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BaseballLibrary.com
Copyright © 2002
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Johnny Damon
Born: 1973

OF 1995- Royals, Athletics, Red Sox

Johnny Damon's Teammates

GamesAverageHRRBI
Career 1257.284100531

Stats through the 2003 season

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Damon was only a 20-year-old minor leaguer when an advertising agency cast him in a commercial with Kansas City Royals legend George Brett. His short swing and blazing speed excited scouts and coaches who hoped he could replace Brett as a mainstay of the team. His growth took time, but in spite of the Royals' repeated losing records, Damon improved his on-base percentage every year. While his throwing arm impressed no one, his ability to cover vast centerfield acreage did.

In 1999 the Royals had just begun to rebuild the team with potential stars like Carlos Beltran, Jermaine Dye, and Mike Sweeney. As one of the few veterans, Damon felt pressure to be a leader in the clubhouse and on the field. The extra strain led to a slump at the plate early in the season. But on April 28, 1999, Damon's life changed forever: his wife gave birth to twins. From that moment he went on a tear, including a 13-game hitting streak in which he went 22 for 50, leading the Royals to a 9-4 record. Exhausted from the feeding and diaper changing that came with a pair of newborns, Damon no longer out-thought himself at the plate, making his swing more natural.

Damon had hoped to remain in Kansas City, but the Royals' financial woes prevented them from signing him to a long-term deal. In 2001 he went to the Oakland Athletics as part of a three-way trade with Tampa Bay. (EPW)


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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
» August 10, 1996: The Royals roll to an 18–3 win over California as Johnny Damon hits a grand slam and drives in seven runs. Jim Abbott loses his 11th straight decision.

» June 26, 1999: KC scores 10 runs in the 8th inning to defeat the Indians, 11-7. The Royals total eight hits in the game and their only home run is a 2-out solo shot by Johnny Damon in the big frame.

» May 8, 2000: The Royals defeat the Tigers, 4-1, in 11 innings. OF Johnny Damon grounded out to start the game, ending his streak of 10 consecutive games with a leadoff hit in the 1st inning. It is the longest such streak since 1975.

» July 18, 2000: The Royals defeat the Cubs, 12-4, as OF Johnny Damon gets five hits, including a major league record-tying four doubles. two players do it today.

» September 11, 2000: The Royals double the Mariners, 6-3. Johnny Damon goes 5-for-5 for KC, with two doubles and a home run.

» January 8, 2001: In a 3-way deal, the Royals obtain C A.J. Hinch, OF Angel Berroa and cash from the A's, and P Roberto Hernandez from the Devil Rays; the A's receive P Cory Lidle from the Devil Rays, and OF Johnny Damon, IF Mark Ellis, and a player to be named from the Royals; and the Devil Rays receive OF Ben Grieve and a player to be named from the A's.

» August 3, 2001: Oakland edges the Detroit Tigers, 2-1, on Jason Giambi's 9th inning solo homer. The win goes to Tim Hudson who outduels Tiger ace Jeff Weaver. The A's collect only four hits, with Giambi's blast completing a team cycle— Terrence Long has a triple, Johnny Damon a double, Jeremy Giambi has a single, and Jason Giambi the home run.

» October 10, 2001: The Yankees fall to the A's, 5-3, in the first game of their Divisional Series. Terrence Long hits a pair of home runs for Oakland and Jason Giambi adds another. Mark Mulder gets the win for Oakland while OF Johnny Damon goes 4-for-4.

» December 21, 2001: The Red Sox sign free agent speedster OF Johnny Damon to a 4-year contract.

» September 1, 2002: Boston trims the Indians, 7–1, behind the strong pitching of Tim Wakefield, who doesn't allow a hit before Matt Lawton's home run in the 5th. Manny Ramirez and Brian Daubach hit back–to–back HRs, and Johnny Damon scores three runs. Jim Thome reached 100 walks for the 4th consecutive year and the 6th time in his career. Thome is the only player in Indians history to ever have consecutive 100 walks seasons.

» September 22, 2002: Pedro Martinez (20-4) allows two runs in the 1st inning, then coasts to his 20th win of the season as the Red Sox beat the hapless Orioles, 13–2. Trot Nixon hits a grand slam and Johnny Damon a pair of homers to keep the Sox playoff hopes alive. Martinez joins Derek Lowe in giving the Sox the first pair of 20-game winners since 1949.

» September 23, 2002: The Red Sox edge the visiting Orioles, 5–4 in 15 innings. Johnny Damon walks, goes to 3B on a wild throw to 1B by Willis Roberts, then scores on a wild pitch. Both teams score in the 14th, as Jeff Conine homers to make up for an error in the inning. Gibbons has two solo home runs for Baltimore, and Shea Hillenbrand one for Boston. The O's have lost 26 of 30.