Ron Johnson (manager)
Encyclopedia
Ronald David Johnson was the former first base coach of the Boston Red Sox
. Also, he was formerly the manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox
in minor league baseball
, having led the team since 2005-2009. He guided them to a 2nd-place finish in the North Division of the International League
. Johnson was a first baseman
for the Kansas City Royals
and Montreal Expos
in his brief major league
career from 1982-84.
and Fresno State to instead play baseball. Johnson was originally drafted by the California Angels
in the 13th round of the 1976 June amateur draft, but did not sign. The Fresno State graduate was a first-team All-America
n selection in 1978 before being drafted by Kansas City in the 24th round, the 595th overall pick. He made his major league debut with the Royals on September 12, 1982. On December 15, 1983, he was traded by Royals to the Expos for Tom Dixon. Shortly after his playing days ended, he became a coach in the Royals minor league system for six years.
Ron Johnson made his managerial debut with the Baseball City Royals
(A) of the Florida State League
in 1992. In 1995 he won Texas League
Manager of the Year honors after guiding the Wichita Wranglers
(AA) to the Texas League playoffs. In 1998 he reached Triple-A with the Omaha Royals
and in 1999 he led that club to a 1st-place finish in the Pacific Coast League
. Johnson posted six winning seasons in his eight years managing in the Royals organization.
Johnson joined the Boston Red Sox
organization in 2000 as manager of the Sarasota Red Sox (A) of the Florida State League. In 2002 Johnson was promoted to Double-A as manager of the Trenton Thunder
of the Eastern League
. When the Red Sox switched Double-A affiliations to the Portland Sea Dogs
in 2003, he moved with them and was manager of the Sea Dogs for the next two seasons. His 2003 club went 72-70 and missed the Eastern League playoffs by just a game and a half. In 2004, Johnson once again had Portland near .500 for much of the year before finishing at 69-73 and in a tie for 4th-place in the Eastern League Northern Division. From 2005 to 2009, Johnson served as manager for the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox
.
On November 23, 2009, it was announced that Johnson would become the new first base coach for the Red Sox.
On October 5, 2011, it was announced that Johnson was let go as first base coach for the Red Sox, following the departure of Manager Terry Francona.
with his wife Daphne and five children.
His son Chris
was drafted in the 37th round by the Red Sox in June 2003 but instead opted for college; and was later drafted by the Houston Astros
.
Johnson was forced to take an emergency leave from his coaching duties on August 1, 2010, after his youngest daughter was seriously injured in an equestrian accident. He missed the rest of the season and returned to the Red Sox at the outset of spring training
in .
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Also, he was formerly the manager of the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, having led the team since 2005-2009. He guided them to a 2nd-place finish in the North Division of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. Johnson was a first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
and Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in his brief major league
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...
career from 1982-84.
Career
When in high school, Johnson turned down football scholarships to UCLAUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and Fresno State to instead play baseball. Johnson was originally drafted by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 13th round of the 1976 June amateur draft, but did not sign. The Fresno State graduate was a first-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n selection in 1978 before being drafted by Kansas City in the 24th round, the 595th overall pick. He made his major league debut with the Royals on September 12, 1982. On December 15, 1983, he was traded by Royals to the Expos for Tom Dixon. Shortly after his playing days ended, he became a coach in the Royals minor league system for six years.
Ron Johnson made his managerial debut with the Baseball City Royals
Baseball City Royals
The Baseball City Royals was a farm team for the Kansas City Royals from 1988-1992.The Baseball City Royals joined the Florida State League in 1988...
(A) of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
in 1992. In 1995 he won Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
Manager of the Year honors after guiding the Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
(AA) to the Texas League playoffs. In 1998 he reached Triple-A with the Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
and in 1999 he led that club to a 1st-place finish in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. Johnson posted six winning seasons in his eight years managing in the Royals organization.
Johnson joined the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
organization in 2000 as manager of the Sarasota Red Sox (A) of the Florida State League. In 2002 Johnson was promoted to Double-A as manager of the Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
of the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
. When the Red Sox switched Double-A affiliations to the Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
in 2003, he moved with them and was manager of the Sea Dogs for the next two seasons. His 2003 club went 72-70 and missed the Eastern League playoffs by just a game and a half. In 2004, Johnson once again had Portland near .500 for much of the year before finishing at 69-73 and in a tie for 4th-place in the Eastern League Northern Division. From 2005 to 2009, Johnson served as manager for the Red Sox Triple-A affiliate, the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
.
On November 23, 2009, it was announced that Johnson would become the new first base coach for the Red Sox.
On October 5, 2011, it was announced that Johnson was let go as first base coach for the Red Sox, following the departure of Manager Terry Francona.
Personal life
Johnson lives in Orlando, FloridaOrlando, 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...
with his wife Daphne and five children.
His son Chris
Chris Johnson (baseball)
Christopher Dalton Johnson is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Houston Astros.-Professional career:Johnson was drafted in the 37th round by the Red Sox in June 2003 but instead opted for college...
was drafted in the 37th round by the Red Sox in June 2003 but instead opted for college; and was later drafted by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Johnson was forced to take an emergency leave from his coaching duties on August 1, 2010, after his youngest daughter was seriously injured in an equestrian accident. He missed the rest of the season and returned to the Red Sox at the outset of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in .