MLB 21st century face of the franchise — Arizona Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson
Until his late 2018 trade to the Cardinals, Paul Goldschmidt was the obvious pick as the Diamondbacks’ franchise face. With Arizona, he was a six-time All-Star and two-time MVP runner-up. He remains the franchise leader in WAR, on-base average and slugging.
But Goldschmidt’s departure, on terms that were less than ideal, forces a reconsideration of the question, especially since he now plays for an opponent.
Lacking a current star, the best replacement candidate is Randy Johnson, whose accomplishments with the Diamondbacks were legendary. Between 1999 and 2004, he won 103 games against 49 defeats, returning in 2007 to add 15 more wins.
In the first four seasons of the franchise’s existence, 1999 through 2002, he swept the Cy Young Award, leading the league three times in ERA, twice in innings pitched, and four times in strikeouts.
A Hall of Famer, largely for his accomplishments with Arizona, he remains today the franchise leader in pitcher WAR, victories, ERA, games started, complete games, strikeouts and shutouts.
Finally, and not inconsequentially, he is a memorable character. Standing 6-10 with that flowing hair and mustache, he is in a literal sense the D-Backs’ face.
In the wings: How about Corbin Carroll? He hasn’t done anything yet to supplant Johnson in the minds of D-Backs fans, but Arizona just gave Carroll about $160 million through 2031. They believe.