Former MLB manager and second baseman Davey Johnson dies at age 82

Davey Johnson (Jeff Marquis, Wikimedia Commons)

According to Thomas Schlachter of CNN on Saturday, former Major League Baseball manager and second baseman Davey Johnson of Orlando, Florida has passed away at the age of 82. Johnson played 13 Major League Baseball seasons, and was a manager for 17 additional seasons in the Major Leagues.

Johnson played in the Major Leagues from 1965 to 1978. He was with the Baltimore Orioles for eight seasons from 1965 to 1972. That was followed by three seasons with the Atlanta Braves from 1973 to 1975, two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1977 and 1978, and one season with the Chicago Cubs in 1978. In addition to the Major Leagues, Johnson played professionally in Japan in 1975 and 1976.

In 1435 games, 4797 at bats, and 5465 plate appearances, Johnson scored 564 runs, and had 1252 hits, 242 doubles, 18 triples, 136 home runs and 609 runs batted in. He had 33 stolen bases, 559 walks, 1938 total bases, 26 sacrifice bunts and 43 sacrifice flies, with a batting average of .261, on base percentage of .340, and slugging percentage of .404. Twice Johnson led the majors in sacrifice flies (seven with the Orioles in 1966 and eight with the Orioles in 1967).

Four times Johnson was an All-Star. He was honoured with the Orioles three straight years from 1968 to 1970, and again with the Braves in 1973. Johnson also won a World Series with the Orioles in 1966 and 1970.

As a manager, Johnson managed the New York Mets from 1984 to 1990, the Cincinnati Reds from 1993 to 1995, the Baltimore Orioles from 1996 to 1997, the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1999 to 2000, and the Washington Nationals from 2011 to 2013. He managed the Mets to the 1986 World Series, and was the American League Manager of the Year in 1997 with the Orioles, and the National League Manager of the Year in 2012. Later this week, I will share where I met Johnson in person.