CINCINNATI — The Mets of yesterday and today remembered a legend of the franchise Saturday.
After Davey Johnson — 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’ first championship — died on Friday at 82, the memories poured in.
“Davey Johnson was the greatest manager I ever played for,” Darryl Strawberry said in a statement released by the club. “He let us do our own thing. This is a sad day for the Mets and for the 1986 Mets family.”
Johnson led the team from 1984-90, highlighted by the ’86 ring and 108 regular-season victories.
He finished his Mets career with the best managerial record (595-417) in franchise history.
His victories remain the most in Mets history.
“He took a chance on me when I was 19,” Dwight Gooden said. “Davey wasn’t afraid to make a tough decision. I know I wouldn’t have had the career I did without him.”
“Without a doubt, he saved my career,” said Keith Hernandez, whom Johnson named the first team captain in Mets history. “He 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.”
Johnson played for 13 years before managing the Mets, Reds, Orioles, Dodgers and Nationals for 17 seasons.
He was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.
“Sad day for the organization,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of Johnson, whom he said transformed “the organization and [put] it back in winning mode.”
Steve and Alex Cohen said Johnson brought a “quiet confidence and unwavering belief” to the club.
“Getting to the major leagues is tough,” Ron Darling said. “Succeeding in the major leagues is even harder, and to accomplish that you need a guardian angel. Davey was my guardian angel.”
“There’s a chance” Reed Garrett will be activated off the injured list Sunday, the first day he is eligible, Mendoza said before a 6-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Garrett, who has been sidelined with right elbow inflammation, is with the team after throwing one scoreless inning in which he struck out two with Double-A Binghamton on Thursday.
The Mets wanted to see the shape of their bullpen before committing to Garrett returning Sunday.
The Mets have stolen a base in eight consecutive games, their longest streak since stealing a base in 11 straight in 2009.
Brandon Nimmo, who lifted a sacrifice fly in the third inning, saw his career-high-tying 11-game hitting streak snapped.
Jose Siri played nine innings for the first time in his rehab assignment Saturday, going 1-for-5 with a home run and three strikeouts while playing center for Triple-A Syracuse.
The defensively gifted outfielder has been out since April with a broken tibia and is “getting close,” Mendoza said.
But it did not sound as if Siri’s activation is imminent, and the club still wants to see him play back-to-back games and build up his body.
“I know he wants to get back here,” Mendoza said of Siri, who has gone 7-for-23 in seven minor league games.
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