CINCINNATI \u2014 The Mets of yesterday and today remembered a legend of the franchise Saturday.<\/p>\n
After Davey Johnson \u2014 who as a manager guided the Mets to their most recent World Series title in 1986 and as a player made the final out of the 1969 World Series to clinch the Mets\u2019 first championship \u2014 died on Friday at 82<\/a>, the memories poured in<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cDavey Johnson was the greatest manager I ever played for,\u201d Darryl Strawberry said in a statement released by the club. \u201cHe let us do our own thing. This is a sad day for the Mets and for the 1986 Mets family.\u201d<\/p>\n Davey Johnson is pictured in March 1987. AP<\/p>\n Johnson led the team from 1984-90, highlighted by the \u201986 ring and 108 regular-season victories. <\/p>\n He finished his Mets career with the best managerial record (595-417) in franchise history. <\/p>\n His victories remain the most in Mets history.<\/p>\n \u201cHe took a chance on me when I was 19,\u201d Dwight Gooden said. \u201cDavey wasn\u2019t afraid to make a tough decision. I know I wouldn\u2019t have had the career I did without him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWithout a doubt, he saved my career,\u201d said Keith Hernandez, whom Johnson named the first team captain in Mets history. \u201cHe let me be myself on the field. He knew when to be tough and when to take it easier. It was a joy playing for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson played for 13 years before managing the Mets, Reds, Orioles, Dodgers and Nationals for 17 seasons. <\/p>\n Dwight Gooden is pictured in April 2024. Carlos Toro for the NY Post<\/p>\n Keith Hernandez is pictured during a July 2022 press conference. Robert Sabo for the NY Post<\/p>\n He was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.<\/p>\n \u201cSad day for the organization,\u201d manager Carlos Mendoza said of Johnson, whom he said transformed \u201cthe organization and [put] it back in winning mode.\u201d<\/p>\n Steve and Alex Cohen said Johnson brought a \u201cquiet confidence and unwavering belief\u201d to the club.<\/p>\n Ron Darling is pictured in June 2019. Anthony J Causi<\/p>\n Davey Johnson is pictured in October 1986. AP<\/p>\n \u201cGetting to the major leagues is tough,\u201d Ron Darling said. \u201cSucceeding in the major leagues is even harder, and to accomplish that you need a guardian angel. Davey was my guardian angel.\u201d<\/p>\n