Darrell Johnson

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Darrell Dean Johnson (August 25, 1928 - May 3, 2004) was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach, manager and scout.

Johnson was born in Horace, Nebraska, and made his major league debut on April 20, 1952. Johnson, a catcher, played in six major league seasons between 1952 and 1962. He was listed as 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 180 lb (82 kg), bats right, throws right.

He was signed by the St. Louis Browns as an amateur free agent in 1949, and played for the Browns, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles, who released him on June 12, 1962, ending his playing career. Johnson finished with a career batting average of .234. He appeared in the 1961 World Series for the Reds against the Yankees and had two singles in four at-bats.

Johnson had more success as a manager, leading three different teams during eight seasons. His biggest success was as manager of the Boston Red Sox from 1974 through 1976, when he compiled a record of 220-188 for a .539 percentage. He guided the Red Sox to a 95-65 .594 mark in 1975 and a first-place finish in the AL East. The Sox swept the Oakland A's in the playoffs, 3-0, then lost to the Cincnnati Reds "Big Red Machine" in the thrilling World Series, four games to three. But when the Sox slumped the following season, Johnson was fired by the middle of July.

Johnson served as the original manager of the Seattle Mariners from 1977 to 1980, and also managed the Texas Rangers in 1982. He finished with a record of 472-590 for a .444 career percentage as a manager. He was also the first manager of the AAA version of the Pawtucket Red Sox, finishing 78-68—and winning the Governor's Cup, emblematic of the IL's playoff championship—in his only PawSox season in 1973.

Johnson coached for the Cardinals (1960-61) before resuming his playing career, and also was a coach for the Orioles (1962), Red Sox (1968-69) and Rangers (1981-82). Late in his career, he spent many years as a scout for the New York Mets.

[edit] External links

• Baseball-Reference.com - career playing statistics and managing record
• Darrell Johnson at Find-A-Grave

Preceded by none	Pawtucket Red Sox manager 1973	Succeeded by Joe Morgan
Preceded by Eddie Popowski	Boston Red Sox manager 1974–1976	Succeeded by Don Zimmer
Preceded by First Manager	Seattle Mariners Manager 1977-1980	Succeeded by Maury Wills
Preceded by Don Zimmer	Texas Rangers Manager 1982	Succeeded by Doug Rader

Seattle Mariners Managers
Johnson • Wills • Lachemann • Crandall • Cottier • Williams • Lefebvre • Plummer • Piniella • Melvin • Hargrove