One thing's for sure, though. Both Spahn and Johnson have posted some mighty impressive and attractive records as dominating lefthanders. Watching Spahn's legendary windup and leg kick was a thing of beauty for most youngsters in the 1950s.

And, today, seeing Johnson blow a 100-miles-per-hour fastball past an opposing hitter is enough to make a young man's jaw drop to the ground. Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry might be hard pressed to receive as many stares - even if she were to walk into a crowded room with only a bikini on.

(Left to right) Richard Newville, Warren Spahn, and Todd Newville share a moment at the 3rd Annual Warren Spahn Award ceremonies on Jan. 30 in Guthrie, Okla. (Photo by Richard Clifton)

Seriously, when you're arguably the greatest lefty to ever toe a pitching rubber, it's hard to be humble. That's why Spahn's praise of Johnson and his talents is enough to make everyone stand up and listen. Spahn spoke glowingly of Johnson during the 3rd Annual Warren Spahn Award ceremonies on Jan. 30 inside the Oklahoma Sports Museum in Guthrie, Okla. With a nasty ice storm wreaking havoc on most of the state of Oklahoma, Johnson was unable to fly in for the ceremonies. And, since he had to report for spring training in less than a week with pitchers and catchers, there was no time left to reschedule the affair. Hence, the show went on without the honoree in attendance. It gave Spahn an opportunity to heap equal doses of humor and praise upon Johnson, even in the latter's absence. "He's got more money than all of us put together," Spahn said amongst a sparse gathering of about 30 people inside the OSM, "but he's an outstanding guy and I wish I could just get to see him today."

In 2001, Johnson (at 6-feet-10 the tallest baseball player in history) won his fourth career Cy Young Award (and third straight in the National League) after helping lead the Diamondbacks to their first World Series title in a thrilling seven-game tilt against the vaunted New York Yankees.

Johnson went 21-6 during the regular season with a 2.49 ERA and 372 strikeouts in just 249.6 innings pitched. He came within 12 whiffs of breaking Nolan Ryan's record of 383 strikeouts in 1973 for the California Angels. He established a single-season major league record with 13.41 strikeouts per nine innings. For the fifth time in his career (and fourth year in a row), Johnson had more than 300 strikeouts. He walked just 71 batters.

For the seventh time in his career, Johnson led his league in strikeouts. In the World Series, Johnson became the first pitcher since Mickey Lolich of the Detroit Tigers in 1968 to win three games in the same Series. Johnson won the second game (4-0) and the sixth (15-2) before coming on in relief in Game 7 to pick up his third victory with a gutsy performance against New York in the eighth inning. With that, he earned World Series co-MVP honors along with teammate Curt Schilling.

Warren Spahn speaks about Randy Johnson during the 3rd Annual Warren Spahn Award ceremonies on Jan. 30 inside the Oklahoma Sports Museum in Guthrie, Okla. (Photo by Todd Newville)

"Randy Johnson had an outstanding year," said Spahn, who leads all major league lefties with 363 victories in 21 seasons with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, the New York Mets, and the San Francisco Giants. "The thing I am most proud of is that he volunteered to pitch in the seventh game after pitching in the sixth game. "I wonder how far back you must go and check to find another pitcher who pitched the day after he pitched? I know that he must have woke up the next morning and felt like he had been worked over by a truck. Randy just has that feeling and burning desire to excel. Randy showed guts and determination." Since the Spahn Award's inception (given to the best major league lefty), Johnson has been the recipient every year. It makes no difference to Spahn, however. He knows that Johnson has earned every trophy ever given him. And, because Johnson is now a World Series champion, Spahn took extra delight in bestowing his award upon the gigantic lefty once again.

"I wish I could have reached as far as he can when he throws the ball," Spahn said. "It's almost like handing the ball to the catcher for him. He told me last year here (in Guthrie) that he never had the chance to be on a championship ball club. He wanted to be on a World Series winner. "Now, he's accomplished that." Spahn turned 81 years old on April 23. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., the once-lithe major league hurler owned and operated a vast ranch just outside of Hartshorne, Okla., for many years. He still owns his 800-acre ranch (which he purchased in 1949), but now, he is retired and living next to a golf course in Broken Arrow, Okla.

Warren Spahn graced the covers of many magazines during his heyday.

Staying close to the links gives him time to work on his handicap and reflect on how he came up through the professional ranks. In 1942, he made his debut with Boston but immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. He distinguished himself as a combat engineer on the battlefields in Europe during the conflict.

Warren Spahn with Bob Hazle.

He found fame (and induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in 1973) after winning 20 or more games in a season 13 times (and six years in a row from 1956 to '61.) A 14-time National League all-star, Spahn led the Senior Circuit in complete games nine times, victories eight times and ERA three times. He won a Cy Young Award in 1957 after helping the Milwaukee Braves win their only World Series title over the Yankees. He was 21-11 that year with a 2.69 ERA, four shutouts, and 18 complete games. His pitching mate Lew Burdette (like Johnson did in last year's World Series) won three contests against the Bronx Bombers in the '57 Fall Classic.

Spahn threw two no-hitters - in 1960 against the Philadelphia Phillies (a 4-0 victory) and in 1961 against the Giants (1-0) at age 40. As Spahn grew older, he seemed to get better on the mound as evidenced by his no-hitters and the fact that he went 23-7 for Milwaukee in 1963 and finished with a 2.60 ERA that year at age 42.

But, perhaps what made Spahn one of the best pitchers of all time was that he could also handle a bat just fine. In fact, he was occasionally called upon as a pinch-hitter on days he wasn't pitching and he prided himself on being a capable batter. He hit .333 in 1958 with 15 RBI along with a 22-11 pitching record - good enough to get the Braves a return trip to the World Series. For his career, Spahn hit 35 homers - more than any other National League pitcher. "Randy even got a base hit," Spahn said, noting how Johnson got a safety and drove in a run during the Series last fall. Spahn's ability with a bat gave him the ability to understand the psychology of hitting - and gain an advantage.

All-Star Pitcher Brad Penny of the Marlins and Dodgers discusses pitching strategy and other stuff with Hall of Famer Warren Spahn inside the Oklahoma Sports Museum on Jan. 30 during the 3rd Annual Warren Spahn Award ceremonies. (Photo by Todd Newville)

Spahn managed the Tulsa (Okla.) Oilers minor-league club from 1967-70 following a brief stint as a player-coach with the Mets in 1965. He also served as pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians from 1972-73 and was a pitching instructor for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Angels after his playing days.

"I encouraged my pitchers to watch the other hitters hit during batting practice," Spahn said, "because they could tell you what they could and couldn't hit. (Pitching's) a learning experience and really just a bunch of smoke and mirrors."

In Johnson's case, certainly "smoke" comes to mind when describing his repertoire. Spahn knows, though, that Johnson is much more than just a flamethrower. To be successful, Spahn said a pitcher must know how to move the ball around and to keep hitters off balance. "All hitters are egotists," Spahn said. "I think the job of all pitchers is to throw the timing off of the hitters. Everybody wants to hit the ball out of the park and I wanted to make it as tough as I could to keep it from going out." That sounds funny coming from a pitcher who allowed 434 homers in his career - sixth most in history. But, the fact remains that Spahn kept the ball close to the plate and allowed himself the opportunity to get opposing hitters out. He allowed 4,830 hits and just 1,434 walks in 5,244 innings of work.

Warren Spahn managed the Tulsa Oilers for five seasons, winning 372 games from 1967 to '71. His 1968 club won the Pacific Coast League championship.

"My favorite pitch was always the one I got them out with," Spahn added. "I kept my records on the hitters up here (in my head). It was a sixth sense with me as to what pitch I was going to throw. I always said, 'High and tight, low and away, don't give them anything to hit, and don't walk them'."

It's more than mere speed that makes Johnson effective these days. Getting movement on the ball has helped Johnson forge a 200-101 record with 3,412 strikeouts through the beginning of the 2002 season. Spahn recognizes that.

This giant plaque of the great Warren Spahn hangs proudly along the concourse behind home plate at the Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Todd Newville)

"There was a guy who pitched for Cincinnati named Ewell Blackwell that pitched kind of sidearm and Randy reminds me of Blackwell," Spahn said. Blackwell was a six-time all-star with an unusual delivery for the Reds and led the National League with 22 victories and 193 strikeouts in 1947. "We didn't have a (radar) gun when I played," Spahn added. "Either a guy threw hard or he didn't. What matters, though, is what the hitters see. The faster the ball spins, the smaller the pitch looks. You have to take your brain as well as your arm out to the mound. It's not just throwing; it's where you throw it." Spahn certainly made a name for himself in baseball annals after starting out his career with Bradford of the Pony League in 1940, going 5-4 his very first pro season. No matter what he got paid, he always enjoyed himself on the diamond.

"I love the game of baseball and I played it whenever I could when I was young," said Spahn, who had 2,583 strikeouts and a 3.09 ERA for his career. "My first contract was with a Class D ball club which they don't have anymore. My salary was $80 per month.

"When I first came to the big leagues, my salary was $250 a month. That didn't matter to me. It was the fact I was playing professional baseball that made me happy. I spent 21 years in professional baseball and loved every minute of it."

And, Spahn loves watching Johnson pitch.

"I want to see what Randy Johnson can do this year," Spahn said. "I have always been very impressed with him and I am very proud that he's a lefthander. I think he'll only get better."

(Reprinted in its entirety, as written by Todd Newville, from the Fall 2002 edition of The Diamond Angle, Issue 71.)