Full Name : Johnny David Damon
Born : November 5, 1973
Hometown : Fort Riley, Kansas
Height : 6' 2
Weight : 205 lbs
Bats : Left
Throws : Left
Major League Baseball debut : August 12, 1995 for the Kansas City Royals
Family : wife, Angela Vannice, Michelle Mangan; children, Madelyn, Jackson, Devon Rose
Primary Position : OF (Outfielder)
Very few baseball players know what it is like to be respected by fans. Johnny Damon's work ethic and personality have earned him a reputation as one of the game's most enjoyable players to watch. Born on November 5, 1973, in Fort Riley, Kansas, Damon relocated throughout much of his childhood due to the fact that his father served in the military. Damon was actually born at a military base in Kansas, and it wasn't until the family settled down in Orlando, Florida that Damon was able to begin his young baseball career. Throughout his childhood, Damon suffered from a stuttering problem which caused him to be very quiet in larger crowds. He attended Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, and it was here that he developed the skills to become the country's top prospect as stated by Baseball America. During his senior season of high school he was named to USA Today's High School All-America Team and was also recognized as Florida's Gatorade Player of the Year. It was obvious that major league teams were dying to get their hands on this young, exceptional athlete.
The Kansas City Royals won the bidding and selected Damon in the 1992 amateur draft. After finishing as a straight-A student in high school, Damon turned down a scholarship from the University of Florida and signed with the Royals for an estimated $300,000. In 1995, Damon made his major league debut and appeared in 47 games that season. Kansas City fans soon grew accustomed to his style and respected his ability to put up respectable numbers at the top of the lineup. He finished in the top 5 in triples during three of his six seasons with the Royals. In his last year with the team (2000), Damon finished up as the league-leader in both runs (136) and stolen bases (46), and it became quite obvious that the Royals would not be able to afford him. The Oakland Athletics picked up his contract in 2001, and as a surprise to many Damon did not put up his expected numbers during that season.
In 2002, the Boston Red Sox took a gamble with Damon and brought him in as their everyday center-fielder. Red Sox fans learned to love the way Damon played the game, and his long hairstyle became famous throughout the whole league. Eventually earning a spot as Boston's leadoff hitter, Damon had one of his best seasons in 2004 and played a key role in leading the team to its first World Series victory in 86 years. In game seven of the 2004 American League Championship Series, Damon hit two home runs (including a grand slam) to help the Red Sox defeat the New York Yankees.
After the 2005 season, Damon shocked many when he signed with the New York Yankees. He even went as far as changing his image by cutting his hair so that New York fans no longer remembered the Damon that clobbered them just years before. Though he did put up respectable numbers with the Yankees, he shuffled around the batting lineup due to the fact that Derek Jeter was the team's everyday leadoff hitter. Undoubtedly, Damon will go down as one of the most enjoyable (but controversial) athletes in major league history.
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