Arizona's deadly duo

Curt Schilling is an awesome power pitcher

By BBC Sport Online's Kevin Asseo

The Arizona Diamondbacks have made history by winning the World Series after just four seasons in Major League Baseball - faster than any team before.

By beating the all-conquering New York Yankees in a thrilling seven-game series, the Diamondbacks are well worth their place in baseball's history books.

But how did such a young organisation take on and beat the mighty Yankees?

The pitchers are the secret of Diamondbacks' success

It was simple, really - take a core of veteran players, plus an unconventional manager, and add the two best pitchers in the National League.

Veterans like Mark Grace and Luis Gonzalez certainly gave Arizona the maturity they needed to succeed in the post-season.

And manager Bob Brenly pressed all the right buttons in his first season at the helm.

But the Diamondbacks' success was based squarely on the brilliance of their two star pitchers, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson.

Schilling, the right-hander who is the very definition of a "power pitcher", and Johnson, the towering lefty who intimidates nearly every batter he faces, form the deadliest one-two punch in baseball today.

Their performances against New York were nothing short of heroic.

Me and Curt fed off one another all year long, and I think we made ourselves better

Randy Johnson

Schilling started games one, four and seven - the last two starts coming after just three days' rest - for a 1-0 record with an earned run average of just 1.69.

Johnson started games two and six - winning both - and then came out of the bullpen in game seven to clinch the last four outs and claim his third win of the series.

Johnson's ERA for the series was an incredible 1.04, as he reversed his reputation for failing on the big occasion.

We now take a closer look at each man's strengths.

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Curt Schilling

Before coming to the Diamondbacks in a blockbuster trade in the middle of the 2000 season, the 35-year-old Schilling had spent the previous eight years as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Although he made a trip to the World Series with the Phillies in 1993, the majority of teams Schilling played for in Philadelphia were dreadful.

  Schilling's 2001 stats

Wins 22

Losses 6

ERA 2.98

Games35

Complete games 6

Strikeouts 293

Walks 39

However, even with little support from his team-mates, Schilling established himself as a star, racking up personal accolades and leading the National League in strikeouts in 1997 and 1998.

Schilling's style is all about the fastball. He throws it hard and he throws it often.

Even when batters know the fastball is coming, they still usually cannot hit it.

He offsets his fastball with a split-fingered pitch, which sinks sharply as it reaches the plate, keeping hitters off-balance and setting them up for the strikeout.

He has flourished since the trade to Arizona, actually improving on what was already his excellent form.

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Randy Johnson

Johnson, the "Big Unit," is as fearsome as they come.

At 6'10", the 38-year-old is listed as the tallest player in the history of Major League Baseball.

  Johnson's 2001 stats

Wins 21

Losses 6

ERA 2.49

Games 35

Complete games 3

Strikeouts 372

Walks 71

But it is not just his size that is intimidating. Johnson can throw as hard as anyone in baseball, topping out at 100mph on his fastball.

As good as Schilling is at striking out hitters, Johnson is better.

He has struck out at least 300 hitters in each of the past four seasons, the only pitcher ever to achieve that feat, and tied the Major League record earlier this season when he struck out 20 batters in a game.

Because of the motion he gets on his pitches, curving them sharply towards the right side of the plate, left-handed hitters are virtually helpless against Johnson.

Johnson and Schilling were the key to the Diamondbacks' success all season.

And to be made co-MVPs for the World Series is a fitting tribute to a remarkable double act.