Big Multi-Talented Unit Randy Johnson Befriends, Photographs Soundgarden

Next time you're at the Croc or Neumo's or wherever and the tallest dude in the place is—if you share the phenomenon that plagues my 5'3" plus-one—standing right in front of you, it might be a Hall of Fame-bound pitcher. Because retired Mariners ace Randy Johnson, all 6'10" of him, is now dabbling as a rock photographer. And he has some local Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-bound friends: Soundgarden.

Turns out the Big Unit forged ties with guitarist Kim Thayil back when both the lefty's career and Thayil's band were just taking off. In 1989, Johnson spotted the bearded axeman on the big screen during a game at the Kingdome; he extended a batting practice invite to Thayil through the band's manager, and the rest is record book-rewriting history, now recounted by Johnson at Spin.com.

"We became friends," says Johnson, "and he'd take me to a lot of clubs, introduce me to a lot of different bands, and we'd drink and shoot pool and have a good time."

"It [sic] just enjoyed hanging out with them, drinking a beer, and watching them do their thing, much like I've had Kim and a couple of the other guys come to watch me pitch. Two entirely different venues and different fans. Just a whole different setting. But I can appreciate what they do—they're really good at what they do—and I think that I've been okay myself at what I do. I think it's just a great trade off."

The pitcher and the guitarist stayed close throughout Soundgarden's 13-year absence, too, talking baseball, music, and early-age retirement. And when the band was planning its return earlier this year, Johnson, freshly cleatless, was right there.

"Kim had asked me to come down to a studio where they were rehearsing," says Johnson. "And this was several days before they did that unannounced first show of theirs at the Showbox in Seattle. Unfortunately, the day before they played that show, I had to leave to go to Japan, so I wasn't able to make it, but I watched them rehearse one night in Seattle and got caught up with all them, told them all good luck."

Soundgarden's next gig—and their last-known show for 2010—was on a much bigger stage in Chicago, and this time Johnson was there. With his camera. "I put my suitcase down, and drove over to the venue with those guys and hung out, said hi to a lot of people, and then took pictures," he says. And apparently he's been shooting for some time; his color and B&W shots of the band killing Lollapalooza are accomplished, crisp studies in light and contrast. His shuttered subjects look rock-star cool; they look human.

How do you win 300+ baseball games with one arm, befriend one of your generation's biggest bands, and nonchalantly switch career gears? "Practice, practice, practice," Johnson says. Naturally.