So this morning I was scrolling through ESPN’s archives for baseball nostalgia when Johnny Damon’s name popped up. Thought to myself, “Huh, haven’t heard about that guy in ages.” Googled “Johnny Damon now” expecting recent stats or coaching news. Total bust. First page flooded with ancient World Series highlights from like 2009.
The Rabbit Hole Begins
Switched tactics. Checked Instagram – his verified account @johnnydamonbaseball hasn’t posted in 3 years. Last pic shows him smiling at some charity golf thing. Zero recent clues. Twitter? Dead end. His handle’s basically a ghost town since 2018. Even LinkedIn gave me nada, just dormant profiles of other folks named Johnny Damon.
Frustration setting in now. Decided to deep dive into obscure sports forums. Found a Reddit thread titled “Where Are They Now – 2000s MLB Stars”. Scrolled forever til someone mentioned Johnny. Key details from user “SoxFan2004”:
- Moved to Florida permanently around 2015
- Coached Little League briefly in Windermere
- Started CBD brand in 2020
- Now focuses on youth baseball camps in Orlando
Finally Hit Paydirt
Those clues led me to a local Orlando news site. Bingo. Found a tiny community section article from last month titled “Retired MLB Star Hosts Free Clinic”. It’s him alright – way more grey hair, holding a microphone at some dusty little ballpark. Apparently he runs monthly workshops for kids aged 8-14 through his “Damon’s Diamonds” nonprofit. No paywall coverage, no ESPN cameras. Just coaching basics to middle-schoolers.
Further digging revealed his CBD company’s website (won’t link it, rules say no). Front page shows him awkwardly holding hemp bottles with forced smile. Site looks half-abandoned though – copyright still says 2022. Instinct tells me this venture ain’t his main gig anymore.
Putting It All Together
Called a buddy who used to cover the Yankees beat. Confirmed via text: “Yeah man, Johnny’s completely off-grid. No TV gigs, no podcasts. Lives quiet life coaching kids and doing the occasional autograph show near Disney.” My friend chuckled saying Damon charges $200 per signature now. Classic retirement hustle.
So final update? Johnny Damon: Florida man. Teaches batting stance to pre-teens. Dabbles in CBD. Cashes old glory checks at memorabilia conventions. The absolute opposite of A-Rod’s glam retirement. Kinda respect that.