Accidents

While freak accidents like Randy Johnson’s bird pitch are few and far between, some steps could be taken by Major League Baseball to try and prevent similar occurrences in the future:

• Use nets that extend farther down the foul lines to protect more surface area over the playing field.
• Implement audio sounds or lasers around the stadium to ward off approaching birds.
• Ensure overhead wires or netting protects the highest danger zone directly over the pitcher’s mound.
• Utilize digital tracking technology to monitor bird flight paths and activity near the ballpark.
• Limit day games or start times during peak migration seasons when bird traffic is highest.
• Schedule occasional “bird days” with heightened awareness and preventative measures in place.
• Study bird flight routes and patterns in each MLB city to identify riskiest ballparks and times.
• Increase vendor food policies so stadium seating is not covered in leftover food attracting birds.

Obviously the occurrences are so rare that going overboard may be unnecessary. However, a few improved safeguards and preventative measures could help avoid another notorious bird-related pitching accident in the future. This would protect both birds and players alike.

Other Infamous Bird-Sports Collisions

While Randy Johnson’s notorious bird pitch has become the most famous, there have been other bizarre bird collisions in sports over the years:

• Yankees pitcher Dave Winfield accidentally killed a seagull with a thrown ball while warming up between innings in Toronto in 1983.
• Golfer Rohan Dennis struck and killed a hawk with a drive at the Australian PGA Championship in 2002.
• A pigeon was killed mid-flight by a shot from Swiss soccer player Marco Zwyssig during a game in 2005.
• Race car driver Ayrton Senna had his helmet visor smashed by a collisions with a bird during qualifying for an F1 race.
• Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew knocked down a bird with a thrown ball from the outfield in spring training in 2008.
• A bird dive-bombed and impacted NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick during a practice lap in 2011.
• A heron was struck and killed by a golf ball off the club of Hideki Matsuyama at the HSBC Champions in 2017.

These incidents go to show that animal-sports collisions, while very low probability, continue to occur from time to time. Randy Johnson’s exploding bird pitch remains the most infamous simply due to the sheer violence of the impact combined with it occurring on baseball’s grand stage. It was a freak accident that etched its place in sports infamy.

The Case of Morris the Cat

One related and tragic tale was that of Morris the Cat in 2009. Morris was an affectionate tabby cat who lived near NYC’s Shea Stadium and would often visit Mets games for a chance at affection and handouts from fans. Tragically, Morris was struck and killed by a foul ball off the bat of Mets infielder David Wright during a game in 2009. The cat had become something of an unofficial mascot and his death reinforced the need for caution around hard-hit foul balls sailing into the stands. While not bird-related, it was another example of the risk posed to animal life around active sporting venues filled with speeding projectiles.

Lessons Learned

In the end, the notorious Randy Johnson exploding bird pitch imparted some important lessons:

• Freak accidents can happen in sports, no matter how unlikely.
• Being at the wrong place at the wrong time can have disastrous consequences.
• Athletes who rely on speeding projectiles should be aware of the small risk posed to animals.
• Sports stadiums should look for reasonable ways to minimize animal collisions.
• Don’t judge athletes too harshly for unintended accidents outside their control.
• These incidents, while grim, remind us of the sanctity of life for all creatures.
• The dying bird achieved a sort of posthumous cult fame among sports fans.

Randy Johnson was powerless to alter the bird’s ill-timed trajectory across home plate on that fateful day in 2001. But the “Big Unit” handled the aftermath of his freak exploding bird pitch with class and understanding. It was a lesson in the randomness of life and a bizarre moment that none who witnessed will ever forget. The bird gave its life in service of one of baseball’s most improbable moments.

Conclusion

Randy Johnson’s exploding bird pitch lives on as one of those unforgettable flashes of sports absurdity that help make the games we love so entertaining. It was the perfect storm of circumstance, with a heat-throwing legend unwittingly obliterating an unsuspecting dove, all occurring on the perfect public stage of a Spring Training game. While certainly not something Johnson intended, it produced a visceral moment that etched its fame in the annals of sports lore. It serves as a reminder that unlikely things can happen when birds, beasts, and balls collide on the playing field. So while tragic, the ill-fated bird’s legacy lives on as a testament to the randomness and wonder of athletics.