If a strong baseball team needs an experienced manager, David “Davey” Allen Johnson has it. Davey, born in 1943 in Orlando, Florida is the current manager of the Washington Nationals, but has had a multitude of experience, not only playing the game, but managing the teams. Davey was hired as an amateur free agent from Texas A & M University in 1962, spending the majority of his time in the minors with the Rochester Red Wings, until the 1965 opener. In 1966, he became the Oriole’s second baseman responding with a .257 batting average, seven home runs, and 56 runs batted in. In 1972, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves, and in 1973, tied the record for most single-season home runs by a second baseman with forty-two home runs. He actually hit 43, but one was a pinch-hitter. In 1975, he was released by the Braves and decided to sign and play in the Japanese League for the Yomiuri Giants. Not only did he see outstanding new talent, but gained an overview of cultural differences and similarities in the game. In 1977, he returned to America, signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1978, he hit two grand slam home runs as a pinch-hitter. Shortly after that, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he ended his playing career, but emerged again later, with a new career as manager.
Davey’s managing career began in 1979 with the independent Miami Amigos of the Inter-American League, leading them to the best record in their league. He then became the New York Mets farm team manager for the Tidewater Tides in 1983. He managed the New York Mets from 1984 to 1990, and became the first National League manager to win at least 90 games in each of his 5 seasons, and became the winningest manager in Mets history. Because the Mets struggled in 1990, and the managerial game is fickle, Johnson was fired, even though he had led the team well. He became manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 1993, and the Baltimore Orioles manager for a year in 1996. He managed the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1999-2000, and is now the manager for the Washington Nationals pending another term contract with them.
Davey’s contract is not signed yet, to continue being the National’s manager, but it looks very favorable. He is now 68 years young, and after a 4,000 day self-initiated leave , he is energized and ready for the new challenges that he looks forward to. Johnson’s new challenge brings back memories of the days when he was a bat boy for the Washington Senators, during spring training in Orlando. It is a very ironic move for him to make, becoming manager of the Nationals. His strengths are many of experience, and he uses that experience and his goal of improving today, to be successful. He is sometimes brutally honest, but tries to include everyone in the plan for the short term goals. His carefree attitude may be judged by some as a weakness, and too care-free, but it is not that he does not care, it is that he is experienced enough to know what can be changed, and what cannot. Most of all, David Allen “Davey” Johnson stays true to himself and his beliefs, and lives for the moment.
