Davey Johnson, who led the Mets to their most up-to-date World Sequence title because the supervisor of the brash and belligerent 1986 squad, died on Friday night time. He was 82.
“He was the perfect manager for our team which had so many different personalities.”
Johnson, a four-time All-Star throughout a 13-year main league profession with the Baltimore Orioles (the place he received the World Sequence twice) and three different golf equipment, took over as skipper of the Mets in 1984. He received 90 video games his first season, 98 the following. Nevertheless it was in 1986 when every thing lastly got here collectively, because the Amazins’ received 108 video games earlier than battling their technique to a World Sequence title with an epic 7-game win over the Boston Pink Sox.
That workforce will without end dwell in Mets lore. A core group led by younger stars Dwight ‘Doc’ Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, together with veteran leaders in Gary Carter, Keith Hernandez, Ray Knight and Mookie Wilson, captivated the Large Apple all season lengthy and deep into October.
“I’m deeply saddened by the loss of Davey Johnson, a remarkable leader who transformed the Mets franchise into a winning organization,” Strawberry wrote in an Instagram tribute Saturday to his former supervisor.
After capturing the Nationwide League East by a whopping 21.5 video games over the Phillies, simply their third divisional title, the Mets confronted off towards ace Mike Scott and the Houston Astros in an exhilarating NLCS that featured an extra-inning duel between Gooden (10 innings, one earned run allowed) and Nolan Ryan (9 innings, 12 strikeouts) in a 2-1 Mets win in Sport 6. A wild, series-clinching win in Sport 6 adopted.
Regardless of their season-long dominance, ’86 Mets appeared as if they might come up in need of the franchise’s second World Sequence title. Down by two runs to the Pink Sox in Sport 6 at Shea Stadium, a sequence of occasions adopted that without end modified the historical past of the franchise.
Within the backside of the tenth with two outs and the Pink Sox up 5-3, Knight drove in Carter, and superior Kevin Mitchell to 3rd, the place he was capable of rating on Bob Stanley’s wild pitch.
Then, Wilson’s dribbler went proper by means of the legs of Boston first baseman Invoice Buckner. Knight got here round third to attain, and the Mets walked off, 6-5.
Johnson’s managing was a key focus of that sport. Within the ninth, with the sport tied at 3-3 and no outs, the Mets had runners on first and second. The apparent transfer was to bunt, however Johnson despatched Howard Johnson to the plate to pinch-hit for rookie shortstop Kevin Elster. He was not a talented bunter, and the supervisor took the bunt log off after his try on the primary pitch. HoJo struck out, and runners remained at first and second.
Lee Mazzilli hit a fly ball that might have been deep sufficient to attain Knight had he been on third. Johnson had made a double swap on the high of the inning, changing Strawberry in proper discipline for Mazzilli. Had the Mets not come again within the tenth, he probably would have been excoriated for the transfer.
However the Amazin’ comeback was accomplished within the tenth. The Mets stole one from Boston, 6-5, and two nights later, they completed the job with an 8-5 win in Flushing. The skipper’s standing as a hero was cemented.
“His ability to empower players to express themselves while maintaining a strong commitment to excellence was truly inspiring,” Strawberry added. “Davey’s legacy will forever be etched in the hearts of fans and players alike.”
Unable to repeat the magic of the ’86 squad — the workforce misplaced within the NLCS in 1988 after which completed in second place within the division the following two seasons — Johnson was fired in 1990 after the Mets obtained off to a sluggish 20-22 begin.
He stays the winningest supervisor in franchise historical past and was inducted into the Mets Corridor of Fame in 2010.
The Texas native, born David Allen Johnson, received 595 video games with the Mets. He joined the group in 1981 because the Double-A supervisor earlier than transferring to Triple-A Tidewater in 198, and moved as much as the massive leagues the next season.
A two-time supervisor of the yr, Johnson additionally managed the Reds, Orioles, Dodgers and Nationals throughout his 17-years as an enormous league skipper. He retired in 2013 after guiding the Nationals to a 86-76 mark.
Total, he managed 2,445 video games and received 1,372 of them (.562 profitable share). He ranks thirty third on baseball’s all-time wins checklist as a supervisor.
He’ll without end be remembered for the work he did with the Mets.
With Abbey Mastracco
Initially Revealed: September 6, 2025 at 10:51 AM EDT
