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'{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Short description|American baseball player}} {{About|the American baseball player and minor league manager|the American-Australian baseball player|Ronny Johnson}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Ron Johnson |image=Ron Johnson 2009.jpg |caption=Johnson managing the [[Pawtucket Red Sox]] in 2009 |position=[[First baseman]] |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date|1956|9|12}} |birth_place=[[Long Beach, California]] |death_date={{death date and age|2021|1|26|1956|9|12}} |death_place=[[Morrison, Tennessee]] |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=September 12 |debutyear=1982 |debutteam=Kansas City Royals |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=June 22 |finalyear=1984 |finalteam=Montreal Expos |statleague = MLB |stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]] |stat1value=.261 |stat2label=[[Games played]] |stat2value=22 |teams= '''As player''' * [[Kansas City Royals]] ({{mlby|1982}}–{{mlby|1983}}) * [[Montreal Expos]] ({{mlby|1984}}) '''As coach''' * [[Boston Red Sox]] ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2011}}) }} '''Ronald David Johnson''' (September 12, 1956 – January 26, 2021) was an American [[baseball]] player and [[minor league baseball|minor league]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]]. From 2012 through 2018, he managed the [[Norfolk Tides]] of the [[International League]], [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[farm system]] affiliate of the [[Baltimore Orioles]].<ref name="RJ2018">{{cite news |url=https://pilotonline.com/sports/baseball/norfolk-tides/article_69f96340-dc82-11e8-839a-9fa133f6025b.html |first=David |last=Hall |title=Orioles, Tide skipper part ways |work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |date=October 30, 2018}}</ref> His 2018 season with Norfolk was his 14th season as a Triple-A manager; he formerly helmed the [[Pawtucket Red Sox]] of the International League (2005–09), and the [[Omaha Storm Chasers|Omaha Royals]] (1998) and [[Omaha Storm Chasers|Omaha Golden Spikes]] (1999) of the Triple-A [[Pacific Coast League]]. Johnson was a [[first baseman]] for the [[Kansas City Royals]] and [[Montreal Expos]] during his brief [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) playing career from 1982 to 1984. He threw and batted right-handed, and was listed at {{convert|6|ft|3|in}} tall and {{convert|215|lb|kg}}. Johnson was also a former [[coach (baseball)|first base coach]] of the [[Boston Red Sox]] of MLB. ==Playing career== When in high school, Johnson turned down football scholarships to the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] and [[Fresno State University]] to instead play baseball. Johnson was originally drafted by the [[California Angels]] in the 13th round of the [[1976 Major League Baseball draft]], but did not sign. He was named to the [[1978 College Baseball All-America Team]] by the [[American Baseball Coaches Association. He graduated from Fresno State before being drafted by the [[Kansas City Royals]] in the 24th round, with the 595th overall pick, in the [[1978 MLB draft]]. He made his major league debut with the Royals on September 12, 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1982/B09120KCA1982.htm |title=Kansas City Royals 18, Minnesota Twins 7 |date=September 12, 1982 |website=[[Retrosheet]]}}</ref> On December 15, 1983, the Royals traded Johnson to the [[Montreal Expos]] for [[Tom Dixon (pitcher)|Tom Dixon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/109705983/?terms=%22ron%20johnson%22%20%22tom%20dixon%22&match=1 |title=23 Dec 1983, Page 9 |work=The Courier-Journal |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |date=December 23, 1983 |accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref> [[File:1985 Nashville Ron Johnson.jpg|thumb|right|Johnson with the [[Nashville Sounds]] in 1985]] Johnson played in 22 major league games over parts of three seasons, [[batting average (baseball)|batting]] .261 with 12 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], including two [[double (baseball)|doubles]] and two [[runs batted in]]. He played 830 games in the minor leagues, most of them at the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] level.<ref>https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/norfolk-tides/article_dcb001ed-bd82-510c-a9a9-8f55d1658719.html</ref> ==Coaching and managerial career== ===Kansas City Royals=== Shortly after his playing days ended in 1985, Johnson became a coach in the Royals' minor league system.<ref name="MLB obit">{{cite news|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ron-johnson-former-minor-league-manager-dies|title=Former Minors manager Johnson dies at 64|first=David|last=Adler|date=January 26, 2021|work=MLB.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref> He served as a coach within the Kansas City organization for six seasons, before becoming a manager.<ref>{{cite news|title=Venerable Tides manager calls them as he sees them|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/norfolk-tides/article_dcb001ed-bd82-510c-a9a9-8f55d1658719.html|first=David|last=Hall|date=July 8, 2014|accessdate=January 27, 2021|newspaper=The Virginian-Pilot}}</ref> Johnson made his managerial debut with the [[Baseball City Royals]] (Class A) of the [[Florida State League]] in 1992.<ref name=BRm>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=johnso005ron|title=Ron Johnson Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref> He won [[Texas League]] Manager of the Year honors in 1995,<ref>{{cite news|title=Ron Johnson named IL Manager of Year; Dariel Alvarez, Oliver Drake also honored|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-johnson-named-il-manager-of-year-alvarez-drake-also-honored-20150901-story.html|first=Dan|last=Connolly|date=September 1, 2015|accessdate=January 27, 2021|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref> after guiding the [[Wichita Wranglers]] ([[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]]) to the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=2b293f7b|title= 1995 Texas League |work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref> Three years later, he reached Triple-A as manager of the [[Omaha Royals]], and in 1999 he led that club to a first-place finish in the [[Pacific Coast League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=c7436748|title=1999 Pacific Coast League|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref> In total, Johnson posted six winning seasons in his eight years managing in the Royals' organization.<ref name=BRm/> ===Boston Red Sox=== Johnson joined the [[Boston Red Sox]] organization in 2000 as manager of the [[Sarasota Red Sox]] (Class A) of the Florida State League. In 2002, Johnson was promoted to Double-A as manager of the [[Trenton Thunder]] of the [[Eastern League (U.S. baseball)|Eastern League]]. When the Red Sox switched Double-A affiliations to the [[Portland Sea Dogs]] in 2003, he moved with them and was manager of the Sea Dogs for the next two seasons. His 2003 club went 72–70 and missed the Eastern League playoffs by just a game and a half. In 2004, Johnson once again had Portland near .500 for much of the year before finishing at 69–73 and in a tie for 4th-place in the Eastern League Northern Division. From 2005 to 2009, Johnson served as manager for Boston's Triple-A affiliate, the [[Pawtucket Red Sox]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/sports/20170720/pawsox-journal-pitching-in-to-help-little-league-in-rhode-island|title=PawSox Journal: Pitching in to help Little League in Rhode Island|first=John|last=Gillooly|website=providencejournal.com}}</ref> On November 23, 2009, Johnson was appointed as first base coach for the major league Red Sox.<ref>{{cite news |last=Abraham |first=Peter |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2009/11/red_sox_finaliz.html |title=Red Sox finalize coaching staff |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=November 23, 2009 |access-date=November 23, 2009}}</ref> He held the post for two seasons, but on October 5, 2011, Johnson was fired from the Red Sox staff following the departure of manager [[Terry Francona]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Abraham |first=Peter |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/10/report_red_sox_8.html |title=Report: Red Sox Let 1B coach Ron Johnson go |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=October 5, 2011 |access-date=October 5, 2011}}</ref> ===Baltimore Orioles=== Johnson was next appointed manager of the [[Norfolk Tides]], Triple-A affiliate of the [[Baltimore Orioles]], and led them to back-to-back winning seasons in 2012 and 2013. In 2015, he managed the Tides to a division title and was named the [[International League]]'s Manager of the Year.<ref name="50rj18">{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/tides/news/orioles-announce-tides-coaching-staff-for-2018/c-265929196 |title=Orioles Announce Tides' Coaching Staff for 2018 |date=February 16, 2018 |publisher=Norfolk Tides |accessdate=February 18, 2018 |website=[[MiLB.com]]}}</ref> The 2018 campaign marked his seventh consecutive year as Norfolk's manager, and he holds the franchise record for games won as a manager (491).<ref name="50rj18"/> During the year, Johnson was named the winner of the Orioles' [[Cal Ripken Sr.]] Player Development Award,<ref name="homing">{{cite web |url=http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160112&content_id=161713958&fext=.jsp&vkey=pr_milb&sid=milb |title=Johnson returning for fifth season at Triple-A Norfolk |date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=Norfolk Tides |accessdate=January 13, 2016 |website=[[MiLB.com]]}}</ref> but at the close of the season, he was released by the Baltimore organization as it underwent a significant front-office transition amid the departures of [[general manager (baseball)|general manager]] [[Dan Duquette]] and manager [[Buck Showalter]].<ref name="RJ2018"/> Johnson's minor league managerial [[win-loss record|record]] was 1,752–1,770 (.497) over 25 seasons.<ref name="RJ2018"/><ref name=BRm/><ref name="homing"/> ==Personal life== Johnson and his wife, Daphne, had five children.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Joe |title=Healing is a family affair for Johnsons |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/columns/story?id=5963358 |accessdate=June 27, 2014 |work=[[ESPN]] |date=December 29, 2010|accessdate=January 26, 2021}}</ref> His son [[Chris Johnson (baseball)|Chris]] was drafted in the 37th round by the Red Sox in June 2003 but instead opted for college; and was later drafted by the [[Houston Astros]]. Primarily a [[third baseman]], Chris Johnson spent a dozen years in professional baseball, including all or parts of eight seasons (2009–16) in the majors with five teams. He had a breakout season in 2013 as an [[Atlanta Braves|Atlanta Brave]], finishing second in the [[National League]] [[batting average (baseball)|batting]] race at .321. He also led the Braves in [[double (baseball)|doubles]] (34) and finished second on the club in [[hit (baseball)|hits]] (165). Chris spent part of the 2017 season reunited with his father as a member of the Triple-A Tides in the Baltimore organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/norfolk-tides/article_71c4ab59-eadc-5154-bbcc-f8a97ff1f7ee.html|title=Tides manager Ron Johnson reveling in time he gets to spend with son Chris on the roster|first=David|last=Hall|website=pilotonline.com}}</ref> Johnson took an emergency leave from his coaching duties with the Red Sox on August 1, 2010, after his youngest daughter was seriously injured in a horse riding accident.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.patriotledger.com/archive/x1179101137/Red-Sox-coach-Ron-Johnson-nearly-loses-daughter-in-accident |work=[[The Patriot Ledger]] |location=[[Quincy, Massachusetts]] |date=August 8, 2010 |first=Brent |last=Frazier |title=Red Sox coach Ron Johnson nearly loses daughter in accident|accessdate=January 26, 2021}}</ref> He missed the rest of the season but was able to return to the Red Sox at the outset of [[spring training]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/02/26/red-sox-1b-coach-johnson-daughters-accident-a-living-nightmare/ |title=Red Sox First Base Coach Ron Johnson: Daughter’s Accident a 'Living Nightmare' – CBS Boston |publisher=Boston.cbslocal.com |date=February 26, 2011 |accessdate=January 27, 2021}}</ref> Johnson died from [[COVID-19]] on January 26, 2021, at the age of 64.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/vp-sp-tides-johnson-20210126-4p3memhwdbfbdicttbz4g3e5eu-story.html |work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |location=[[Norfolk, Virginia]] |date=January 26, 2021 |first=David |last=Hall |title=Former Norfolk Tides manager Ron Johnson dies of COVID-19|accessdate=January 26, 2021}}</ref> ==See also== *[[List of second-generation Major League Baseball players]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==Further reading== {{Portal|Biography|Baseball}} * {{cite news |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/02/26/red-sox-1b-coach-johnson-daughters-accident-a-living-nightmare/ |title=Red Sox 1B Coach Johnson: Daughter's Accident a 'Living Nightmare' |website=[[WBZ-TV]] |date=February 26, 2011 |accessdate=August 21, 2019}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Ron Johnson (baseball)|Ron Johnson}} {{Baseballstats|br=j/johnsro03|brm=johnso005ron|retro=J/Pjohnr002|mlb=116622}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6rYLh28OcU Triple-A Norfolk Tides manager Ron Johnson chats with Jim Hunter] via [[YouTube]] {{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sports}}}} {{succession box|title=[[Memphis Chicks (Southern League)|Memphis Chicks]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]]|before=[[Tom Poquette]]|years=1994| after=[[Jerry Royster]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Wichita Wranglers]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]]|before=[[Keith Champion]]|years=1995–1997| after=[[John Mizerock]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Omaha Royals|Omaha Royals/<br>Golden Spikes]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]]|before=[[Mike Jirschele]]|years=1998–1999| after=[[John Mizerock]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Trenton Thunder]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]]|before=[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gardne002wil Billy Gardner Jr.]|years=2002| after=[[Stump Merrill]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Portland Sea Dogs]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]]|before=[[Eric Fox]]|years=2003–2004| after=[[Todd Claus]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Pawtucket Red Sox]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]]|before=[[Buddy Bailey]]|years=2005–2009| after=[[Torey Lovullo]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Boston Red Sox]] [[coach (baseball)|first-base coach]]|before=[[Tim Bogar]]|years=2010–2011|after=[[Alex Ochoa]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Norfolk Tides]] [[manager (baseball)|manager]]|before=[[Gary Allenson]]|years=2012–2018| after=[https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=kendal001gar Gary Kendall]}} {{s-end}} {{1978 College Baseball All-Americans}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Ron}} [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:2021 deaths]] [[Category:All-American college baseball players]] [[Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada]] [[Category:Baseball coaches from California]] [[Category:Baseball players from California]] [[Category:Boston Red Sox coaches]] [[Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players]] [[Category:California State University, Fresno alumni]] [[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Tennessee]] [[Category:Fort Myers Royals players]] [[Category:Fresno State Bulldogs baseball players]] [[Category:Fullerton College alumni]] [[Category:Fullerton Hornets baseball players]] [[Category:Gulf Coast Royals players]] [[Category:Indianapolis Indians players]] [[Category:Jacksonville Suns players]] [[Category:Kansas City Royals players]] [[Category:Major League Baseball first basemen]] [[Category:Minor league baseball managers]] [[Category:Montreal Expos players]] [[Category:Nashville Sounds players]] [[Category:Norfolk Tides managers]] [[Category:Omaha Royals players]] [[Category:Pawtucket Red Sox managers]] [[Category:Portland Sea Dogs managers]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Long Beach, California]] [[Category:Trenton Thunder managers]] [[Category:West Palm Beach Tropics players]]'