Baseball Legend Passes

When the late 80s New York Mets come up in conversation, one of the names that gets brough up is Davey Johnson. The man at the helm of one of the most fun baseball teams every, and a stretch for the best teams in Mets franchise history, Davey had a lot to handle. And handle it well he did. Word has come down that, at the age of 82, Davey has passed away.

He was more than just a great manager, he was a pretty good ballplayer in his own rights.

Davey played for 13 years in the Majors, eight of which were with the Baltimore Orioles, where he was best known. He also played three years in Atlanta, two in Philadelphia and one with the Chicago Cubs. He was a lifetime .261 hitter, with 136 home runs  and 609 driven in. Solid enough numbers for a playing career. Once his playing career ended, his really great work in the game took off.

In 1984, Davey was given the helm to manage the New York Mets, a position he held until getting fired 42 games into the 1990 season. From there, he managed the Cincinnati Reds from 1993-95, then Baltimore for 1996 and 1997, then the Dodgers for 1999 and 2000, and finally the Nationals 2011 to 2013. During those 17 years as a manager, Davey had a record of 1,372-1,071. His best work was with the Mets, going 595-417 in his seven season in New York. During that time he lead the Mets to the 1986 World Series title, and another division title again in 1988. His career .562 winning percentage is the sixth highest among managers with at least 1,300 wins.

Davey was a great baseball mind, he knew how to get the best out of his players. He pushed the right buttons and knew how to handle the personalities he had. Need proof? Look at what he was able to do with the wild bunch he had with the Mets in the mid to late 80s. He was able to stay around the game for another two decades, but his best work was with those 80s Mets teams.

His impact on the game will never be forgotten!