JockBio: Johnny Damon Facts

Johnny Damon

When Johnny was a kid, he collected George Brett’s cards.
Johnny suffered his first sports concussion courtesy of a teenage Warren Sapp, in a high-school football game against Apopka High.
As a senior in hig school, Johnny finished second in Florida in the 200 and fifth in the 100.
Johnny was a minor league MVP in 1992, `93, `94 and `95.
Johnny broke Delino DeShields’s Rockford record with 59 steals in 1993.
In the minors, Johnny modeled his game after Kenny Lofton’s.
Johnny has hit more triples than anyone in baseball since he came up in August of 1995.
Johnny hit his first career grand slam off of Jim Abbott in 1996.
Johnny’s homeplate collision with Chad Kreuter in 1997 ended the Chicago catcher’s career.
In 1998, Johnny became the fourth Royal to play every game of the schedule in a non-strike-shortened season.
Johnny had the best game of his career in an inter-league match-up with the Cubs in 2000. He went 5-for-6 with a record-tying four doubles. He also made a great catch on a Henry Rodriguez drive.
Johnny led the majors with a .386 average after the All-Star break in 2000.
During spring training in 2001, the Dodgers offered Gary Sheffield straight-up for Johnny.
Johnny’s 644 at bats in 2001 broke the A’s team mark held by Bert Campaneris.
During his year in Oakland, Johnny would often skateboard a mile from his apartment to the train on his way to the ballpark.
The low point of Johnny’s one season with the A’s occurred in Kansas City, where a WHB DJ declared his first game back in Kansas City “Boo Johnny Damon Night.” The promotion got out of hand and the good-natured ribbing turned ugly and obscene.
In a June 2003 blowout of the Florida Marlins, Johnny became just the second player in history to get three hits in an inning.
The 2004 season marked the seventh consecutive year Johnny has scored 100-plus runs.
Johnny collected 6 straight hits in a series against the Orioles in April of 2004.
Johnny says the two old-time players he would love to see today are Joe DiMaggio and Jackie Robinson.
Johnny collects signed jerseys. He prefers getting items from teammates and friends over star players he does not know. He also buys his own cards.
Johnny calls former teammate Tom Gordon the toughest righty he’s faced in the majors.
In 2004, a group of Red Sox fans dubbed themselves "Damon’s Disciples." They came to Fenway with long wigs and beards.
In May of 2004, Johnny shaved off his beard at the Prudential Center as part of a promotion for Gillette. Hundreds of fans showed up to witness the landmark event.
Johnny and his high school sweetheart, Angie Vannice, were married in 1995. They had twins, Madelyn and Jackson, in 1999, but went through a bitter divorce in 2002. Johnny remarried Michelle Mangan in December of 2004, and AD/DC front man Brian Johnson—a friend of Johnny’s—sang at the wedding.
Johnny says he appreciates life more than ever after a high-school friend died of skin cancer a few years ago.
Johnny’s favorite football player is Tom Brady. He loved the fact that two Boston teams won championships in a three-month period in 2004.
Johnny still lives in Orlando, in a mansion on Lake Butler.
Johnny’s favorite TV show is Two and a Half Men. His favorite movie is Spiderman.
Johnny and four other Red Sox agreed to get re-made on a 2005 episode of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

George Brett, 1976 Hostess

Kenny Lofton biography

Joe DiMaggio, 2002 SP Legendary C