Davey Johnson, who is an underrated titan of the game has passed away at the age of 82. Wherever he went in his career, Davey Johnson was a winner. He brought those winning ways to a Washington Nationals team that desperately needed his guidance and wisdom. His time in DC was a great final act of a legendary career.
For most of the baseball world, Johnson’s time in DC is just a footnote of a legendary career. He is most known for his time with the rival New York Mets in the 1980’s. The 1986 Mets team
that he managed is one of the most iconic teams in baseball history due to their charisma and flair for the dramatic.
Johnson was also a very successful player in his career, making four All-Star teams and winning two World Series titles with the Orioles. He was a huge part of those great Orioles teams of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. While he was not the biggest star on that team, the O’s would not have won as much without their great second baseman.
While he was a great player, Johnson was an even better manager. His .562 winning percentage is the 6th best of the 35 managers that have won at least 1,300 games. In all five managerial stops, he posted a winning percentage above .500.
As someone who was not around for his playing days, or even his time managing the Mets, I will remember Davey Johnson as the Nationals manager. He was the man who finally got the Nats to the playoffs in 2012.That was such a thrilling and exciting time to be a fan. It was the first time I got to see real winning baseball.
For that reason, Davey Johnson will always have a place in my heart. I will also remember him as the wise old man who brought his knowledge of the game to a young Nationals team that needed his leadership.
After the Jim Riggleman debacle, the Nationals needed a steady presence in the dugout that could calm things down. Johnson did just that as the Nationals showed they were knocking on the door in that 2011 season. In the 2012 season, Johnson’s Nats broke down the door. He was also the NL Manager of the year that season, the second time he received that honor. The 98 games they won that season are still a franchise record.
While the playoffs that year were bitterly disappointing, the Nats still made it. That team set the stage for the franchise’s dominant run the rest of the season. After the team struggled and Johnson started to show his age, he was let go after the 2013 season.
However, Johnson will always be remembered fondly in DC. He was the manager when Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon broke through. On a team that had never won before, Johnson taught them how to win.
In his Nationals tenure, Johnson went 224-183, which is a .550 winning percentage. That is a pretty good final act for a guy who had nothing left to prove in the game. It is sad to see a titan of the game pass away.
Johnson has never quite gotten the recognition he deserved over the years. His name should come up more in Hall of Fame discussions given what he did as both a player and a manager. He was the boss of one of the most iconic teams ever and was a winner everywhere he went.
When I remember Davey Johnson, I will always think of him as a wise sage who mentored guys like Bryce Harper. However, for people older than me, they might remember him as the Mets manager or even as a player. This is a man who had so many chapters to his life and career. Now the book is finally closed, and boy was it a thriller. Rest in peace to Davey Johnson, baseball legend.
