Davey Johnson
Encyclopedia
David Allen "Davey" Johnson (born January 30, 1943 in Orlando, Florida
) is an American Major League Baseball (MLB)
player and current manager
of the Washington Nationals
. He was the starting second baseman
for the Baltimore Orioles
when they won four American League (AL)
pennant
s and two World Series
championships between 1965 and 1972. He made four All-Star Game
appearances and received the Rawlings Gold Glove Award
three times. He also played for the Atlanta Braves
(1973–1975), Yomiuri Giants
(1975–1976), Philadelphia Phillies
(1977–1978) and Chicago Cubs
(1978).
His biggest success as a manager was when he led the New York Mets
to the 1986 World Series
title. The ball club captured the National League (NL) East
under his watch in 1988
. The teams he piloted in the three years from 1995 to 1997 all made it to their respective League Championship Series – the Cincinnati Reds
in 1995
and the Orioles in both 1996
and 1997
. Johnson won the American League's Manager of the Year Award in 1997 when he led the Baltimore Orioles wire-to-wire to the American League East Division Championship. He would later manage the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
On June 25, 2011, he replaced Jim Riggleman
as manager of the Washington Nationals
, after Riggleman unexpectedly resigned two days before.
, Johnson signed with the Baltimore Orioles
as an amateur free agent in 1962. He made the team, and was in the opening day line-up for the 1965 season opener, but spent most of the season in the minors, where he batted .301 for the Rochester Red Wings
. On June 13, 1966, the Orioles traded second baseman Jerry Adair
to the Chicago White Sox
to make room for Johnson at second base. He responded with a .257 batting average
, seven home run
s and 56 runs batted in to finish third in American League
Rookie of the Year balloting for the 1966 World Series
champions. In the 1966 World Series
, Johnson earned the distinction of being the last person to get a hit off of Sandy Koufax
.
Johnson reached the World Series
again with the Orioles in , and , winning his only other ring as a player in 1970. He also won the AL Gold Glove Award
at second base all three seasons. Orioles shortstop
Mark Belanger
won the award as well in 1969 and 1971, joining a select list of eight shortstop-second baseman combinations have won the honor in the same season while playing together. Third baseman
Brooks Robinson
also was in the middle of his record 16 straight Gold Glove streak when Johnson and Belanger won their awards.
Following the 1972 season, Johnson was traded with Pat Dobson
, Roric Harrison
and Johnny Oates
to the Atlanta Braves
for Taylor Duncan
and Earl Williams. Johnson's best statistical year came in 1973 with the Braves when his offense exploded and he tied Rogers Hornsby
's record for most single-season home runs by a second baseman with 42 (he actually hit 43 that year, but one came as a pinch hitter – The Sporting News Baseball Record Book, 2007 p. 23). The 1973 Braves
featured the first trio of teammates ever to all hit 40 home runs in the same season when Johnson hit 43, Darrell Evans
hit 41, and Hank Aaron hit 40. Johnson's second-highest was 18 home runs in the 1971 season – considered to be a good number for a second baseman, itself.
Four games into the 1975 season, Johnson was released by the Braves. He signed and played in the Japanese League
for the Yomiuri Giants
(1975–1976). He returned to America
in 1977, signing as a free agent
with the Philadelphia Phillies
. During the 1978 season, Johnson hit two grand slam home runs as a pinch-hitter for the Phillies. Shortly afterwards, he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs
, where he ended his playing career.
Johnson, batting against Jerry Koosman
, was the last batter of the 1969 World Series – flying out to give the Mets their first World Championship. He would go on to manage the Mets to their second, with Jesse Orosco
striking out the final batter. Coincidentally, the two pitchers had been traded for each other after the 1978 season. Johnson would manage Orosco again in Baltimore, as Orosco signed with the Orioles as a free agent in 1995, a year before Johnson arrived.
of the San Francisco Giants
, Daryl Strawberry of the New York Yankees
, Ben Broussard
of the Cleveland Indians
, and Brooks Conrad
of the Atlanta Braves
.
(1993–1995), Baltimore Orioles (1996–1997), Los Angeles Dodgers
(1999–2000), and Washington Nationals (2011 – present)
. After guiding them to a 51–21 record, he became a coach in the New York Mets farm system. He won pennants in each of his three seasons in the minors, and within a few years was manager of the Mets' top farm team, the Tidewater Tides.
He took over the parent club, which hadn't won a pennant since 1973, in 1984, and was eager for success. Johnson went on to become the first National League
manager to win at least 90 games in each of his first five seasons, with the highlight being winning the World Series
in 1986 against the Boston Red Sox
. Interestingly, while with the Baltimore Orioles, Johnson made the final out to clinch the Mets' first World Championship
in 1969. However, Johnson rankled Mets management with his easygoing style. When the Mets struggled early in the 1990 season
, he was fired. He is still the winningest manager in Mets history.
hired him 44 games into the 1993 season. As was the case with the Mets, Johnson revived the Reds almost immediately. He led the team to the National League Central
lead at the time of the 1994 players' strike, and won the first official NL Central title in 1995.
However, early in the 1995 season, Reds owner Marge Schott
announced Johnson would not return in 1996, regardless of how the Reds did. Schott named former Reds third baseman Ray Knight
(who had also played for Johnson on the Mets championship team) as bench coach, with the understanding that he would take over as manager in 1996.
Johnson and Schott had never gotten along, and relations had deteriorated to the point that he'd nearly been fired after the 1994 season. By most accounts, the final straw came because Schott didn't approve of Johnson living with his then-fiancée, Susan, before they were married.
playoff berth in 1996 (the Orioles' first trip to the postseason since winning the 1983 World Series
) and the American League East
title in 1997.
However, Johnson and Orioles owner Peter Angelos
never got along; the two men almost never spoke to each other. The final straw reportedly came when Johnson fined Roberto Alomar
for skipping a team banquet in April 1997 and an exhibition game against the Rochester Red Wings
(the Orioles' top farm team at the time) during the 1997 All-Star Break. Johnson ordered Alomar to pay the fine by making out a check for a fine to a charity run by Johnson's wife, Susan. However, Alomar donated the money to another charity after players' union
lawyers advised him of the possible conflict of interest
. In negotiations after the season, Johnson was prepared to admit he'd made an error in judgment regarding the fine, but Angelos demanded that Johnson admit that he'd acted recklessly in not leaving the decision to him. Johnson refused to do so, and offered his resignation—which was accepted by Angelos on the same day that Johnson was named American League
Manager of the Year.
, who had beaten Johnson's heavily favored Mets
in seven games in the 1988 National League Championship Series
. Unfortunately, Johnson suffered the first full losing season of his managerial career, finishing in third place eight games under .500. While the Dodgers
rebounded to second place the next year
, it was not enough to save Johnson's job.
in 2003 during the absence of Robert Eenhoorn
, then served as a bench coach under Eenhoorn at the 2004 Summer Olympics
. He then became manager of Team USA, where he managed the United States team
to a seventh-place finish out of an 18-team field in the 2005 Baseball World Cup, held in The Netherlands. The team finished tied for second in its group during group play with a 6–2 record before falling, 11–3, to eventual winner and 24-time World Cup champion Cuba
in the quarterfinals. A subsequent 9–0 loss to Nicaragua
put the Americans into the seventh-place game with Puerto Rico
, where they prevailed with an 11–3 win. Johnson also served as bench coach for Team USA during the 2006 World Baseball Classic
. He managed the USA baseball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
On June 7, 2006, Johnson was hired by the Washington Nationals
as a consultant to team general manager Jim Bowden
. Bowden was the general manager of the Cincinnati Reds when Johnson served as the team's manager.
In 2009 he managed Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
.
In November, 2009 Johnson was hired as a Senior Adviser by Washington Nationals
.
In 2009 Johnson was also the head coach for the Florida Collegiate Summer League, DeLand Suns, and has returned as the head coach for the 2010 Sanford River Rats season.
Davey Johnson was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame with Frank Cashen
, Darryl Strawberry
, and Dwight Gooden
on August 1, 2010.
front office on June 7, 2006 when he was appointed as a consultant by then-vice president/general manager
Jim Bowden
. He was named a senior advisor to current GM Mike Rizzo
after the 2009 campaign
. He became the Nationals manager on June 26, 2011 after the unexpected resignation of Jim Riggleman
three days earlier. He served as manager for the rest of the 2011 season. On October 31, the Nationals announced that Davey Johnson would be their manager for the 2012 season.
in addition to Texas A&M, and graduated from Trinity University
in 1964 with a bachelor's degree
in mathematics
. http://www.trinity.edu/departments/alumni_relations/profiles/0911_Davey_Johnson.htm He is known for taking a statistical approach to baseball. http://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/davey-johnson-the-mets-and-sabermetrics/
Johnson's daughter, Andrea, was a nationally-ranked amateur surfer in the late 1980s. However, Andrea died in 2005 from septic shock
.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
) is an American Major League Baseball (MLB)
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player and current manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He was the starting second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
when they won four American League (AL)
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
s and two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championships between 1965 and 1972. He made four All-Star Game
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
appearances and received the Rawlings Gold Glove Award
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
three times. He also played for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1973–1975), Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
(1975–1976), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1977–1978) and Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1978).
His biggest success as a manager was when he led the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
to the 1986 World Series
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
title. The ball club captured the National League (NL) East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
under his watch in 1988
1988 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 1988 season was the 27th regular season for the Mets. They went 100-60 and finished 1st in the NL East. They were managed by Davey Johnson. They played home games at Shea Stadium.-Offseason:...
. The teams he piloted in the three years from 1995 to 1997 all made it to their respective League Championship Series – the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in 1995
1995 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 10, 1995 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe opening game of the 1995 NLCS would be well-pitched and decided in extra innings. The only run allowed by Tom Glavine, who would go seven innings, came on a Ron Gant single following a Barry Larkin triple in the fourth...
and the Orioles in both 1996
1996 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 9, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkThe first game of the series is most notable for the infamous "Jeffrey Maier Incident." With the Yankees trailing 4–3 in the bottom of the eighth, rookie Derek Jeter hit a fly ball to deep right field off Orioles reliever...
and 1997
1997 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1997 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland-Game 2:Thursday, October 9, 1997 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland...
. Johnson won the American League's Manager of the Year Award in 1997 when he led the Baltimore Orioles wire-to-wire to the American League East Division Championship. He would later manage the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
On June 25, 2011, he replaced Jim Riggleman
Jim Riggleman
James David Riggleman is a former Major League Baseball manager and coach. Riggleman was an infielder and outfielder in the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals minor league systems from 1974–1981...
as manager of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, after Riggleman unexpectedly resigned two days before.
Playing career
After one season playing baseball at Texas A&M UniversityTexas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, Johnson signed with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
as an amateur free agent in 1962. He made the team, and was in the opening day line-up for the 1965 season opener, but spent most of the season in the minors, where he batted .301 for the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
. On June 13, 1966, the Orioles traded second baseman Jerry Adair
Jerry Adair
Kenneth Jerry Adair was a professional baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals from Sand Springs, Oklahoma.-Baltimore Orioles:...
to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
to make room for Johnson at second base. He responded with a .257 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, seven home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 56 runs batted in to finish third in American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Rookie of the Year balloting for the 1966 World Series
1966 World Series
The 1966 World Series matched the Baltimore Orioles against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Orioles sweeping the Series in four games to capture their first championship in franchise history...
champions. In the 1966 World Series
1966 World Series
The 1966 World Series matched the Baltimore Orioles against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Orioles sweeping the Series in four games to capture their first championship in franchise history...
, Johnson earned the distinction of being the last person to get a hit off of Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
Johnson reached the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
again with the Orioles in , and , winning his only other ring as a player in 1970. He also won the AL Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
at second base all three seasons. Orioles shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Mark Belanger
Mark Belanger
Mark Henry Belanger was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played almost his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles...
won the award as well in 1969 and 1971, joining a select list of eight shortstop-second baseman combinations have won the honor in the same season while playing together. Third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Brooks Robinson
Brooks Robinson
Brooks Calbert Robinson, Jr. is a former American professional baseball player. He played his entire 23-year major league career for the Baltimore Orioles . Nicknamed "The Human Vacuum Cleaner", he is generally acclaimed as the greatest defensive third-basemen in major league history...
also was in the middle of his record 16 straight Gold Glove streak when Johnson and Belanger won their awards.
Following the 1972 season, Johnson was traded with Pat Dobson
Pat Dobson
Patrick Edward Dobson, Jr. was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , Atlanta Braves , New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians...
, Roric Harrison
Roric Harrison
Roric Edward Harrison is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the distinction of being the last American League pitcher to hit a home run in an American League game before the introduction of the Designated Hitter.-Early years:Harrison signed with the Houston Astros out of Westchester...
and Johnny Oates
Johnny Oates
Johnny Lane Oates was an American professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees from 1970 to 1981...
to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Taylor Duncan
Taylor Duncan
Taylor McDowell "Dunc" Duncan was an American baseball infielder. Duncan, who was a college teammate of Leon Lee in Sacramento, was selected by the Atlanta Braves as the 10th overall pick of the 1971 Major League Baseball Draft...
and Earl Williams. Johnson's best statistical year came in 1973 with the Braves when his offense exploded and he tied Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby, Sr. , nicknamed "The Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager, and coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball . He played for the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Boston Braves , Chicago Cubs , and St. Louis Browns...
's record for most single-season home runs by a second baseman with 42 (he actually hit 43 that year, but one came as a pinch hitter – The Sporting News Baseball Record Book, 2007 p. 23). The 1973 Braves
1973 Atlanta Braves season
The highlight of the Atlanta Braves season was Hank Aaron finishing the season just one home run short of Babe Ruth as baseball's all-time home run king.- Offseason :...
featured the first trio of teammates ever to all hit 40 home runs in the same season when Johnson hit 43, Darrell Evans
Darrell Evans
Darrell Wayne Evans is a former third baseman and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1969 to 1989 with the Atlanta Braves , San Francisco Giants and Detroit Tigers . He is also the former manager and director of player personnel for the Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball...
hit 41, and Hank Aaron hit 40. Johnson's second-highest was 18 home runs in the 1971 season – considered to be a good number for a second baseman, itself.
Four games into the 1975 season, Johnson was released by the Braves. He signed and played in the Japanese League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
for the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
(1975–1976). He returned to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1977, signing as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. During the 1978 season, Johnson hit two grand slam home runs as a pinch-hitter for the Phillies. Shortly afterwards, he was dealt to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, where he ended his playing career.
Johnson, batting against Jerry Koosman
Jerry Koosman
Jerome Martin Koosman is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985...
, was the last batter of the 1969 World Series – flying out to give the Mets their first World Championship. He would go on to manage the Mets to their second, with Jesse Orosco
Jesse Orosco
Jesse Russell Orosco is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who holds the major league record for career pitching appearances. He pitched most notably for the New York Mets in the 1980s. He won a World Series in 1986 with the Mets and in 1988 with the Dodgers. He threw left-handed,...
striking out the final batter. Coincidentally, the two pitchers had been traded for each other after the 1978 season. Johnson would manage Orosco again in Baltimore, as Orosco signed with the Orioles as a free agent in 1995, a year before Johnson arrived.
Trivia
Johnson is one of only five Major League Baseball players to hit two pinch-hit grand slams in the same season. The others are Mike IvieMike Ivie
Michael Wilson Ivie , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros, and Detroit Tigers during his career from 1971 to 1983...
of the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, Daryl Strawberry of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, Ben Broussard
Ben Broussard
Benjamin Isaac Broussard is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman. He is currently a musician. Broussard was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and Brooks Conrad
Brooks Conrad
Brooks Litchfield Conrad , nicknamed "Raw Dog", is a Major League Baseball second baseman, third baseman, and pinch hitter for the Atlanta Braves.-Career:...
of the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
Managing career
Johnson managed the New York Mets (1984–1990), Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1993–1995), Baltimore Orioles (1996–1997), Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1999–2000), and Washington Nationals (2011 – present)
New York Mets
Johnson began his managerial career in 1979 with the independent Miami Amigos of the Inter-American LeagueInter-American League
The Inter-American League was a high-level circuit in minor league baseball that played only three months before folding during the 1979 season...
. After guiding them to a 51–21 record, he became a coach in the New York Mets farm system. He won pennants in each of his three seasons in the minors, and within a few years was manager of the Mets' top farm team, the Tidewater Tides.
He took over the parent club, which hadn't won a pennant since 1973, in 1984, and was eager for success. Johnson went on to become the first National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
manager to win at least 90 games in each of his first five seasons, with the highlight being winning the World Series
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
in 1986 against the Boston Red Sox
1986 Boston Red Sox season
The 1986 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 1st in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 66 losses.-Offseason:...
. Interestingly, while with the Baltimore Orioles, Johnson made the final out to clinch the Mets' first World Championship
1969 World Series
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
in 1969. However, Johnson rankled Mets management with his easygoing style. When the Mets struggled early in the 1990 season
1990 New York Mets season
The 1990 New York Mets season was the 29th regular season for the Mets. They went 91-71 and finished second in the National League East. They were managed by Davey Johnson and Bud Harrelson...
, he was fired. He is still the winningest manager in Mets history.
Cincinnati Reds
After more than two seasons out of baseball, the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
hired him 44 games into the 1993 season. As was the case with the Mets, Johnson revived the Reds almost immediately. He led the team to the National League Central
National League Central
The National League Central Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. This division was created in 1994, by moving two teams from the Western Division and three teams from the Eastern Division of the National League...
lead at the time of the 1994 players' strike, and won the first official NL Central title in 1995.
However, early in the 1995 season, Reds owner Marge Schott
Marge Schott
Margaret Unnewehr Schott was the managing general partner, president and CEO of the National League's Cincinnati Reds franchise from 1984 to 1999...
announced Johnson would not return in 1996, regardless of how the Reds did. Schott named former Reds third baseman Ray Knight
Ray Knight
Charles Ray Knight is a former right-handed Major League Baseball third baseman best remembered for his time with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets...
(who had also played for Johnson on the Mets championship team) as bench coach, with the understanding that he would take over as manager in 1996.
Johnson and Schott had never gotten along, and relations had deteriorated to the point that he'd nearly been fired after the 1994 season. By most accounts, the final straw came because Schott didn't approve of Johnson living with his then-fiancée, Susan, before they were married.
Baltimore Orioles
Almost immediately, Johnson returned to Baltimore as the Orioles' manager. Again, he breathed new life into a struggling franchise as the Orioles earned a wild-cardWild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
playoff berth in 1996 (the Orioles' first trip to the postseason since winning the 1983 World Series
1983 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 11, 1983 at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, MarylandJohn Denver, whose Thank God I'm a Country Boy was played at the seventh-inning stretch of each Orioles home game, sang the National Anthem prior to this game....
) and the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
title in 1997.
However, Johnson and Orioles owner Peter Angelos
Peter Angelos
Peter G. Angelos , is an American trial lawyer.Angelos is also the majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles, a baseball team in the American League East Division.-Career:...
never got along; the two men almost never spoke to each other. The final straw reportedly came when Johnson fined Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar
Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player , regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. During his career he won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in history, and also won the second-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second...
for skipping a team banquet in April 1997 and an exhibition game against the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
(the Orioles' top farm team at the time) during the 1997 All-Star Break. Johnson ordered Alomar to pay the fine by making out a check for a fine to a charity run by Johnson's wife, Susan. However, Alomar donated the money to another charity after players' union
Major League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
lawyers advised him of the possible conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
. In negotiations after the season, Johnson was prepared to admit he'd made an error in judgment regarding the fine, but Angelos demanded that Johnson admit that he'd acted recklessly in not leaving the decision to him. Johnson refused to do so, and offered his resignation—which was accepted by Angelos on the same day that Johnson was named American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Manager of the Year.
Los Angeles Dodgers
In 1999, Johnson was hired as manager of the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, who had beaten Johnson's heavily favored Mets
1988 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 1988 season was the 27th regular season for the Mets. They went 100-60 and finished 1st in the NL East. They were managed by Davey Johnson. They played home games at Shea Stadium.-Offseason:...
in seven games in the 1988 National League Championship Series
1988 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 4, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe series opened with a classic pitching matchup, pitting the Dodgers' Orel Hershiser, who had won 23 games during the regular season and carried a Major League record 59 consecutive scoreless innings into the game,...
. Unfortunately, Johnson suffered the first full losing season of his managerial career, finishing in third place eight games under .500. While the Dodgers
2000 Los Angeles Dodgers season
In 2000, the Dodgers set a club record for home runs with 211, led by Gary Sheffield, who tied Duke Snider's single-season club mark with 43. Eric Karros became the L.A. Dodger all-time leader with his 229th home run and Dave Hansen set a Major League record with seven pinch-hit home runs. Kevin...
rebounded to second place the next year
2000 Major League Baseball season
The 2000 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees defeating the New York Mets in Game 5 of the World Series, known as the Subway Series because fans could take the Subway to and from every game of the Series. An all-time record 5,693 home runs were hit during the regular season...
, it was not enough to save Johnson's job.
2000 – 2010
Johnson briefly managed the Netherlands national teamNetherlands national baseball team
The Netherlands national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Netherlands. They are currently the top team in Europe and currently the sixth ranked men's baseball team in the IBAF World Rankings....
in 2003 during the absence of Robert Eenhoorn
Robert Eenhoorn
Robert Franciscus Eenhoorn is a retired Dutch professional baseball player and manager. He played four seasons of Major League Baseball as a utility infielder for the New York Yankees and California/Anaheim Angels.-Major League career:Robert Eenhoorn played four seasons in Major League Baseball as...
, then served as a bench coach under Eenhoorn at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
-Preliminary round:The top four teams advanced to the semifinals. To determine the seed ranking of teams tied in the standings, the result of the two teams' game against each other was used. Japan therefore received first place due to the win over Cuba. In the semi-finals, Japan played...
. He then became manager of Team USA, where he managed the United States team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
to a seventh-place finish out of an 18-team field in the 2005 Baseball World Cup, held in The Netherlands. The team finished tied for second in its group during group play with a 6–2 record before falling, 11–3, to eventual winner and 24-time World Cup champion Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
in the quarterfinals. A subsequent 9–0 loss to Nicaragua
Nicaragua national baseball team
The Nicaragua national baseball team is the national baseball team of Nicaragua. Considered the best in Central America along with Panama It represents Nicaragua in international tournaments.- Placings :Olympic Games* 1992 : did not qualify...
put the Americans into the seventh-place game with Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico national baseball team
The Puerto Rico National Baseball Team is a team that is selected by the Puerto Rican Baseball Federation to compete in major international events in representation of Puerto Rico...
, where they prevailed with an 11–3 win. Johnson also served as bench coach for Team USA during the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
. He managed the USA baseball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
.
On June 7, 2006, Johnson was hired by the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
as a consultant to team general manager Jim Bowden
Jim Bowden
-Early life and career:Bowden was born in Boston, MA and raised in Weston, Massachusetts and Boothbay Harbor, ME. He graduated from Rollins College in 1983 with a B.A. degree in Communications and Business Administration. He was the Sports Director at the College radio station as well doing the...
. Bowden was the general manager of the Cincinnati Reds when Johnson served as the team's manager.
In 2009 he managed Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
.
In November, 2009 Johnson was hired as a Senior Adviser by Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.
In 2009 Johnson was also the head coach for the Florida Collegiate Summer League, DeLand Suns, and has returned as the head coach for the 2010 Sanford River Rats season.
Davey Johnson was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame with Frank Cashen
Frank Cashen
John Francis Cashen is a former Major League Baseball general manager. He is widely considered to be the architect of the World Champion 1986 New York Mets and was also an executive while the Baltimore Orioles won the 1966 World Series and 1970 World Series.-Early life:Cashen was born in...
, Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Eugene Strawberry is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder who is well-known both for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off it...
, and Dwight Gooden
Dwight Gooden
Dwight Eugene Gooden , nicknamed "Doc Gooden" or "Dr. K", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s.-Career:...
on August 1, 2010.
Washington Nationals
Johnson first joined the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
front office on June 7, 2006 when he was appointed as a consultant by then-vice president/general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Jim Bowden
Jim Bowden
-Early life and career:Bowden was born in Boston, MA and raised in Weston, Massachusetts and Boothbay Harbor, ME. He graduated from Rollins College in 1983 with a B.A. degree in Communications and Business Administration. He was the Sports Director at the College radio station as well doing the...
. He was named a senior advisor to current GM Mike Rizzo
Mike Rizzo
Michael "Mike" Rizzo, is an American DJ/remixer from New York City since the early 1990s. He is well known for working with various artists such as Jennifer Green and Sun, all of whom scored hits on both Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Dance Airplay charts.He also achieved success on both...
after the 2009 campaign
2009 Washington Nationals season
The Washington Nationals' 2009 season was the 5th season for the American baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, and the 41st since the original team was started in Montréal, Canada...
. He became the Nationals manager on June 26, 2011 after the unexpected resignation of Jim Riggleman
Jim Riggleman
James David Riggleman is a former Major League Baseball manager and coach. Riggleman was an infielder and outfielder in the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals minor league systems from 1974–1981...
three days earlier. He served as manager for the rest of the 2011 season. On October 31, the Nationals announced that Davey Johnson would be their manager for the 2012 season.
Personal life
He attended Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio,TX and the Johns Hopkins UniversityJohns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
in addition to Texas A&M, and graduated from Trinity University
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
in 1964 with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
. http://www.trinity.edu/departments/alumni_relations/profiles/0911_Davey_Johnson.htm He is known for taking a statistical approach to baseball. http://miscbaseball.wordpress.com/2009/12/04/davey-johnson-the-mets-and-sabermetrics/
Johnson's daughter, Andrea, was a nationally-ranked amateur surfer in the late 1980s. However, Andrea died in 2005 from septic shock
Septic shock
Septic shock is a medical emergency caused by decreased tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery as a result of severe infection and sepsis, though the microbe may be systemic or localized to a particular site. It can cause multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death...
.