Davey Johnson Was a World Series Champion as a Player & a Manager

Former MLB player and manager Davey Johnson passed away yesterday at the age of 82.

Johnson is probably best remembered for guiding the 1986 New York Mets to a World Series title much to the consternation of Red Sox Nation. Ironically, when the Mets won their first World Series title in 1969, it was Johnson would made the final out as a member of the Baltimore Orioles.

The son of a military officer who survived an Italian POW camp, Johnson had many interests - golf, scuba diving, fishing, airplanes and mathematics. But he loved baseball above all else. 

Signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1962, he would make his MLB debut with the club in 1965 as a backup infielder playing 20 games that year. In his first full season in 1966, Johnson became the everyday second baseman and would finish tied for third in AL Rookie of the Year balloting with Boston Red Sox first baseman George Scott behind Kansas City A's pitcher Jim Nash and the winner Tommie Agee who began his career as an outfielder with the Chicago White Sox. The Orioles would go on to win their first World Series in franchise history that year. 

Johnson would quickly become the best second baseman in the AL earning three consecutive All-Star Game selections between 1968 and 1970 while winning three consecutive Gold Gloves between 1969 and 1971. Those Gold Gloves coincided with three consecutive AL pennants for the Orioles. Johnson and shortstop Mark Belanger provided stellar defense behind a starting rotation which consisted of Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally and Pat Dobson. Although Johnson would earn a second World Series ring with the O's in 1970, the team would fall short against the Mets in 1969 and in 1971 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Following the 1972 season, as the Orioles groomed Bobby Grich to take over second base, Johnson was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with Dobson, pitcher Roric Harrison and catcher Johnny Oates in exchange for catcher Earl Williams and infielder Taylor Duncan. Johnson would become the standout of this trade. Prior to 1973, Johnson had never hit more than 18 HR in a single season. In his inaugural season in Atlanta, Johnson clubbed 43 HR and drove in 99 runs as teammates Darrell Evans and Hank Aaron also hit 41 and 40 HR, respectively. It is the first and only time three teammates hit 40 HR in a season. Johnson finished second in the NL in HRs behind Pittsburgh Pirates' star Willie Stargell who hit 44. 

Johnson's numbers in 1974 were more typical of his offensive output - 15 HR and 62 RBI. Nevertheless, a disappointment after his career year in 1973. By 1975, Johnson was among the first American players to suit up in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants becoming teammates with Japanese HR king Sadaharu Oh. After two seasons in Japan, Johnson returned to the U.S. finishing his career was a backup player with the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. In 13 MLB seasons as a player, Johnson appeared in 1435 games collecting 1252 hits for a lifetime batting average of .261 with 136 HR and 609 RBI. 

In 1981, Johnson joined the New York Mets organization as a minor league manager. Johnson was hired by Mets GM Frank Cashen who was also served as GM of the Baltimore Orioles when Johnson was a player. In 1984, Cashen promoted Johnson as manager of the big-league club. Emphasizing on promoting younger players and using statistical analysis in his game management style, the Mets went from a moribund franchise to serious contenders in the NL East. 

Johnson reached the pinnacle of his career managing the Mets to a World Series title in 1986. An NL East title would follow in 1988, but the Mets would be upset by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. Johnson would be fired in the middle of the 1990 season. Nevertheless, with 595 career wins, Johnson remains the winningest manager in Mets history.

In 1993, Johnson returned to the major league managerial ranks when he took over as manager of the Cincinnati Reds after Big Red Machine legend Tony Perez was dismissed after only 44 games at the helm. However, Johnson guided the Reds to back-to-back first place finishes in the NL Central. Unfortunately, the players' strike forced the cancellation of post-season in 1994. The Reds would reach the NLCS in 1995 but were swept by the Atlanta Braves. Oddly, despite winning the NL Central, the mercurial Marge Schott gave Johnson his walking papers before the season as Schott wanted Ray Knight to manage the team in 1996. Ironically, Johnson had managed Knight on the 1986 New York Mets.

In 1996, Johnson would return to Baltimore to become the team's manager. Despite reaching the post-season in both 1996 and 1997, Johnson's relationship with team owner Peter Angelos was every bit as contentious as with Schott in Cincinnati. When Johnson was given AL Manager of the Year honors in 1997, Johnson resigned.

Johnson would manage the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999 and 2000. However, it was his only big league stop where his team did not make a post-season appearance. Johnson spent most of the 2000s away from baseball although he would manage the Team USA at the Baseball World Cup in 2007, the U.S. Olympic Team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and Team USA at the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2009. Johnson would earn a championship in 2007 and third place finishes in 2008 and 2009.

Amid this, Johnson had been a part of the Washington Nationals front office. When Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned as manager of the team in 2011, Johnson returned to a big-league dugout for the first time in over a decade. Johnson would win NL Manager of the Year honors in 2012 after guiding the Nats to their first NL East title. 

Following the 2013 season, Johnson retired from managing for good. Over 17 seasons with 5 different clubs, Johnson compiled a managerial record of 1372-1071. 

Former Met Darryl Strawberry paid tribute to Johnson writing in part:

I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Davey Johnson, a remarkable leader who transformed the Mets franchise into a winning organization. His ability to empower players to express themselves while maintaining a strong commitment to excellence was truly inspiring.....Love You Forever Davey Johnson.

R.I.P.