The baseball world sent its condolences and gave tribute to former Mets manager Davey Johnson, after the four-time All-Star and three-time World Series champion (twice as a player and once as a manager) passed away on Friday night.
Steve Cohen and Alex Cohen, owners of the Mets, issued a statement on Saturday afternoon about the beloved manager, who was at the helm in New York from 1984 to 1990.
"We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Davey Johnson," the statement read. "Davey’s 595 wins remain the most in franchise history, and his legacy is highlighted by him leading the 1986 team to a World Series championship. He led with a quiet confidence and unwavering belief in his team, always caring deeply for his players both on and off the field. He had a distinguished 13-year playing career, including winning two World Series titles with the Orioles. On behalf of our entire organization, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Davey’s family, friends, and all who were impacted by his remarkable life and career."
A two-time Manager of the Year, although none with the Mets despite compiling a 595-417 record (.588 winning percentage) in six-plus seasons in New York, Johnson was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2010, alongside Frank Cashen, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden.
Both Strawberry and Gooden, as well as a few other former players, paid their respects to their former manager with statements, too.
"Davey Johnson was the greatest manager I ever played for," Strawberry said. "He let us do our own thing. This is a sad day for the Mets and for the 1986 Mets family."
Gooden added: "He took a chance on me when I was 19. Davey wasn’t afraid to make a tough decision. I know I wouldn’t have had the career I did without him.”
Strawberry also posted a picture of him, Johnson and Gooden at their Mets Hall of Fame ceremony on Instagram with the caption:
Additional tributes by former players to Johnson include Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Mookie Wilson and Roger McDowell.
"Without a doubt, he saved my career," Hernandez said. "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."
"Getting to the major leagues is tough. Succeeding in the major leagues is even harder, and to accomplish that you need a guardian angel," Darling wrote. "Davey was my guardian angel."
"He was just a player's manager," Wilson added. "He made it fun to go to the field. He laid down the law when needed, but other times, he just let us play."
"Davey was really a forward thinker," McDowell said. "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."
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