Howard Johnson spent nine seasons playing for the Mets, helping the team win its last World Series in 1986. The 61-year-old Johnson now resides in Nashville, Tenn., where he runs a baseball facility and works with high school players.

The former third baseman will be returning to Queens next week to participate in Old Timers’ Day. Post Sports+ recently caught up with Johnson, whose 3-year-old grandson Tanner was seriously injured in a lawnmower accident last summer. Tanner is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field before next Friday’s game.

You haven’t been visible with the Mets for several years. Was there a rift between you and the organization after they fired you as hitting coach in 2010?

Howard Johnson: There was a little bit for a while, but I felt like we had cleared everything up, [former team COO] Jeff Wilpon and I — he assured me that we did. But I really wasn’t around much, and wasn’t asked to come around much. But that has changed somewhat now. I’m very happy about that, to have some kind of presence at least, that I can come around and be around the team and see what’s going on a little bit more. And that’s what I’m looking forward to. I feel like the Mets are my family, and I want to be around it just to be around it because I love the organization. … I was at Mets fantasy camp last spring for about the first time in 15 years, so that was fun. It was good to get back in there.