"Photography keeps me out of trouble," Randy Johnson says with a grin, surrounded by his own work now hanging inside the Arizona Diamondbacks Hall of Fame and Museum at Chase Field. "It keeps me occupied. It keeps my mind going. And I get to share it."
Tucked away on the main concourse in right field, the Arizona Diamondbacks Hall of Fame and History Museum is one of Chase Field’s true hidden gems—a walk through of the team's legacy filled with artifacts, memorabilia, iconic photography, and esteemed accolades. Think Cy Young awards, The Commissioner's Trophy, and game-used bases. If you have a ticket to the game, you can access it—and now #51’s latest chapter is also on display.
Long before he was a World Series MVP, Randy Johnson was studying photojournalism at USC, developing his own film and covering campus events for the college newspaper. "People think I picked up a camera after baseball. I didn’t," he says. "I just had to put it aside when I was drafted."
The Randy Johnson Photo Experience—his new exhibit installed inside the Hall of Fame Museum—marks another milestone in a lifelong passion that’s taken him around the world. His latest coffee table book, a collection of over 100 images from six trips to Africa, captures everything from wild safaris to quiet landscapes.
"I recently visited Japan," Johnson says. "I love documenting where I go. If it inspires people to travel or experience the world differently, that's the best part."
The idea of seeing his work on full display started in Cooperstown. "Normally I just see these little thumbnails on my computer. Seeing them full-sized—and hearing how it moved people—made me want to do more."
Photography, like baseball, demands commitment. "If you want good photos, you’ve got to get up early," he says. "That shot of the Colosseum? I was there at 5 AM. And there were already 20 photographers waiting for the sun."
The discipline, the research, the patience—it’s all familiar. "I gave everything I had to baseball," he says. "Now, this is what I give my time to."
This exhibit inside Chase Field offers fans a rare chance to experience another side of Randy —one they might not have seen during his days dominating the mound. "It’s probably a lot more pleasant to be around me now," he jokes. "You didn’t want to come talk to me during a game. But here, kids wearing my jersey can see a different side."
Among the photos is one of Pike Place Market, a memory from his early days living in Seattle—captured on film back in 1991. "The fact that I still had that negative," he says, "means a lot. I wish I had more from my college days. You don’t realize how special it is until you look back."
The Randy Johnson Photo Experience is personal—not just a gallery, but a window into a life lived beyond baseball.
"My favorite photo?" he shrugs. "It’s always the next one I haven't taken yet."
Even after a Hall of Fame career, Randy isn't interested in standing still. "I'm grateful for what baseball gave me," he says. "But I’m not stuck there. I want to keep moving, keep seeing new places, keep sharing it."
When asked what’s next, he smiles. "No big plan," he says. "Maybe living in Europe for a month. Take the train. Bring my camera. Just see what happens."
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