Ron Johnson, who managed Omaha’s professional baseball team in 1998 and ‘99, died yesterday from COVID-19.  He was 64. 

Johnson spent 25 seasons managing in the minors, the final seven with Baltimore’s Triple-A club in Norfolk, Virginia from 2012-18.  In those seven seasons, he won a Tides’ franchise record 491 games and was named International League Manager of the Year in 2015. 

Johnson played eight seasons in the minors, including parts of the 1981-83 seasons with Omaha. 

He also appeared in 22 games over three Major League seasons, ‘82 and ‘83 with Kansas City and ‘84 with Montreal.