Former New York Mets Manager Finalist for Baseball Hall of Fame

Davey Johnson led the New York Mets to their 1986 World Series title and now he has a chance to join other Mets legends in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Former New York Mets Manager Finalist for Baseball Hall of Fame
Former New York Mets Manager Finalist for Baseball Hall of Fame /
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Former New York Mets manager Davey Johnson is one of eight former managers, executives and umpires up for the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee finalists released on Thursday.

Finalists that get 75 percent of the vote will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 Class next summer. The results will be announced in December during MLB's annual meetings.

Johnson’s first managerial job was with the Mets, as he assumed the job for the 1984 season. He managed the Mets for seven seasons, leading them to two NL East crowns and the 1986 World Series title, which saw them beat the Boston Red Sox in seven games.

He was fired 42 games into the 1990 season, but went on to manage the Cincinnati Reds, the Baltimore Orioles, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals. He won three more division titles — one each with Cincinnati (1995), Baltimore (1997) and Washington (2012) — but never got back to the World Series. He was also named a league manager of the year twice.

He finished with a career record of 1372-1071 and his .562 winning percentage is No. 13 all-time among managers with at least 10 years in the job.

Johnson also played for 13 seasons, mostly with the Baltimore Orioles, where he was on the field as the Mets clinched their miraculous 1969 World Series title. He played in four World Series as a second baseman, winning two rings and making four All-Star teams. He also played with Atlanta, Philadelphia and the Chicago Cubs, along with a two-year stint with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.

The other finalists are former managers Cito Gaston, Jim Leyland and Lou Piniella; umpires Ed Montague and Joe West; and executives Hank Peters and Bill White.


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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation.