Davey Johnson: A Beautiful Mind
For 6+ years Davey Johnson managed the New York Mets including five straight years of 90 or more wins and a World Series title.
I love talking to baseball managers, especially about in-game strategy. When I reflect on my years covering the game, I have realized how much wisdom I have gleaned from managers.
The first manager that always comes to mind is Davey Johnson, the winningest manager in New York Mets history.
Before Bill James and Billy Beane and Moneyball, Johnson was devouring the writings of Earnshaw Cook. The late metallurgist and author of the 1964 book Baseball Percentages believed playing the percentages was a fool’s errand.