Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Prince J. Grimes

49-year-old Johnny Damon whiffed so bad in his Savannah Bananas debut, but it was still cool to see

Going to a Savannah Bananas baseball game, the chances of seeing something you thought you’d never see are incredibly high. But usually the stunts involve player sketches, dancing umpires or just the wild rule changes that make up “banana ball.”

On Wednesday, the traveling baseball circus brought the Dayton Beach, Florida, crowd a surprise in the form of retired all-star and two-time World Series champion Johnny Damon.

Damon, 49, hasn’t played in the majors since 2012, but the 18-year vet looked fit on his way to the plate in Bananas yellow. So fit you might’ve convinced yourself he was about to do damage.

Then, he whiffed so bad on the first pitch.

To be fair to Damon, it’s probably been awhile since he’s stepped in a box. He was a good sport just to show up. And to his credit, he had fun with it, doing a little dance — along with the umpire — before the first pitch.

He eventually did make soft contact on the next pitch, grounding out to the (left-handed?) third baseman. So at least he didn’t strike out. But it’s probably safe to say a return to baseball isn’t likely in his future.

That must’ve been a real treat for the fans in attendance.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.