Davey Johnson
From BR Bullpen
David Allen Johnson
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
- School Texas A&M University
- Debut April 13, 1965
- Final Game September 29, 1978
- Born January 30, 1943 in Orlando, FL USA
Contents |
[edit] Biographical Information
[edit] Introduction
Davey Johnson has been a sucess both as a player and as a manager.
[edit] Playing days
Second baseman Johnson was a four-time All-Star and won three Gold Gloves. In 1973, playing for the Atlanta Braves, he hit 43 home runs and set a new Major League Baseball record for homers by a second baseman, a mark previously held by Rogers Hornsby for 50 years. Two of his teammates, Hank Aaron and Darrell Evans also hit more than 40 homers that year, the first time three teammates had ever tooped the 40-mark in the same season.
[edit] In Japan
After being let go by the Atlanta Braves in April of 1975, he played for the Tokyo Giants in Japan in 1975 and 1976. Johnson was the first foreign player for the Giants after they won a record nine straight Japan Series titles without any gaijin assistance. Manager Shigeo Nagashima personally selected Johnson to become the team's first foreigner in over a decade and Johnson was to replace Hall-of-Famer Nagashima at third base. After predicting a 50-home-run season, Johnson hit just 13 HR. In June he set a Central League record by striking out in eight consecutive at-bats. Worse, his overall line was .197/.275/.356, a far cry from what Nagashima had been hitting. Davey became known as "Dame (No Good)" Johnson, was ridiculed by the press and fans. Additionally he lost almost 15% of his body weight and broke a bone in his shoulder to lose a month of playing time. For the first time ever, Yomiuri finished last and Johnson certainly deserved and received some of the blame.
In January of 1976, Davey became one of the few Americans to participate in the "voluntary" training camps attended by practically all the Japanese players. He returned to play second base but injured his left thumb while sliding into a base and demanded to go to the USA to see a specialist; Nagashima refused and Johnson went against the most popular man in Japanese baseball (who had also gotten him his job). When Johnson went ahead to see Dr. Robert Kerlan in Los Angeles, CA the press began calling for a reinstitution of the Giants' ban on gaijin. Kerlan said Johnson had an inflamed neroma and Davey sat out a couple weeks waiting to get a return visa to Japan, then (as per medical advice) neglected batting practice upon returning to action. He hit a game-winning grand slam in his first day back and homered 9 times in 12 games. He hit 18 HR in August and September - overall he hit .275/.365/.539 with 26 homers and hit the pennant-clinching homer. He won a Gold Glove and was named to the Best Nine. Johnson had done a goat-to-hero turn and Yomiuri went worst-to-first.
Despite promises from Nagashima that he was not required to take batting practice due to his injury, the Yomiuri coaches forced him to do so during the Japan Series. Johnson was 0 for 13 with 6 K's in the post-season. Yomiuri GM Roy Saeki offered Johnson an $80,000 contract, a 20% pay cut. Johnson said he'd sign if Nagashima apologized for going back on his word. The manager/national hero refused and the Giants did not renew the contract, claiming Davey had made unrealistic demands. Giants star Tsuneo Horiuchi said "We don't need any greedy gaijin" and fellow Yomiuri leader Sadaharu Oh criticized Johnson's character.
The Kintetsu Buffaloes expressed interest in signing Johnson but the Giants barred the way, using their influence as the most popular and powerful team in Japan. Johnson, who had wanted to return to play and coach in Japan, returned to the US and had his best rate-stat season ever, posting a 150 OPS+ in part-time work for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1977 before fading away at age 35 in 1978.
[edit] As a manager
He made his managerial debut in 1979 with the Miami Amigos, leading that team to the best record in the Inter-American League. In 1981 he was skipper of the Jackson Mets of the Texas League and in 1983 he led the Tidewater Tides. In 1984, Johnson became manager of the New York Mets and their record improved by 22 games in his first season with the team, as they went from last place to second. Two years later, he led the team to their best record ever and a World Series title.
In 1993, Johnson replaced Tony Perez as skipper of the Cincinnati Reds, and in 1996, he moved on to the Baltimore Orioles. However, he was fired by O's owner Peter Angelos in 1997 after winning the AL Manager of the Year Award and leading the Orioles to 98 wins and the playoffs. He spent 1999 and 2000 as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
More recently, Johnson was an assistant coach for the 2004 Dutch Olympic baseball team to Robert Eenhoorn. He managed Team USA in the 2005 Baseball World Cup. Johnson guided Team USA to the title in the 2007 Baseball World Cup - it was the first time the US had ever beaten the Cuban national team in the Gold Medal game in a Baseball World Cup. He is the manager of the 2008 United States Olympic team.
As of 2005, he is 13th all-time in managerial winning percentage. In 13 full seasons he led his teams to 5 first-place finishes and 6 second-place finishes. The only two times his clubs did worse was when he was in his first year with a new team.
[edit] Sources
Sources include japanbaseballdaily.com, "You Gotta Have Wa" by Robert Whiting
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 1966 Topps All-Star Rookie Team
- 4-time All-Star (1968-1970 & 1973)
- 3-time AL Gold Glove Winner (1969-1971)
- 1973 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1973)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1973)
- 40-Home Run Seasons: 1 (1973)
- Won two World Series with the Baltimore Orioles (1966 & 1970)
- AL Manager of the Year Award (1997)
- Division Titles: 5 (1986, 1988, 1994, 1995 & 1997)
- Other post-season appearances: 1 (1996 wild card)
- NL Pennants: 1 (1986)
- Managed one World Series Champion with the New York Mets in 1986
- 100 Wins Seasons as Manager: 2 (1986 & 1988)
| Preceded by Frank Howard | New York Mets Manager 1984-1990 | Succeeded by Bud Harrelson |
| Preceded by Tony Perez | Cincinnati Reds Manager 1993-1995 | Succeeded by Ray Knight |
| Preceded by Phil Regan | Baltimore Orioles Manager 1996-1997 | Succeeded by Ray Miller |
| Preceded by Glenn Hoffman | Los Angeles Dodgers Manager 1999-2000 | Succeeded by Jim Tracy |
[edit] Year-By-Year Managerial Record
[edit] Records Held
- Home runs, second baseman, season, 42, 1973 (tied)
