Damion Easley
Encyclopedia
Jacinto Damion Easley is a former Major League Baseball
player who is currently Executive Director of Warrior Baseball Academy. He is also an assistant coach for the Peoria Padres
.
to Mount Vernon, New York
. At age 11, his parents divorced and he moved with his father to California
. He attended Lakewood High School
in Lakewood, CA, where he was a member of the CIF champions in 1987. He attended Long Beach City College
before being drafted by the California Angels
in the 30th round of the amateur draft. Easley's wife's name is Dawn and they have four children: Rocky, Jasmine, Nathaniel, and Jayce Derrick.
, Detroit Tigers
, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
, Florida Marlins
, Arizona Diamondbacks
, and the New York Mets
.
While with the Tigers, Easley was a American League
All-Star
. That year, he batted .271 and set career-highs with 27 home run
s and 100 RBI. He also participated in the 1998 Home Run Derby
. In , Easley became the ninth Detroit Tiger to hit for the cycle
. In 2001, Easley also had a five-hit game and an inside-the-park home run.
On November 16, , Easley signed with the Mets as a free agent.
On August 2, , Easley became the 24th player in Mets' history to hit an inside the park home run (against the Milwaukee Brewers
), during a 12-4 victory http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/08/03/2007-08-03_rolling_on_easley_feet-2.html.
On August 18, 2007, Easley suffered a high ankle sprain
while advancing to second base on a wild pitch
. This injury ended his 2007 baseball season, but he resumed play with the Mets in .
At the time of his retirement, Easley had played the most regular season games (1706) of any player (during the divisional playoff era, 1994–present) that had never played in the postseason. Randy Winn
broke this record in 2010. (Ernie Banks, who played most of his career before the League Championship Series was introduced, holds the all-time record.)
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player who is currently Executive Director of Warrior Baseball Academy. He is also an assistant coach for the Peoria Padres
Peoria Padres
The Arizona League Padres are the rookie-level team of the San Diego Padres in the Arizona Rookie League. They play their home games at Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona, which is also the home of the minor league clubhouse for the Padres...
.
Biography
At age five, his family moved from the BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
to Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
. At age 11, his parents divorced and he moved with his father to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He attended Lakewood High School
Lakewood High School (California)
Lakewood High School is a public secondary school located in the Southern California city of Lakewood. Founded in 1957, it is part of the Long Beach Unified School District...
in Lakewood, CA, where he was a member of the CIF champions in 1987. He attended Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College, established in 1927, is a community college located in Long Beach, California. It is divided into two campuses. The Liberal Arts Campus, known as LAC, is located in the residential community of the Lakewood Village section of Long Beach, on Carson Street west of Clark Avenue...
before being drafted by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 30th round of the amateur draft. Easley's wife's name is Dawn and they have four children: Rocky, Jasmine, Nathaniel, and Jayce Derrick.
Baseball career
Easley has played for the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
, Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, and the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
While with the Tigers, Easley was a American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
. That year, he batted .271 and set career-highs with 27 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 100 RBI. He also participated in the 1998 Home Run Derby
Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is an event played prior to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. It is a contest among the top home run hitters in Major League Baseball to determine who can hit the most home runs. The event is currently sponsored by State Farm Insurance...
. In , Easley became the ninth Detroit Tiger to hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
. In 2001, Easley also had a five-hit game and an inside-the-park home run.
On November 16, , Easley signed with the Mets as a free agent.
On August 2, , Easley became the 24th player in Mets' history to hit an inside the park home run (against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
), during a 12-4 victory http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/08/03/2007-08-03_rolling_on_easley_feet-2.html.
On August 18, 2007, Easley suffered a high ankle sprain
High ankle sprain
A high ankle sprain, also known as a syndesmotic ankle sprain, is a sprain of the syndesmotic ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula on the lower leg. Syndesmotic ankle sprains are known as high because their location on the lower leg is above the ankle...
while advancing to second base on a wild pitch
Wild pitch
In baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
. This injury ended his 2007 baseball season, but he resumed play with the Mets in .
At the time of his retirement, Easley had played the most regular season games (1706) of any player (during the divisional playoff era, 1994–present) that had never played in the postseason. Randy Winn
Randy Winn
Dwight Randolph Winn is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Winn was a switch hitter, and threw right-handed. He played college baseball at Santa Clara University and made his Major League debut in 1998 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
broke this record in 2010. (Ernie Banks, who played most of his career before the League Championship Series was introduced, holds the all-time record.)