In 1997, Davey Johnson was named the AL Manager of the Year with the Baltimore Orioles. The same day he resigned over disagreements with owner Peter Angelos.

The night after Bryce Harper was named the National League Rookie of the Year and fifteen years later, it’s a different.

This time Davey Johnson was named the National League Manager of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America and wasn’t fired. Johnson also became one of the few managers to win the award in both leagues.  He received 23 out of 32 first-place votes, scoring 131 total votes and beating Dusty Baker and Bruce Bochy.

Johnson came out of managerial retirement to manage the Nationals in 2011 after Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned. In 2012 he led the Nationals to their first winning season as well as their first trip to the playoffs. Johnson more than aptly managed the young rookies such as Bryce Harper and Tyler Moore, while juggling injuries on the roster (including but not limited to injuries to the starting third baseman, right fielder, and shortstop). He instilled confidence in those slumping, gave opportunities to succeed and led with expectations of being better. Johnson even told the Nationals they could fire him if the team didn’t make the playoffs.

Davey Johnson’s leadership was not lost on his team. Of his manager, outfielder Jayson Werth said, “When Davey took over the middle of the season and kid of did things his own way, and went about business the way Davey goes about business, you could start to sense and see the ship was turning around.”

Next season will be Johnson’s last managing before he transitions to being a consultant.