Rich Dubroff

Former Norfolk manager Ron Johnson dies of Covid-19 at 64

Ron Johnson, who managed the Triple-A Norfolk Tides from 2012-2018, died on Tuesday from complications of Covid-19 in Tennessee, family sources told the Virginian-Pilot. Johnson was 64.

Johnson came to the Orioles from the Boston Red Sox, where he was first base coach. He worked closely with executive vice president Dan Duquette and manager Buck Showalter.

He won the Cal Ripken Sr. award for the top minor league staff member in 2015 and 2018. Johnson joined the Orioles’ coaching staff several times after Norfolk’s season concluded, spending a few weeks with the Orioles.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

Johnson managed 25 seasons in the minor leagues in the Kansas City, Boston and Orioles organizations from 1992-2018. He was a major league coach with he Red Sox in 2010 and 2011.

He had a record of 1752-1773 and was 491-511 with the Tides. In 2015, Johnson was named International League Manager of the Year.

Johnson was fired by the Orioles after the 2018 season before the arrival of Mike Elias as executive vice president/general manager.

He played 22 major league games with Kansas City and Minnesota from 1982-1984.

CONTINUE READING BELOW

In 2017, Johnson managed his son, Chris, a former major league first baseman and third baseman, in Norfolk.

Johnson is survived by his wife, Daphane, and five children.

Scroll Down to LEAVE A COMMENT

Rich Dubroff

Rich Dubroff grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of New York teams, but after he moved to Baltimore, quickly adopted the Orioles and Colts. After nearly two decades as a freelancer assisting on Orioles coverage for several outlets, principally The Capital in Annapolis and The Carroll County Times, Dubroff began covering the team fulltime in 2011. He spent five years at Comcast SportsNet’s website and for the last two seasons, wrote for PressBoxonline.com, Dubroff lives in Baltimore with his wife of more than 30 years, Susan.

View Comments

Share
Published by
Rich Dubroff

Recent Posts

  • Rich Dubroff

As Orioles wait on Basallo, catcher Sam Huff is added, Weston Wilson designated for assignment

The Orioles hope that catcher Samuel Basallo can avoid the injured list after leaving Friday…

June 6, 2026
  • Rich Dubroff

Wild card gives Orioles more chances to dream of October

The wild card has made the 98 remaining games on the Orioles’ schedule must-watch baseball.…

June 6, 2026
  • Rich Dubroff

Orioles broadcaster Brett Hollander on living with dyslexia: ‘It made me who I am today’

As many as 40 million Americans have dyslexia. One of them is Orioles broadcaster Brett…

June 5, 2026
  • Mailbag

Will Orioles recall Johnathan Rodriguez or Encarnacion-Strand? | MAILBAG

Question: Do you think the Orioles will consider Johnathan Rodríguez or Christian Encarnacion-Strand for a…

June 5, 2026
  • Rich Dubroff

Orioles score 6 in 1st in 8-2 win over Red Sox behind a dominant Rogers; 3 hits for Ward

BOSTON--What happened? By the time Trevor Rogers took the mound for the Orioles, he had…

June 4, 2026