On September 14, 2002, Arizona Diamondbacks’ aces Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson became the first duo of teammates to each record 300 strikeouts in a single season. Schilling cemented his place in history by striking out eight batters against the Milwaukee Brewers, the same team the Diamondbacks face this weekend.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The 2002 season was a special one for the Diamondbacks, fresh off their first World Series championship. Schilling, who was integral to that success, continued his dominance, finishing the season with 316 strikeouts, 23 wins (a career high), and a 3.23 ERA. His remarkable season earned him a second-place finish in Cy Young voting for the second consecutive year.
What kept Schilling from claiming the award? His teammate Randy Johnson. Johnson had an equally extraordinary season, racking up 334 strikeouts, 24 wins (a franchise record), and a league-best 2.32 ERA. Johnson was awarded his fourth consecutive Cy Young, adding to his already legendary career.
Despite the historic achievements of Schilling and Johnson, the Diamondbacks’ postseason run in 2002 fell short. Johnson struggled in Game 1 of the NLDS, while Schilling received no run support in Game 2. Arizona was swept in three games by the St. Louis Cardinals, cutting short their hopes of another deep playoff run.
