Former Nationals Manager of the Year Davey Johnson passes away at age 82

"Joining the team's front office as a consultant in 2006, Davey became the team's interim manager in 2011 after the outspoken Jim Riggleman resigned. While also earning a mathematics degree from Trinity University at the same time, Johnson returned to manage the 2012 team, taking the helm and righting the ship en route to the Nationals' first-ever winning season. The team won 98 games that year, a franchise record dating back even to the team's days in Montréal that still stands today."

"The team would lose the NLDS to the St. Louis Cardinals in heartbreaking fashion, being leapfrogged with a two-run lead in the ninth inning of a winner-take-all Game 5 by a team that would go the distance with the eventual World Series-champion Giants in the Championship Series. That level of impact certainly cannot be understated, though; Johnson steered the team to its first ever playoff berth, let alone division title, and took home Manager of the Year honors in the process."

Davey Johnson died at age 82, with the announcement credited to New York Mets PR representative Jay Horwitz. Johnson joined the Nationals organization as a consultant in 2006 and became interim manager in 2011 after Jim Riggleman resigned. Johnson returned to manage in 2012 while earning a mathematics degree from Trinity University and guided the Nationals to their first winning season and a franchise-record 98 wins. The team lost a dramatic NLDS Game 5 to the Cardinals, but Johnson won Manager of the Year, produced an 86-win season in 2013, and began an eight-year run of winning seasons and strong attendance.

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