Slowed by an injury in 2003, Randy was not his normally dominant self. Randy was limited to only 18 starts, going 6-8 with a 4.26 ERA. When fully healthy, Randy is without question one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. Since joining the Diamondbacks in 1999, Randy averaged 20 wins and 354 strikeouts per season prior to the 2003 campaign.

The "Big Unit" may have been at his best in 2002. He topped 20 wins for the third time and led the National League in strikeouts (334) for the fourth straight season. It was the eighth time in his career that he has led his league in strikeouts. Randy won the Cy Young award for the fourth straight time and fifth time overall in his career. Randy also recorded eight shutouts to lead the league for the fourth time, while his 2.32 ERA was tops in the National League as well.

Randy started his career north of the border in Montreal in 1988 before being traded to Seattle. With the Mariners, Randy came into prominence as he led Seattle to the playoffs in 1995 and 1997. Traded to Houston in July 1998, Randy helped lead the Astros to the postseason by going 10-1 in 11 starts, with four complete games and 116 strikeouts in 84.1 innings pitched.

Randy joined the Diamondbacks as a free agent before the 1999 season and helped Arizona to the postseason in his first year. Randy holds the career record for wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and shutouts for both the Mariners and Diamondbacks and was co-MVP of the 2001 World Series with teammate Curt Schilling. Twice Randy has been honored by his peers with the Players Choice Award for Outstanding Pitcher (1995, 2000). Randy also tied the major-league record with 20 strikeouts in a game on May 8, 2001. He threw a no-hitter against Detroit in a 2-0 win on June 2, 1990.

--BigLeaguers.com