NEW YORK | It’s coming up on nine years since outfielder Johnny Damon virtually forced his way out of Kansas City by rebuffing all attempts to entice him away from pending free-agency through a contract extension. Damon thirsted for the spotlight — the glory and riches that come from playing in postseason — and saw scant opportunity for those rewards in remaining with an organization weighed down by financial limitations. Turns out, he knew what he was doing. Damon currently finds himself in postseason for the seventh time in nine years, this time in Yankees pinstripes, and seeking to add a second World Series ring to his collection. “This is why I started playing baseball — to be a champion and to play in the World Series,” he said. “I think anyone who has never had this opportunity would be disappointed. “This is my second opportunity and, hopefully, I can make the most of it again.” The other time came in 2004 when Damon was one of the self-proclaimed “idiots” who fueled Boston’s first championship run since 1918. Those Red Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees in the American League Championship Series before dispatching St. Louis in four straight games. Damon jumped to the Yankees as a free agent after the 2005 season in a move trumpeted in a billboard outside Yankee Stadium that showed him sheepishly climbing from a cab and declaring, “Let’s let bygones be bygones.” His move was seen as a betrayal in Boston, where he was mocked in T-shirts: “Looks like Jesus, Acts like Judas, Throws like Mary.” That was before Damon cleaned up his shaggy looks to conform to the Yankees’ stricter grooming standards, but you get the idea. The Red Sox seemed to have the last laugh, too, when they won the 2007 Series while Damon, in his first three seasons with the Yankees, failed to advance beyond the first round. “It wasn’t fun watching them win,” he acknowledged, “but things happen for a reason. I’ve enjoyed playing here in New York. It’s been a dream come true.” What comes next is uncertain. Damon turns 36 next week and again becomes a free agent after the season. First, though, he is poised to join teammate Eric Hinske in becoming the first players since 1923 to win World Series as members of the Red Sox and Yankees. Hinske was on Boston’s 2007 club. Damon revels in it all. He enjoyed Thursday’s rousing reception by Yankees fans to Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez, a teammate on Boston’s 2004 title team. And he talks enthusiastically of the spirited answer anticipated Saturday night when the Series resumes in Philadelphia. “We deal with people yelling at us all of the time,” Damon said. “When you play in the Northeast — in places like Philly, both New York clubs and Boston — you’re going to hear that quite a bit. It’s because you’re on center stage.” That’s where Damon always wanted to be. He makes no apologies for hitching his wagon to two of the game’s richest clubs. The game has financial inequities? OK, he wants to be with the winners. When the Yankees failed to reach postseason last year for the first time since 1994, he knew they would spend whatever it required in the free-agent market to address the problem. Damon wasn’t disappointed. The Yankees shelled out multiyear packages totaling $423.5 million to sign first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. “They got three (high-)quality free agents,” Damon said. “Without them, we’d be on vacation somewhere.” If that bounty comes at the expense of other teams, well, that’s life. When Damon sees Cleveland trading away reigning Cy Young Award winners Sabathia and Cliff Lee over the last two years, it takes him back to his six no-hope seasons with the Royals. “As your career goes on,” Damon said, “you don’t know how many times you’re going to get back to (the World Series). So you have to cherish everything about it. From when I started in Kansas City to where I am right now — I’m happy with where I am.”

Posted on Thu, Oct. 29, 2009 11:26 PM

Buzz Up

Comment (0)

Yankees’ Damon says he’s in a good place

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star

More News

Damon thirsted for the spotlight — the glory and riches that come from playing in postseason — and saw scant opportunity for those rewards in remaining with an organization weighed down by financial limitations.

Turns out, he knew what he was doing.

Damon currently finds himself in postseason for the seventh time in nine years, this time in Yankees pinstripes, and seeking to add a second World Series ring to his collection.

“This is why I started playing baseball — to be a champion and to play in the World Series,” he said. “I think anyone who has never had this opportunity would be disappointed.

“This is my second opportunity and, hopefully, I can make the most of it again.”

The other time came in 2004 when Damon was one of the self-proclaimed “idiots” who fueled Boston’s first championship run since 1918. Those Red Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit to the Yankees in the American League Championship Series before dispatching St. Louis in four straight games.

Damon jumped to the Yankees as a free agent after the 2005 season in a move trumpeted in a billboard outside Yankee Stadium that showed him sheepishly climbing from a cab and declaring, “Let’s let bygones be bygones.”

His move was seen as a betrayal in Boston, where he was mocked in T-shirts: “Looks like Jesus, Acts like Judas, Throws like Mary.”

That was before Damon cleaned up his shaggy looks to conform to the Yankees’ stricter grooming standards, but you get the idea.

The Red Sox seemed to have the last laugh, too, when they won the 2007 Series while Damon, in his first three seasons with the Yankees, failed to advance beyond the first round.

“It wasn’t fun watching them win,” he acknowledged, “but things happen for a reason. I’ve enjoyed playing here in New York. It’s been a dream come true.”

What comes next is uncertain. Damon turns 36 next week and again becomes a free agent after the season.

First, though, he is poised to join teammate Eric Hinske in becoming the first players since 1923 to win World Series as members of the Red Sox and Yankees. Hinske was on Boston’s 2007 club.

Damon revels in it all.

He enjoyed Thursday’s rousing reception by Yankees fans to Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez, a teammate on Boston’s 2004 title team. And he talks enthusiastically of the spirited answer anticipated Saturday night when the Series resumes in Philadelphia.

“We deal with people yelling at us all of the time,” Damon said. “When you play in the Northeast — in places like Philly, both New York clubs and Boston — you’re going to hear that quite a bit. It’s because you’re on center stage.”

That’s where Damon always wanted to be. He makes no apologies for hitching his wagon to two of the game’s richest clubs. The game has financial inequities? OK, he wants to be with the winners.

When the Yankees failed to reach postseason last year for the first time since 1994, he knew they would spend whatever it required in the free-agent market to address the problem.

Damon wasn’t disappointed. The Yankees shelled out multiyear packages totaling $423.5 million to sign first baseman Mark Teixeira and pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.

“They got three (high-)quality free agents,” Damon said. “Without them, we’d be on vacation somewhere.”

If that bounty comes at the expense of other teams, well, that’s life. When Damon sees Cleveland trading away reigning Cy Young Award winners Sabathia and Cliff Lee over the last two years, it takes him back to his six no-hope seasons with the Royals.

“As your career goes on,” Damon said, “you don’t know how many times you’re going to get back to (the World Series). So you have to cherish everything about it. From when I started in Kansas City to where I am right now — I’m happy with where I am.”

To reach Bob Dutton, Royals reporter for The Star, send email to bdutton@kcstar.com. Follow his updates at twitter.com/Royals_Report.

Posted on Thu, Oct. 29, 2009 11:26 PM

Buzz Up

Comment (0)

Join the discussion

Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open, civil debate is the goal. Please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as abuse" link.