Johnny David Damon (born November 5, 1973, in Fort Riley,
KansasKansas is a state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa tribe, who inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south wind," although this was...
) is a
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
outfielderOutfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and plays for the
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
. Since the season, through 2008, he was 3rd among active major leaguers in
runsIn baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded. A player may score by hitting a home run or by any combination of plays that puts him safely "on base" as a...
(589), and 7th in
hitsIn baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(912) and
stolen baseIn baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate. In baseball statistics, stolen bases are denoted by SB...
s (153). He is also the active leader in
triplesIn baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(95).
Early years
Johnny Damon was born in Fort Riley,
KansasKansas is a state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa tribe, who inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south wind," although this was...
, though he spent most of his early years in Thailand. His mother, Yome, is from
ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
and his father, Jimmy, is American of Croatian and
IrishThe Irish people are a Western European ethnic group who originate in Ireland, in north western Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolgs, Tuatha Dé Danann and the Milesians The Irish...
descent. They met while his father, a
staff sergeantStaff Sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
in the
United States ArmyThe United States Army is the branch of the United States Military responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military and is one of seven uniformed services...
, was stationed in Thailand. Johnny, their 2nd child (after James, Jr.), was born at Ft. Riley, an Army base in Kansas. Johnny spent much of his early childhood as an "Army brat," moving to several bases from Okinawa, Japan, to West Germany before his father left the Army and settled the family in the
OrlandoOrlando is a major city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan region...
area while Johnny was still a pre-schooler.
Damon was a quiet child, largely on account of a stuttering problem. "My thoughts just raced ahead of my tongue," says Damon of his problem then. "I’d sing songs as therapy, and I got better, but I just kept quiet most of the time." Damon attended
Dr. Phillips High SchoolDr. Phillips High School is a high school located in Orlando, Florida, United States.The area of Dr. Phillips, Florida is named after Dr. Philip Phillips, a physician who later became a Central Florida citrus magnate. He was responsible for several key innovations in the processing and packaging of...
in
Orlando, FloridaOrlando is a major city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan region...
when during his senior year in 1992, he was rated the top high school prospect in the country by
Baseball AmericaBaseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, was named to
USA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth...
's High School All-America team, and was the Florida
GatoradeGatorade is a brand of flavored non-carbonated sports drinks manufactured by the Quaker Oats Company, now a division of PepsiCo. Intended for consumption during physically active occasions, Gatorade beverages are formulated to rehydrate and replenish fluid, carbohydrates and...
Player of the Year. Damon also played football in high school, once getting hit by
Warren SappWarren Harrison Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes...
and sustaining the first concussion in his life.
Kansas City Royals
Damon was selected by the
Kansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
in the first round (35th overall) of the amateur
draftThe First-Year Player Draft, also known as the Rule 4 Draft, is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with...
. He made his Major League debut on August 12, . He played for the Royals from to . His best season came in 2000 when he led the
American LeagueThe 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, that eventually aspired to major league...
in
runsIn baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded. A player may score by hitting a home run or by any combination of plays that puts him safely "on base" as a...
with 136 and stolen bases with 46.
Oakland Athletics
Damon spent with the
Oakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the Oakland Coliseum....
. In a three-way trade involving the A's, Royals, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the A's received Damon along with
pitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter who attempts to either make contact with it or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is...
Cory LidleCory Fulton Lidle was an Americanright-handed baseball pitcher who spent nine seasons in the major leagues with seven different teams...
from the Devil Rays and
second basemanSecond base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Mark Ellis from the Royals.
In 2001 he was 3rd in the league in at bats (644) and 7th in runs (108). Damon was involved in a very unusual play during the 2001 season. On August 8, 2001, in a game in Oakland against the Red Sox, Damon hit a liner down the right field lines and the ball rolled into a beer cup. The hit was ruled a
ground rule doubleIn baseball, a ground rule double is any award of two bases from the time of pitch to all baserunners including the batter-runner. Such an award is traditionally called a "ground rule" double even though the award is usually not a result of ground rules. Most commonly, a batted ball bouncing fair...
. Had the ball not been stuck in the cup, that play would have very likely been a triple.
Boston Red Sox
Damon signed a 4-year, $32 million contract with the
Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
on December 21, .
In 2002 Damon led the league in triples (11), and was 3rd in infield hits (25). He became the inaugural American League
All-Star Final VoteAll-Star Final Vote is an annual Internet and text message ballot by Major League Baseball fans to elect the final player for each team that participates in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game after all other selections have been made and announced on national television. The first 32 players...
.
On June 27, , Damon became only the second major leaguer in the modern era (since 1900) to record 3
base hitsIn baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in an inning, when he did so against the
Florida MarlinsThe Florida Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami Gardens, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
In 2004, he was 2nd in the league in runs (123). Damon began to re-establish himself among the premier lead-off hitters and
center fielderA center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field - the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
s in the game. In arguably his best season in the Major Leagues, Damon
battedBatting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively. The two statistics are related, in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages....
.304 with 20
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s and 94
RBIsRuns batted in or RBI is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play...
, and showed improved patience at the plate. According to Damon's autobiography, he was only the 4th leadoff batter in the history of Major League Baseball to ever drive in more than 90 runs in a season. That year, he was also key player in helping the Boston Red Sox erase their
86-year curseThe Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 until 2004. While some fans took the curse seriously, most used the expression in a tongue-in-cheek manner...
. In game seven of the
2004 ALCSThe 2004 American League Championship Series was Major League Baseball playoff series to decide the champion of the American League for the 2004 season. It was played between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The Red Sox won the series four games to three, having been down three games to...
he hit two home runs (including a grand slam), to lead the Red Sox to victory over the Yankees. In the
World SeriesThe 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
he also hit a home run as Boston swept the
St. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball...
.
Through his 4-year career with the Red Sox (2002–2005), Damon appeared in 597 games (590 of them as the center fielder, and 7 as a
designated hitterIn baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
) and hit 56 home runs. Of his 2476
at batIn baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s in a Boston uniform, 2259 of them were as their leadoff hitter. Damon batted 2nd in the lineup for 156 at bats in 2002, accounting for nearly all of the rest except for occasional pinch hitting appearances. Damon did start two games as the Red Sox' # 3 hitter in 2004. In 2005, his final season with the Red Sox, Damon had 624 at bats, and all but 3 were as the leadoff hitter. He also earned his 2nd All-Star selection in 2005, as the American League's starting center fielder. He led the AL with 35 infield hits, and hit 35 doubles in both the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
New York Yankees
On December 20, 2005, Damon signed a 4 year, $52 million contract with the
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
. The Red Sox stood firm on a 3 year contract and chose not to negotiate against a 5 year deal proposed by agent
Scott BorasScott Boras is a prominent sports agent for professional baseball players. He is the president of Scott Boras Corporation, which has its headquarters in Newport Beach, California...
. With the Yankees limited time offer and Theo Epstein's sudden resignation, Boras urgently attempted to contact team president Larry Luchino after failing to hear from the new co-general managers but the Red Sox stood firm on their 3 year offer. Damon's signing with the Yankees led to his being subsequently vilified by many Red Sox fans because of his previously professed loyalty to the city and Red Sox organization. One held up a sign saying: "Johnny, you really are an Idiot". (In reaction to Damon's light-hearted characterization of the 2004 Red Sox as being a "bunch of idiots"). The Loren & Wally Show of WROR took to calling him "Juan Damón." Damon is the 3rd star Red Sox player in 12 years to "switch sides" and sign a contract with the Yankees, the others being
Wade BoggsWade Anthony Boggs is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball, primarily with the Boston Red Sox. His hitting in the 1980s and 1990s made him a perennial contender for American League batting titles, in much the same way as his National League contemporary Tony Gwynn. Boggs was elected to...
and
Roger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens, aka "The Rocket" is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher. He played for 13 consecutive seasons in Boston, more than half of his career. In , he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays...
(though Clemens played with the
Toronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League.The "Blue Jays" name originates from the bird of the same name...
in between his stints with the Red Sox and Yankees) who were also booed by Red Sox fans after they appeared back in Fenway Park in a Yankees uniform. Damon was even quoted before his departure from the Red Sox as saying, "There's no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they're going to come after me hard. It's definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It's not what I need." In an October 1, 2005 interview with Damon's wife, Michelle, she stated, "I can't see him in a Yankees uniform....This could be his last contract, it could be his retirement, his future, his kids' future. But New York? No. Boston would really have to hurt his feelings." He joined the Yankees only months later.
As the Yankees have a strict dress code for players forbidding both long hair and facial hair (with the exception of a neatly trimmed mustache), Damon had his hair cut and beard shaved on December 22.
During the first Yankee-Red Sox game of the 2006 season on May 1, Johnny Damon was cheered for his first plate appearance by some fans, whom he saluted. After that plate appearance, he was booed by Fenway fans everywhere. He went 0-for-4. A minority of fans cheered Damon when he tipped his hat to his old team's dugout and then to the rest of the Fenway crowd. Reflecting on his return to Fenway, Damon remarked, "I love Boston and I always will. I'll always have terrific memories and great fans here. Those fans [that booed] are just the kind of people who wish they were in my spot—they really do. They've got no class, but that only speaks for a few of them." However, a few months later, he was quoted as saying in an interview, "Moving to New York was the best decision I ever made. Now I'm in a place that actually wants me." Damon may have been referring to the fans that booed him, or to the organization itself for not offering him more money, which he also said was of little importance to him months earlier.
In a pivotal 5-game series between the Yankees and Red Sox at
Fenway ParkFenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use...
, Damon went 3-for-6 in each of the first 3 games, including a doubleheader on Friday August 18, and a game on Saturday August 19. Damon hit 2 home runs, drove in 8 runs, and scored 8 runs in the first 3 games as the Yankees won by a combined score of 39-20, and dealt a severe blow to the Red Sox' play-off aspirations for that season.
In 2006 Damon finished 3rd in runs (115) and 9th in stolen bases (25) in the AL, while hitting 24 home runs, his career high. He also tied his mark of 35 doubles from the previous two seasons. He was only one of 4 players in the major leagues to hit at least 24 home runs and steal at least 24 bases (along with Soriano (46/41), Rollins (25/36), and Byrnes (26/25).
On Opening Day in 2007, Damon was temporarily sidelined due to calf problems. He did not, however, go on the disabled list for his leg problems. After Yankees designated hitter Jason Giambi was placed on the disabled list, Johnny Damon filled the role of DH for him.
Melky CabreraMelky Astacio Cabrera is a center fielder for the New York Yankees, a Major League Baseball team.-Minors:Cabrera was signed by the New York Yankees on November 13, 2001, at age 17...
began filling in for Damon, and replaced Damon as the Yankees starting center fielder. Damon then transferred to left field during the middle part of the season. He ended up hitting 27 doubles for the season.
On December 13, 2007,
ESPNESPN is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting and producing sports-related programming 24 hours a day....
wrongly accused Damon of being in the Mitchell Report. They had reported hours before the report was released that his name was in the document. When it came out, his name was nowhere to be found.
On June 7, 2008, Damon went 6 for 6 in the Yankees 12-11 win over the Kansas City Royals, including a walk-off ground-rule double, which had bounced over the wall. He is the first Yankee to have 6 hits in a 9 inning game since
Myril HoagMyril Oliver Hoag was a major league baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees and other teams. He played from April 15 1931 until September 16 1945. He batted and threw right-handed....
accomplished the feat in 1934. Damon said in a post-game on-field interview that this was his first walk-off as a Yankee. He was also the first player to have 6 hits in Yankee Stadium since
Omar VizquelOmar Enrique Vizquel González is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Texas Rangers. Previously, Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners , the Cleveland Indians and the San Francisco Giants...
(who was then a Cleveland Indian) did it on August 31, 2004.
On July 6, 2008 (retroactive to July 5), the Yankees placed Damon on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his Major League career with a bruised AC joint in his left shoulder. The injury occurred a day earlier when Damon collided with the outfield wall in an attempt to catch a triple hit by Red Sox first baseman
Kevin YoukilisKevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an All Star Major League Baseball player, who has played for the Boston Red Sox and its minor league affiliates throughout his professional career, which began in 2001.Known for his extraordinary ability to get on base, Youkilis was nicknamed "The...
. At that time, Damon (along with
Brad AusmusBradley David "Brad" Ausmus is an American catcher in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers.Entering the 2009 season, he ranked ninth in major league history in career games as a catcher , second in putouts and total chances , and third in fielding percentage . He is a three-time...
, and
Derek LoweDerek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. He throws and bats right-handed.-Early years:...
) was one of only three active major league ballplayers who had played at least 10 years in the majors without ever going on the
disabled listIn Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. He returned to active duty, and again hit 27 doubles for the season. Damon has hit 53 home runs in his three complete seasons with the Yankees.
On July 27, 2009, Damon hit his 200th career home run against the
Tampa Bay RaysThe Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball franchise based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and are the defending American League champions. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League...
Brian ShouseBrian Douglas Shouse is a left-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. Since 2001, Shouse has pitched with a distinctive sidearm delivery, which replaced his earlier, more traditional, overhand delivery....
.
Damon, who will be a free agent after the 2009 season, has expressed his desire to return to the Yankees.
Postseason
Over his career in the postseason, Damon has hit .278 with 5 home runs and 16 RBI with the A's, Red Sox, and Yankees.
Awards
- 1993 - Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort Cardinals – began operating...
All-Star OF
- 1994 - Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic region of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
All-StarC Royals Minor League Player of the Year
- 1995 - Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
1st team Minor League All-Star OF
- 1995 - Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a AA league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1890...
Most Valuable Player
- 1995 - KC Royals Minor League Player of the Year
- 1995 - AA All-Star OF
- 1995 - AA Player of the Year
- 1995 - Texas League All-Star OF
- 2000 - KC Royals Player of the Year
- 2002 - All-Star (Inaugural American League All-Star Final Vote
All-Star Final Vote is an annual Internet and text message ballot by Major League Baseball fans to elect the final player for each team that participates in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game after all other selections have been made and announced on national television. The first 32 players...
winner)
- 2005 - Baseball America 2nd-Team All-Star OF
- 2005 - All-Star
Exercise routine
As a part of his exercise routine, Johnny admits to pursuing cars from one end of his block to the other on foot. "I live on a street (in the Orlando area) where the speed limit is 25 miles an hour and the
policeA police service is a public force empowered to enforce the law and provide security through the legitimized use of force.The term is most commonly associated with police services of a state that are authorized to exercise the police power of that state within a defined legal or territorial area of...
enforce it. At night, I'd wait out there and when a car came by I would race the car home, so I think I can go at least 25 miles an hour. I scared some of the people, seeing a
cavemanA caveman or troglodyte is a popular stock character based upon popular concepts of the way in which early prehistoric humans or homininans may have looked and behaved. The archetype of "cavemen" originates with the discovery of Neanderthal remains...
racing after cars," said Damon in a
ProvidenceProvidence is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, and one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the estimated second or third largest city in the New England region...
newspaper article early in 2004.
He has also said: "I do naked pull-ups" moments before game time in the team's locker room."
Damon on
The Late Show with David Letterman said, "Oh yeah, I got another one for ya. When I was younger I would run as fast as I could up a tree and stay there until people got worried and didn't know I was up there. But, most of the time I would just come down because no one was looking for me."
Book
In 2005, Damon wrote
Idiot: Beating "The Curse" and Enjoying the Game of Life with Peter Golenbock, and also appeared on
Late Night With Conan O'BrienLate Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC from 1993 to 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and stand-up comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 a.m....
in April during a series against the Yankees. On June 7, he appeared on the hit Bravo TV series
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy with four of his Red Sox teammates (
Jason VaritekJason Andrew Varitek is an American baseball catcher and team captain for the Boston Red Sox. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Red Sox...
,
Kevin MillarKevin Charles Millar is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he continues to reside in the off-season...
,
Doug MirabelliDouglas Anthony Mirabelli is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the San Francisco Giants , Texas Rangers , Boston Red Sox , and San Diego Padres before returning to the Red Sox to end his eleven year career...
,
Tim WakefieldTimothy Stephen Wakefield is a right-handed knuckleball pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played with the Boston Red Sox since 1995, making him the longest-serving member of the team....
).
Personal
Damon married his high school sweetheart, Angela Vannice, when he was 19. They were married from 1992 to 2002. They had twins together, Madelyn and Jackson, born April 22, 1999.
Damon married Michelle Mangan on December 30, 2004. One of his wedding guests was Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals. On January 4, 2007, Michelle gave birth to Damon's third child and her first, Devon Rose, in
Orlando, FloridaOrlando is a major city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan region...
. Damon & his family reside in
Windermere, FloridaWindermere is a town in Orange County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,897. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the town had a population of 2,019. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.Windermere...
. Johnny and Michelle welcomed their second child together (Damon's fourth), a little girl named Danica, on September 18, 2008 in New York.
Damon is also active with the
Wounded Warrior ProjectThe Wounded Warrior Project is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "honor and empower wounded warriors" of the United States Armed Forces...
. Through his work with the Professional Baseball Gaming League, Damon aims to donate to the cause.
Damon campaigned in 2008 for then-presidential candidate
Rudy Giuliani| align="right"|Rudolph William Louis "Rudy" Giuliani is an American lawyer, businessman and politician from New York. He served as Mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001....
.
Damon was one of the victims of the $8 billion dollar fraud perpetrated by wealth manager
Allen StanfordSir Robert Allen Stanford, KCN is a prominent financier, philanthropist, and sponsor of professional sports who has been charged with fraud. Stanford is the chairman of the privately held, wholly owned Stanford Financial Group of Companies. A fifth-generation Texan who resides in St. Croix, U.S...
.
Puma endorsement
In February 2006, sporting goods company
PumaPUMA AG Rudolf Dassler Sport is a large German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear....
signed Damon to a four-year endorsement deal. Damon wore the company's DFR model
cleatsA cleat is an American term for a type of shoe designed especially for sports played on grass or dirt, such as soccer or American football. It may also refer to a type of shoe designed especially for, and only worn in, wet weather....
during the 2006 season. This continues Puma's sponsorship of Damon, which began when he signed his first deal with the company in 2003.
See also
External links