The New York Mets lost more than a former skipper today. Davey Johnson, the manager who guided the franchise to its most celebrated championship in 1986, has died at 82. His passing closes the book on one of baseball’s most fascinating careers. One that combined swagger, controversy, and an unmatched winning percentage in Mets history.
The Player Who Became the Mets’ Ultimate Manager
Before Johnson became a manager, he was already a winner. He played 1,435 major league games with the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs, collecting four All-Star nods and three Gold Gloves. With Baltimore, he hoisted the World Series trophy in 1966 and 1970. His playing career even extended overseas, where he spent two seasons with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants.
When his playing days ended in 1978, Johnson wasted little time shifting to the dugout. Hired by the Mets to manage their Double-A team in 1981, he showed enough promise that three years later, he was in charge of the big-league club. The results were instant. Johnson’s Mets won 90 or more games in each of his first five seasons, turning Queens into the center of the baseball universe.
The defining year came in 1986. Johnson boldly declared in spring training that the Mets wouldn’t just win, they would “dominate.” He was right. New York stormed to a 108–54 record, outlasted the Houston Astros in a dramatic NLCS, and defeated the Boston Red Sox in a seven-game World Series that remains etched in baseball history.
By the time his tenure ended in 1990, Johnson had racked up 595 wins, still the most by any Mets manager, and cemented a .588 winning percentage, the best in franchise history. He was later enshrined in the team’s Hall of Fame.
Swagger, Success, and a Career Beyond Queens
Johnson’s impact went far beyond the Mets’ dugout. Known for his confidence and sharp tongue, he often seemed tailor-made for the wild personalities of the 1980s Mets clubhouse. Former team PR executive Jay Horowitz recalled Johnson’s swagger, noting how he told reporters on day one, “Why did it take Frank Cashen so long to hire me?” That edge carried through, as he consistently set bold expectations and met them.
After New York, Johnson continued to win. He led the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles Dodgers, capturing division titles and guiding Baltimore to the 1996 ALCS. He even stepped onto the global stage, managing Team USA to a gold medal in the 2007 Baseball World Cup and bronze medals in both the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
Later, he found a home in Washington, where he helped transform the Nationals into contenders. His 2012 team won 98 games, the most in franchise history, and Johnson claimed his second Manager of the Year award. Remarkably, he became one of only seven managers to win the honor in both the American and National Leagues.
Altogether, Johnson’s 1,372 managerial wins rank 33rd all-time. His impact spanned generations, from the Orioles’ glory years to the Mets’ unforgettable 1986 triumph, and into the Nationals’ rise as a modern powerhouse.
Davey Johnson leaves behind more than numbers. He leaves behind the memory of a manager who embodied swagger, spoke his mind, and gave the Mets their ultimate championship. For fans in Queens, his death marks the end of an era, but also a reminder that his place in Mets lore will never be forgotten.
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