Switch hitter

No one understands the idea of relocation quite like a baseball player. They, if they have talent, become part of a team where they learn the values of teamwork and of rivalry. Once they know that, they are often uprooted from their club family and forced into a new one.

Johnny Damon as Boston's "Caveman."
photo credit: Steve Senne, AP

A prime example is the rivalry between New York and Boston. Johnny Damon was an outfielder at Fenway Park for four years, including the year that broke the Curse of the Bambino. When his contract there was up he said, "There's no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they are going to come after me hard."

He ended up at Yankee Stadium the following season with a 5 year contract.

With new turf (and new fans) came a new look. The Yankees clean-cut values required that Damon rid himself of the famous "cave man" look; he cut his trademark long hair and shaved his beard so he may look up to par in his pinstripes.

Though Damon claimed that the "top dollar which the Yankees are going to offer" was not the most important thing, he spent 5 years in the Bronx and earned a ring with the New York emblem on it.

Damon earned praise in Boston's Cathedral, ridicule for joining the rival, a great deal of money.


But where is he now? Replaced.

Damon left Boston, where he and his unruly hair were heralded. Today a Tampa Bay Ray, Damon's name is still spoken at Fenway, but in comparison to Jacoby Ellsbury who they hope to be their star hitter.

Damon is still earning recognition. Especially considering he just recently passed Reggie Jackson on the hit list (Reggie Jackson's record being 2,584 during his career). The intensity of the rivalry and the die-hard Red Sox fans would have, if you ask me as a Yankees fan, made this landmark much more monumental.

Derek Jeter, approaching his 3,000th hit, will be greatly celebrated when he hits it in the pinstripes he's been wearing for his entire career, with his devoted fans in the stands.