This Day in New York Yankees History 3/11: Yankees Lose Nick Johnson

On this day in 2006 the New York Yankees lost out on an opportunity with their own free agent when first basemen and designated hitter Nick Johnson signed a three year contract extension worth $16.5 million with the Washington Nationals. The 27 year old first basemen signed a $3.2 million one year deal in January with the Nationals after spending his first five seasons with the Yankees.

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/23: Mark Teixeira vs. Nick Johnson

On this day in 2009 Nick Johnson signed a one year deal worth $5.75 million to return to the New York Yankees. Johnson would come back to be the DH after Hideki Matsui was let walk to the Angels. Johnson was traded before the 2004 season for Javier Vazquez the first time.


Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees also signed first basemen Mark Teixeira to a eight year contract worth $180 million. Teixeira was coming off a season in which he posted a .308 batting average with 33 home runs and 121 RBI's. Teixeira joins recently signed AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia as big names the Yankees have signed this offseason.


Finally on this day in 2005 the New York Yankees introduced their clean shaven Johnny Damon to the fans and media at Yankee Stadium. Damon was one year removed from the cavemen 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox championship team and signed a four year deal worth $52 million.

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/11: Yankees Lose Nick Johnson

On this day in 2006 the New York Yankees lost out on an opportunity with their own free agent when first basemen and designated hitter Nick Johnson signed a three year contract extension worth $16.5 million with the Washington Nationals. The 27 year old first basemen signed a $3.2 million one year deal in January with the Nationals after spending his first five seasons with the Yankees.

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/23: Mark Teixeira vs. Nick Johnson

On this day in 2009 Nick Johnson signed a one year deal worth $5.75 million to return to the New York Yankees. Johnson would come back to be the DH after Hideki Matsui was let walk to the Angels. Johnson was traded before the 2004 season for Javier Vazquez the first time.


Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees also signed first basemen Mark Teixeira to a eight year contract worth $180 million. Teixeira was coming off a season in which he posted a .308 batting average with 33 home runs and 121 RBI's. Teixeira joins recently signed AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia as big names the Yankees have signed this offseason.


Finally on this day in 2005 the New York Yankees introduced their clean shaven Johnny Damon to the fans and media at Yankee Stadium. Damon was one year removed from the cavemen 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox championship team and signed a four year deal worth $52 million.

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/11: Yankees Lose Nick Johnson

On this day in 2006 the New York Yankees lost out on an opportunity with their own free agent when first basemen and designated hitter Nick Johnson signed a three year contract extension worth $16.5 million with the Washington Nationals. The 27 year old first basemen signed a $3.2 million one year deal in January with the Nationals after spending his first five seasons with the Yankees.

This Day in New York Yankees History 12/23: Mark Teixeira

On this day in 2009 Nick Johnson signed a one year deal worth $5.75 million to return to the New York Yankees. Johnson would come back to be the DH after Hideki Matsui was let walk to the Angels. Johnson was traded before the 2004 season for Javier Vazquez the first time.

Also on this day in 2008 the Yankees also signed first basemen Mark Teixeira to a eight year contract worth $180 million. Teixeira was coming off a season in which he posted a .308 batting average with 33 home runs and 121 RBI's. Teixeira joins recently signed AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia as big names the Yankees have signed this offseason.

Finally on this day in 2005 the New York Yankees introduced their clean shaven Johnny Damon to the fans and media at Yankee Stadium. Damon was one year removed from the cavemen 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox championship team and signed a four year deal worth $52 million.

Also a big thank you, I’m flattered, to the SD Yankees Report who steals these posts from me word for word every single day without any recognition. Plagiarism is against the law, just saying.

http://sdyankeereport.wordpress.com/tag/this-day-in-new-york-yankees-history-1223/ 

Remembering Yankees of the Past: Johnny Damon

Johnny Damon was the caveman, center fielder, and self-proclaimed “idiot” that came over to the New York Yankees from the Boston Red Sox after winning the World Series in 2004 with Boston. Damon helped exercise the demons and the ghost of Babe Ruth and brought the Red Sox their first World Series championship in 86 years. Damon went from the most beloved and loved Red Sox in history to the most wanted man in a matter of a year and a few months, all because he put on the pinstripes. Damon left Boston after the 2005 season and signed a four year deal with the Yankees worth $52 million and a free haircut and shave.

Johnny Damon unofficially started his Yankees career when he was quoted as saying “there’s no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they’re going to come after me hard. It’s definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It’s not what I need.” Damon also addressed the Yankees facial hair and dress code policy by saying he was going to shave his shoulder length hair and beard anyway but waited until after switching sides of the rivalry in order to prevent speculation.

Damon wasted no time becoming a Yankee as he helped annihilate the Red Sox and crush their 2006 playoff aspirations in the five game series that many called the “Boston Massacre II” that saw Damon hit two home runs, collect eight RBI, and score eight runs in the first three games with nine hits in 18 at bats. After less than notable 2006 and 2007 seasons Damon collected his first walk off hit as a Yankees on June 7, 2008 when he went 6-6 in a 12-11 win over the Kansas City Royals. One month later Damon ended up on the 15 day DL for the first time in his career with a bruised AC joint in his left shoulder. Damon at the time was one of only three players who had played at least 10 seasons and never had to go on the disabled list.

Damon really made his mark as a member of the Yankees in the 2009 season which started when he hit his 200^th career home run on July 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Damon finished the season with a .282 average and scored 107 runs. The Damon led Yankees had the best record in all of baseball in 2009 and went storming into the postseason. Damon was a huge contributor in taking down the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2009 when he hit a home run in Game 3 and Game 4 of the ALCS. The Yankees went on to the World Series and Damon was right in the middle of it again for New York. Damon got credit for two stolen bases in one play when the Phillies shifted against Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira and left third base unoccupied.  Damon would win his second World Series ring of his career when the Yankees won their 27^th World Series championship in that 2009 season.

Damon entered the 2009 offseason expressing an interest to return to the Yankees but at his price range, at least $13 million a season for four years. After hearing of his demands New York went in a different direction signing 1B/DH Nick Johnson to a one year worth $5.5 million despite Damon lowering his demands in the final days. New York also signed outfielder Randy Winn to a one year deal worth $2 million closing the door on Damon and his Yankees career. We had memories, the walk off weekend against the Minnesota Twins, the double steal, and the World Series, and after 2009 it was over. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/11

On this day in 2006 the New York Yankees lost out on an opportunity with their own free agent when first basemen and designated hitter Nick Johnson signed a three year contract extension worth $16.5 million with the Washington Nationals. The 27 year old first basemen signed a $3.2 million one year deal in January with the Nationals after spending his first five seasons with the Yankees.

This Day In New York Yankees History 12/23

On this day in 2005 the New York Yankees introduced their clean shaven Johnny Damon to the fans and media at Yankee Stadium. Damon was one year removed from the cavemen 2004 World Series Boston Red Sox championship team and signed a four year deal worth $52 million.

On this day in 2008 the Yankees also signed first basemen Mark Teixeira to a eight year contract worth $180 million. Teixeira was coming off a season in which he posted a .308 batting average with 33 home runs and  121 RBI's. Teixeira joins recently signed AJ Burnett and CC Sabathia as big names the Yankees have signed this offseason.

On this day in 2009 Nick Johnson signed a one year deal worth $5.75 million to return to the New York Yankees. Johnson would come back to be the DH after Hideki Matsui was let walk to the Angels. Johnson was traded before the 2004 season for Javier Vazquez the first time.

All Home Grown Yankees Team - The Positional Players

Continuing with our look at the Yankees all home grown team from the last 20 years or so we look at the positional players the Yankees have brought through their system. I wanna start off by apologizing to the likes of Shelley Duncan, Corban Joseph, Ramiro Pena, Francisco Cervelli, JR Murphy, and Austin Romine for not making this list. Let's take a look at the guys that did make the list for the best home grown positional players that the Yankees have developed in recent memory. 

1B: Don Mattingly

2B: Robinson Cano

SS: Derek Jeter

3B: Eduardo Nunez

LF: Austin Jackson

CF: Bernie Williams

RF: Alfonso Soriano

C: Jorge Posada

DH: Nick Johnson

Obviously I stretched the "20 years" mandate a little bit for Donnie Baseball here as he made his major league debut in 1982. I felt compelled to use him because, I mean besides the fact that he is Don Mattingly, he was right on the cusp of the cour four era. Granted I guess you could say him retiring ended the George Steinbrenner going bat sh*t crazy era and started the dynasty era but that's what makes owning your own site a great thing, you do what you want. All along I said the last "20 years or so" and this man was why.

Robinson Cano is likely to finish as one of the best second basemen in all of baseball after coming up in 2005 from the Yankees system. Cano is already making a case for beating out Joe Gordon, Bill Dickey, and Tony Lazzeri as the best Yankees second basemen in their very storied history whether he leaves town or not this off season as a free agent.

Derek Jeter is the greatest Yankees short stop in their history, no disrespect to Phil Rizzuto, and the greatest captain in their history. A short list of captains includes Don Mattingly, Willie Randolph, Ron Guidry, Thurman Munson, and Babe Ruth to name a few so that is really saying something. The piece of five World Series championships and the first Yankees to ever reach the 3000 hit mark makes Jeter a mainstay on all these lists.

I included Eduardo Nunez as the third basemen after spending a good chunk of time towards the end of the 2013 season at the hot corner. I also think that he will be our Opening Day third basemen in 2014 if Alex Rodriguez gets suspended like we all think he will. I also feel obligated to mention that the Yankees have not had much in the way of home grown third basemen in their history, especially in the last 20 years or so.

Austin Jackson is a center fielder but is way too good to be included on the bench so I am slotting him in left field for this list. Jackson has excelled as a center fielder both with the bat and in the field for the Tigers after being traded in the deal that brought the Yankees Curtis Granderson. Jackson is also one of the best lead off hitters in the game and brings a speed on the base paths that kills other teams catchers and pitchers.

Brett Gardner has been disrespected ever since he came into the game having to split time with Melky Cabrera, riding the bench as a part time player, and people like myself even clamored for the likes of Manny Ramirez on the team over him in 2009. I can admit when I am wrong, and I like being wrong because it was the whole Manny Ramirez as a free agent thing that gave us the name The Greed Pinstripes, as Gardner has been a mainstay at the top of the Yankees lineup and in center field since being given the full time job.

Bernie Williams was not included in the Cour Four for obvious reasons, although I think that he ultimately should have been, including having coming up in the early 90's and not the 95-96 calendar year and not having a World Series ring in 2009. Bernie was still the beef in the middle of the lineup, the best defender we had in center field, and a great clubhouse leader that was part of four of the five Yankees championships. Jeter, Mo, Posada, and Andy or not we do not win a couple of those World Series without Bernie, bottom line.

Alfonso Soriano came through the Yankees system after being signed out of Japan in the 2002 season and quickly burst onto the scene making a run at being a 40/40 player. Soriano hit lead off home run after lead off home run in 2003 before being traded to the Texas Rangers for Alex Rodriguez. Soriano has bounced around a bit and has even moved position to the outfield but is back with the Yankees for the 2014 season and had to be a part of this list.

Jorge Posada came up with the Yankees during the 1995 season and was on the bench for the 1996 World Series championship run. Although he really did not catch on with the Yankees as a back up until 1997 and did not start full time until the 1998 season. Even with all that said Posada is part of the cour four and has five World Series championships after spending time as a second basemen for much of his minor league time.

Finally we finish the list with Nick Johnson as the Yankees DH after being drafted by New York in the 1996 draft. Nick was brought up to play first base but injuries forced Johnson to be more of the DH only type with the Yankees, Indians, and Orioles. Nick was traded to the Expos for Javier Vazquez the first time and came back to New York in 2010 before missing most of the season with another injury. Nick was always coveted for his patience at the plate, high walk numbers, home run swing, and open and unique stance at the plate.

Travis Hafner Injury Update

Not that I needed any more confirmation that the Yankees have been cursed for the last three seasons or so with the injury bug but this one takes the cake. This one beats out Nick Johnson getting hurt in the whirlpool and may even rank up there with the entire Yankees career of Carl Pavano, okay maybe that was going too far. We learned yesterday that Travis Hafner was day to day with a foot contusion and today we learned why. Travis Hafner was hit with a ball in the foot by a pitching machine while hitting in the cage last night. Really?? How does that happen? A curse, that's how so remember that you heard it here first.

We Will Not Be Seeing A Johnny Damon Reunion

Johnny Damon threw his name into the hat as a potential replacement for Curtis Granderson after he fractured his forearm and will miss the next 10 weeks. Damon even said that he was willing to accept the league minimum salary and would knowingly sign until Granderson came back from injury and then move on if that is what the Yankees wanted, which I do not know if you can put that kind of language into a contract but for the league minimum I guess the Yankees could eat the salary anyway happily. Brian Cashman has already all but shot down the idea of a Damon reunion in reports since the injury though. Damon is kind of expecting to be overlooked once again since the Yankees chose to sign Nick Johnson instead of him for the 2010 season and chose to sign Raul Ibanez in 2012 instead of him.

Former Yankees Update : Nick Johnson & Freddy Garcia

Former Yankees first basemen and designated hitter Nick Johnson has decided to call it a career at age 34. Right wrist and hand injuries really ended his career prematurely as he never could stay healthy and harness that high walk ability and hitting ability. This is a shame because I always really liked Nick Johnson and his awkward looking open stance. Good luck with the rest of your life Nick!

In other former Yankees news Freddy Garcia has signed a minor league deal with the San Diego padres according to reports. Freddy Garcia will be entering his age 36 season and the junk baller should benefit from Petco Park and the move to the National League. As long as he is not on the Yankees again I guess we cannot complain now can we?