Davie Johnson Passes Away at 82

Davie Johnson, the two-time Manager of the Year who led the 1986 New York Mets to a World Series Championship, has died at the age of 82.

During his career, Johnson collected three World Series titles and earned accolades as a player. Yet, it’s his management of the Mets that remains particularly memorable.

In their legendary Game 6 against the Boston Red Sox, the Mets managed an improbable comeback, ultimately forcing a Game 7 thanks to crucial errors. It was a game that many, perhaps, still talk about today.

Prior to his managerial success, Johnson was a four-time All-Star player. He won three Gold Glove Awards consecutively from 1969 to 1971 while playing with the Baltimore Orioles, where he also secured two of his championships as a player.

Interestingly, he was part of the Mets’ first World Series victory in 1969.

Besides the Mets, Johnson’s managerial journey included stints with the Cincinnati Reds, the Orioles, and the Washington Nationals, among others. He also had the honor of managing the U.S. team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

In his time, Johnson was one of only 15 managers to finish with over 300 games above .500 and is ranked 10th in win percentage among those with at least 1,000 wins. It’s worth noting that he had a penchant for analytics, often challenging decisions with a focus on optimizing lineups, reminiscent of the influential Earl Weaver.

Overall, Johnson posted a career record of 1,372 wins to 1,071 losses as a manager.