The top 10 greatest short-lived duos in MLB history

World Series co-MVPs Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson (L) and Curt Schilling hold their MVP trophy during post-game ceremonies after the Diamondbacks' win of Game 7 of the World Series in Phoenix 04 November 2001. The Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2, winning the series four games to three to become the world champions. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

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World Series co-MVPs Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson (L) and Curt Schilling hold their MVP trophy during post-game ceremonies after the Diamondbacks’ win of Game 7 of the World Series in Phoenix 04 November 2001. The Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 3-2, winning the series four games to three to become the world champions. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

Short-lived MLB duo No. 2: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling — 2000–2003 Arizona Diamondbacks

Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling only spent three and a half years together, but their production over these seasons matches up with any other pitching duo in baseball history.

Johnson was Arizona’s first illustrious ace in franchise history. The Big Unit found success because of his high heat and revered sweeping slider that racked up strikeouts against the top hitters from the steroid era. From 2000 to 2003, Johnson won three NL Cy Young awards and piled up a league-high 1,178 strikeouts. His 2.71 ERA ranked second among starters in all of baseball behind Pedro Martinez’s 2.11 ERA. His high work rate and production is simply unparalleled and only rivaled by a handful of Hall of Fame pitchers.

He orchestrated numerous historic performances, including his 20-strikeout game against the Reds in 2001.

Schilling joined the Diamondbacks at the 2000 trade deadline and became the number two starter to complement Johnson. The hard-throwing Schilling recorded a 3.24 ERA along with 971 strikeouts over the four seasons.

As many remember, their most memorable moment together came in the team’s 2001 postseason run. Johnson racked up a 1.52 ERA over 41.1 innings while Schilling posted a 1.12 ERA over 48.1 innings pitched. The two carried the team to triumph over the Yankees in the fall classic and wound up sharing World Series MVP honors.

They later split when Schilling was traded to the Red Sox in 2003 and Johnson signed with the Yankees two years later.

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