Former Mets Manager Eligible For Hall Of Fame Honor

Has it been that long? Don't I always seem to ask that question? 1986 seems like yesterday. I remember getting the managers of the Creamery at SUNY Cortland to leave the HUGE TV on so that I could watch the play-offs and World Series in 1986. At the time, it was the largest TV I had ever seen. Long before HD and LCD's. Long before the Wild Card. Long before a Central Division in the AL and NL. 1986. Was it really 23 years ago?

The man at the helm of that great team, Davey Johnson , is now eligible for baseball immortality. He is on the ballot for enshrinement. Davey Johnson was a rebel. Anti ownership, Anti management, and pro player. He was Billy Martin without the hoopla.

At the time I thought that Johnson was OK. I was never a huge fan until years later. Not that I'm a huge fan, but my respect for what he accomplished has certainly grown over the years.

Davey Johnson came on board in 1984, to take charge of a struggling team. He had some young players with talent (Dwight Gooden, his rookie year and Darryl Strawberry his second year, coming off Rookie of the Year award), and a bunch of question marks. The 1984 team finished second to the Cubs. They finished second again in 1985, this time to the Cardinals.

We all know what happened in that magical year of 1986.

From 1984 through 1990 he managed the Mets. They finished first twice (1986, 1988), won the World Series once (1986), and finished second five times. With the Mets, he never finished below second place. In seven years, never finished below second place.

After the Mets, Johnson went on to manage the Cincinnati Reds (1993 - 1995), and finished fifth in 1993, and first in 1994 and 1995.

Johnson was fired by Reds owner Marge Schott because (allegedly) she didn't approve of Johnson living with his lady friend.

Johnson managed the Orioles for 1996 and 1997, finishing second and first respectively. In fact, it was the last Oriole team to make the play-offs.

Johnson's last professional managerial stint was with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999 and 2000. Once again, Johnson finished third and second respectively.

Recap: Fourteen years as a Major League manager, finished first or second all but twice. Twelve years of finishing first or second. Two where he didn't. He has a lifetime winning percentage of .564. Lifetime win loss record of 1148-888. To me, these are Hall Of Fame credentials.

Many will say that he should have won more with the Mets, and I agree. But, we must also realize that in 1985 and 1987, the Cardinals were 101 - 61 in 1985 and 95 - 67 in 1987. Wasn't like the Mets lost 80 games those years. The Mets were 98 - 64, and the 1987 Mets were 92 - 70. Not bad seasons.

Davey Johnson is deserving of enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall Of Fame. He won everywhere he went.

My favorite Davey Johnson memory was when, in 1986, the Mets were playing Cincinnati Reds, and it went to extra innings when the Mets tied the game when Dave Parker dropped a can of corn in RF.

Johnson, not wanting to waste players, kept switching Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell between the OF and pitching. Orosco came in to pitch, McDowell went to the OF. McDowell came in to pitch, Orosco went to the OF. It kept switching back and forth until the Mets finally won "the damn game", as Bob Murphy exclaimed, in the Mets 6-3 win. If memory serves, Jesse Orosco even recorded a put out in LF (going by memory here. Was unable to find conclusive information).

Looking back on Jeff Torborg, Art Howe, Willie Randolph, and even Jerry Manuel, makes me really miss Davey Johnson.

Twenty five years ago you didn't have my vote, but looking back over the last twenty five years, Davey Johnson has my vote and respect.