World Series-Winning MLB Legend Dead At 82

Former Mets Manager Davey Johnson, who carried his team to the World Series trophy in 1986, died at 82 this week.

Johnson, twice named the MLB’s Manager of the Year over his 29-year coaching career, is best remembered for the title he helped bring to Queens, though he shone as a player in his own right. He collected two additional World Series rings with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966 and 1970.

Down 5-3 in the 10th inning of Game 6, the Mets pulled off a comeback over the Boston Red Sox thanks to an infamous error by Bill Buckner. That led to a Game 7, which propelled New York to its second championship in franchise history.

As a player, Johnson was named an All-Star four times and won three straight Golden Glove awards from 1969-71.

In addition to his time with the Orioles, Johnson also coached for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds. He served as the U.S. manager for the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Baseball Classic, the Daily Caller reports.

Underscoring the historic nature of Johnson’s coaching career is one stat: He is just one of 15 managers who tallied .500 or better by more than 300 contests. He carried more than 85 wins in all but one of his managerial seasons.

Among managers who have at least 1,000 victories, Johnson has the 10th-highest winning percentage in MLB history.

He finished with a 1,372-1,071 career record.

Members of Mets Nation reacted with heartbreak to the death of their teammate and manager.

“Davey Johnson was the greatest manager I ever played for. He let us do our own thing. This is a sad day for the Mets and for the 1986 Mets family,” said Darryl Strawberry

“Without a doubt, he saved my career. He let me be myself on the field. He knew when to be tough and when to take it easier. It was a joy playing for him,” Keith Hernandez told the Mets’ blog.

“He was just a player’s manager. He made it fun to go to the field. He laid down the law when needed, but other times he just let us play,” reacted Mookie Wilson.

“Davey was really a forward thinker. He knew his players strengths and weaknesses. He always set us up to have success as a team and individually. Our Met family has lost a quality man” Roger McDowell said.

Born Jan. 30, 1943, in Orlando, Florida, Johnson studied mathematics at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and later took his major to the diamond. He was among the first professional coaches to apply computer-based statistical analysis to the game.