Darrell Johnson

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DarrellJohnson.jpg

Darrell Dean Johnson

BR page

Biographical Information[edit]

Gerald R. Ford walks with Darrell Johnson, manager of the Boston Red Sox, and George "Sparky" Anderson, manager of the Cincinnati Reds, before the start of the 1976 All-Star Game at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Philadelphia

Catcher Darrell Johnson played parts of six seasons in the majors with seven clubs. In 1960 and 1961, he was a player/coach with the St. Louis Cardinals, and he was also a member of the Baltimore Orioles staff while playing for them in 1962.

After his playing days, he managed the Rochester Red Wings from 1963 to 1965 and was skipper of the Elmira Pioneers in 1966. After serving as a Boston Red Sox coach in 1968 and 1969, he returned to the minors, managing the Louisville Colonels in 1971 and 1972 and the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1973.

Johnson became manager of the Boston Red Sox in 1974 and led the team to the 1975 World Series, which they excruciatingly lost in seven games to the Cincinnati Reds. After being fired the following season, he was hired as the first skipper of the expansion Seattle Mariners in 1977. He managed to have the Mariners finish ahead of the Oakland Athletics their first season, but the team failed to improve after that promising start and he was fired after three and a half seasons. He joined the Texas Rangers coaching staff in 1981. Midway through the 1982 season, he was promoted to the club's manager, replacing Don Zimmer (who had ironically succeeded him as manager of the Red Sox in 1976). Following the season, he joined the New York Mets as a scout, and he was a member of their coaching staff in 1993.

Johnson is a cousin of Elliot Johnson's father.

Johnson died of leukemia at age 75.

Notable Achievements[edit]


Preceded by
Eddie Kasko
Boston Red Sox Manager
1974-1976
Succeeded by
Don Zimmer
Preceded by
N/A
Seattle Mariners Manager
1977-1980
Succeeded by
Maury Wills
Preceded by
Don Zimmer
Texas Rangers Manager
1982
Succeeded by
Doug Rader

Year-By-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1963 Rochester Red Wings International League 75-76 7th Baltimore Orioles
1964 Rochester Red Wings International League 82-72 4th Baltimore Orioles League Champs
1965 Rochester Red Wings International League 73-74 5th Baltimore Orioles
1966 Elmira Pioneers Eastern League 88-51 1st Baltimore Orioles none League Champs
1971 Louisville Colonels International League 71-69 5th Boston Red Sox
1972 Louisville Colonels International League 81-63 1st Boston Red Sox Lost League Finals
1973 Pawtucket Red Sox International League 78-68 3rd Boston Red Sox League Champs
1974 Boston Red Sox American League 84-78 3rd Boston Red Sox
1975 Boston Red Sox American League 95-65 1st Boston Red Sox Lost World Series
1976 Boston Red Sox American League 41-45 -- Boston Red Sox replaced by Don Zimmer on July 19
1977 Seattle Mariners American League 64-98 6th Seattle Mariners
1978 Seattle Mariners American League 56-104 7th Seattle Mariners
1979 Seattle Mariners American League 67-95 6th Seattle Mariners
1980 Seattle Mariners American League 39-65 -- Seattle Mariners replaced by Maury Wills on August 4
1982 Texas Rangers American League 26-40 6th Texas Rangers replaced Don Zimmer (38-58) on July 29

Further Reading[edit]

  • Bill Nowlin: "Darrell Johnson", in Bill Nowlin and Cecilia Tan, ed.: '75:The Red Sox Team that Saved Baseball, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2015, pp. 205-210. ISBN 978-1-933599-97-7

Related Sites[edit]