SARASOTA, Fla. – Davey Johnson, renowned as an All-Star second baseman who claimed the World Series twice with the Baltimore Orioles as a player, and steered the New York Mets to victory in 1986 as their manager, has passed away. He was 82.
Jay Horwitz, longtime public relations representative for the Mets, relayed the news that Johnson’s wife, Susan, communicated his passing after a prolonged illness. Johnson was in a Sarasota, Florida hospital when he passed on Friday, according to Horwitz.
During his 13 seasons in the major leagues, Johnson contributed to the Baltimore Orioles, the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs from 1965-78, achieving three Gold Glove awards and being a four-time All-Star. His managerial career included leading the Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals between 1984-2013.
Former Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo called it a tough day.
“Davey was not only a good person but also a close friend and mentor,” Rizzo conveyed in a text. “He was a manager deserving of the Hall of Fame, with a baseball insight ahead of his era.”
Darryl Strawberry, a notable player from the ’86 Mets, described Johnson on social media as an extraordinary leader who reshaped the franchise into a successful entity.
“His talent for enabling players to be themselves while holding them to a high standard of excellence was genuinely motivating,” Strawberry wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of himself with Johnson and Dwight “Doc” Gooden. “Davey’s legacy will remain in the hearts of both fans and players. My deepest sympathies are with Susan Johnson and the entire Johnson family during this tough time. He will be missed, but his tremendous influence on baseball and the people he impacted will always be remembered.”
Ryan Zimmerman, who played for Johnson with Washington from 2011-13, said Johnson was an even better human than he was a baseball man.
“He knew how to get the best out of everyone — on and off the field,” Zimmerman said in a text message. “I learned so much from him, and my career would not have been the same without my years with him. He will be deeply missed by so many people.”
Johnson was AL manager of the year in 1997 when Baltimore won the division. He was NL manager of the year in 2012 when the Nationals made the playoffs for the first time since the move from Montreal.
“Davey was a world-class manager,” owner Mark Lerner said in a statement. “I’ll always cherish the memories we made together with the Nationals, and I know his legacy will live on in the heads and minds of our fans and those across baseball.”
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AP National Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this report.
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