Phoenix officially became a city in 1881, 31 years before Arizona became a state. But not once in the course of that 134-year existence had a municipal leader bestowed a key to the city to anyone. And considering the “key to the city” concept has been around since Medieval times, there were opportunities.
That non-key streak was ended earlier this month when soon-to-be Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson was given the honor.
To figure this out, I spoke with longtime KJZZ commentator Robrt Pela, who himself was actually given a key to the city of San Francisco in the late 1980s. We asked him why Phoenix was so late in adopting this tradition.
