Johnny Damon: Top Five Career Highlights from Hall of Fame Outfielder

Johnny Damon is a living legend. 

He's only been to two All-Star Games, only received MVP votes four times, and only led the MLB in something three times (runs and stolen bases in 2000, triples in 2002). 

Yet somehow, this outfielder is going to be a Hall of Famer.

He's played for two World Series Champions, and he's made himself into one of the most recognizable names and faces in the entire MLB. 

Whether he was a self-proclaimed "Idiot" in Boston, or a member of the almost-unbeatable Yankees, Damon has always stood out both in terms of personality and performance. 

In a career that has been full of highlights, here are the top five. 

5. June 7, 2008

Playing for the Yankees on June 7, 2008, Damon had arguably the best game of his career. 

Coming off a loss, the Yankees were led by Damon's bat in a 12-11 victory against Brian Bannister and the Royals.

Damon led off the bottom of the first inning for the Yankees with a line drive double to deep right-center.

Five at-bats later, the left fielder was sitting atop a pretty 6-6 line with four RBI and a run scored. 

With his last hit, a walk-off ground rule double, he became the first Yankee to have six hits in nine innings since Myril Hoag in 1934. It was also Damon's first walk-off as a Yankee. 

4. May 1, 2006

On May 1, 2006, the Yankees lost to the Red Sox 7-3. Damon struggled at the plate and went 0-4. 

So why was this one of the top five career highlights?

This was Damon's first game back in Fenway Park since he left the Red Sox roster. After helping the team to a World Series title in 2004, making great friends on the team, and becoming a folk hero in Boston, Damon turned his back on the team and signed with the New York Yankees. 

Spiteful Boston fans could have booed him mercilessly throughout the game, but instead, they cheered for him during his first plate appearance. 

After the game, Damon said, "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."

3. 2009 World Series Title

A World Series title has to be a career highlight for any player who's won one. 

After the Yankees split the first two games of the series with the Philadelphia Phillies, Damon turned it on. In Game Three, he doubled home two runs off of Cole Hamels and helped the Yankees win 8-5. 

In Game Four, he had hits in both the first and fifth innings before reaching base in the ninth. Damon managed to steal third base all the way from first to scare Brad Lidge, who would concede the game-winning hit to Alex Rodriguez. Damon scored the winning run. 

In Game Six, he walked and scored in the third inning, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead over their opponents. Unfortunately, he strained a muscle on the play, and watched the game unfold from the bench. 

Many people considered Damon the MVP of the series, but the trophy went to Hideki Matsui. 

2. 2004 World Series Title

It was during this season that Damon truly became a legend. Part of the "Idiots," the outfielder grew out the caveman beard that became so iconic. 

After making it all the way to the World Series, Damon led the Red Sox against the Cardinals with four runs scored and batted .286 in the four-game series. 

The title ended the 86-year World Series drought and established Damon's name in history. 

He became so popular that hundreds of fans watched him get his beard trimmed the next day, while chanting his name. 

1. The Grand Slam

It was Game Seven of the 2004 ALCS against the bitter rivals: The New York Yankees. 

The Red Sox had lost the first three games, and were trying to become the first team in history to come back from that deficit. Damon had recorded just three hits in the first six games.

Before the game, Damon's faithful teammates told him that this was his day, and Terry Francona, the Red Sox manager, stopped Damon to tell him that he was a great player. 

In stepped Damon to the batter's box with the bases loaded, and a 2-0 lead. When reliever Javier Vazquez threw his first pitch, Damon uncorked and hit a grand slam. If you look at the picture, you can tell that he knew it was gone. 

The Red Sox went on to win the game 10-3, complete an unprecedented comeback, and move onto the World Series they would eventually win. 

Damon would finish the game with six RBI and set a new ALCS single-game record.