I was fortunate enough to see Randy Johnson's first no-hitter with the Mariners against the Detroit Tigers in June of 1990.
Very exciting.
Very fortunate to have gotten to see Pedro pitch in some rarefied air. Outside of baseball, he is also a great man, building a church, school, and homes in his hometown.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/23/sports/baseball/23pedro.html?_r=0
Priceless quote on the curse of the Bambino:
“I don’t believe in damn curses,” Pedro Martinez famously declared. “Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I’ll drill him in the ass.”
Randy Johnson’s single most memorable pitch was when he accidentally vaporized a bird.
Have to think Pedro and Johnson are locks. If Biggio and Smoltz get in this year also it would help to start clearing out the logjam. Tim Raines probably deserves it but I don’t think it is likely at this point.
Freegards
I think Piazza is the most interesting question.
No doubt the greatest hitting catcher of all time.
But, despite never being caught or even implicated, the idea he used PED’s has kept him out so far.
Guilt by association with an era.