MLB legend Johnny Damon gives advice to Shrewsbury Legion stars, is a hit at Futures League All-Star Game

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5 days ago

WORCESTER — Johnny Damon threw out the first pitch prior to the Futures League All-Star Game on a perfect July 22 summer evening at Polar Park.
Prior to that the former Red Sox fan favorite and two-time World Series champion met with Shrewsbury Post 397 following its 10-6 win over Lowell in an American Legion regional championship at the home of the Worcester Red Sox.
And what a passionate pitch he made.
'He was just telling us to stay with baseball and see where it takes us,' said pitcher Joey Guidotti, who graduated from Shrewsbury High in May and will continue his academic and athletic careers at Assumption University.
'It's a hard game,' Damon said. 'Enjoy every single aspect of your life. And it goes quick. I've been retired for almost 13 years now and it goes quick.'
Damon, who is 51 and resides in his home state of Central Florida, played for seven teams over the course of 18 seasons in the big leagues, the last being in 2012.
The speedy outfielder was a two-time All-Star who finished his career with a .284 average, 2,769 hits and 408 steals. He ranks 55th in hits and 66th in steals, respectively, all-time in Major League Baseball.
But seeing the Post 397 players ‒ and the Lowell contingent he met with afterward ‒ brought Damon back to when he was their age. And younger.
'Man, these guys look like babies to me,' a tan-and-fit Damon said. 'I have kids older than them now. But, yeah, the memories of strapping it on every single day was unreal. And the camaraderie you learn with your teammates.
'I'm still friends with all my childhood Little League friends. We hang out all the time still and those are the guys who are true to me because they have been there from the beginning. It's special.'
Damon is best known for his time with the Boston Red Sox (2002-05) and New York Yankees (2006-09), having helped both of the ancient rivals win world championships.
It was 2004 for the Red Sox, of course, breaking the Curse of the Bambino.
'Well, 86 years of heartache for Red Sox fans,' Damon said. 'I'm glad we got to bring joy to so many people.'
The Yankees hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy in 2009. That turned out to be Damon's final season in New York after he and the team couldn't agree on the financial parameters of a new contract.
It's also the last time the Yankees were world champs.
'The Yankees one is actually special because it was 14 years (ago),' Damon said. 'They think it's easy replacing really good players (like me). So, hopefully, the Yankees don't have the Johnny Damon curse just like we broke the Babe Ruth curse.'
Damon was sporting both his World Series rings, the Sox on his left hand and the Yanks on his right.
Care to fathom a guess as to which one is closer to his heart?
'He said unfortunately he preferred the ring with the Yankees over the one with the Red Sox,' Guidotti said. 'It was 86 years with the Sox, but he said he found more success individually as a player as a Yankee.'
Damon had previously visited Polar Park, although he noted, 'It wasn't for a game, so it's going to be a special night.'
And he has a special business relationship with Central Mass. via Worcester-based Polar Beverages.
'My A-Game company, we work with the Crowley family,' Damon said. 'They're partners with us. We have the cleanest (sports) hydration drink out there, we just need to let people know about it.
'Clean hydration, tastes great and you always have to bring your A-Game.'
—Contact Rich Garven at [e-mail]. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarven.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: MLB legend Johnny Damon a hit at Futures League All-Star Game