Davey Johnson, Gold Glove 2nd baseman who managed Orioles to 2 postseason berths, dies at 82

Davey Johnson, who won three Gold Gloves as an Oriole second baseman and later led the team to two postseason appearances as manager, has died at 82, the team announced Saturday morning.

Johnson was signed by the Orioles in 1962 and played eight seasons with the team, including four World Series. The Orioles won two of those, in 1966 over the Dodgers and and in 1970 over the Reds..

He won Gold Gloves from 1969-1971 and was a three-time All-Star from 1968-1970.

Johnson, who hit .259, was traded to Atlanta after the 1971 season to make room for Bobby Grich at second base. Grich was traded along with 20-game winner Pat Dobson for catcher Earl Williams, a deal considered one of the worst in team history.

In 1973, Johnson hit 43 home runs and drove in 99 runs for the Braves. He also played for the Phillies and Cubs and spent two seasons in Japan.

Johnson managed the Orioles in 1996 and 1997, leading them to the playoffs both years, and resigned after the 1997 season when owner Peter Angelos refused to renegotiate his contract after he was named Manager of the Year.

In 1996, the Orioles won 88 games, beat heavily favored Cleveland in the Division Series and lost the American League Championship Series to the Yankees. A year later, the Orioles won the AL East with 98 wins, beat Seattle in the Division Series, then lost in six games to Cleveland in the ALCS.

Johnson managed five teams for 17 seasons. His 1986 New York Mets won the World Series. He also managed Cincinnati, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington in a career that ended in 2013.

Johnson, who lived in central Florida, had been in failing health for several years.

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