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Beanball Boosted Randy's Bid for 300

6-10 lefty uses the beanball to reach pitching milestone

By Mark Morales

| Sunday, Jul 12, 2009 | Updated 11:54 AM EDT

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The key to Johnson’s success may be intimidation. Johnson has hit the most batters, 188, since Walter Johnson and Eddie Plank took the mound in the World War one era.

As San Francisco Giants lefthander Randy Johnson goes for win No. 300 tonight, one report says he has a not-so-secret weapon to thank: the beanball.

It doesn't hurt that the 45-year-old lefty had a 100-mph fastball and pinpoint accuracy throughout most of his career. But keeping batters off balance with the fear factor may have been his biggest key, according to The Wall Street Journal. The paper reports that Johnson has hit the most batters, 188, since Walter Johnson and Eddie Plank took the mound in the World War one era.