Central Florida has become a hotbed for baseball talent over the past few decades. The Orlando area regularly produces top level college players and MLB draft picks. Occasionally, a rare talent emerges that makes a big imprint on the Major League level. Johnny Damon has been that kind of player for the Orlando area.

A product of Dr. Phillips High School, Damon was drafted in the First Round of the 1992 MLB Draft by the Kansas City Royals. Throughout his 18 year career, Johnny Damon would rack up 2769 hits, 235 home runs and 408 stolen bases. While he played for a total of six teams, he is most notable for his time with the Boston Red Sox (2002-2005) and the New York Yankees (2006-2009). Damon joins the elite company of Babe Ruth, winning a World Series with both the Red Sox (2004) and Yankees (2009). He would become one of the most recognizable outfielders of his era.

On August 5th, Johnny Damon will be joining forces with the Mordecai Brown Legacy Foundation to support local youth baseball in the greater Horizon West area. There will be an Exclusive Meet & Greet along with an autograph signing and Q&A session from 11am-1pm at the New York Beer Project. Damon will be taking pictures and signing autographs for guests. He will also be doing a Q&A session, fielding questions on his career in baseball.

This unique event will run in tandem with the inaugural Local Legends Card Show. The card show will feature a variety of vendors in the sports cards, gaming and collectibles business from the greater Orlando area. This is an opportunity for local residents in the sports cards and memorabilia hobby to attend this kind of event in their own backyard.

The Exclusive Meet & Greet with Johnny Damon is a private, ticketed event. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite for $50 each. Due to room capacity, ticket sales will be limited. Meanwhile, the Local Legends Card Show is open to the public and free of charge. Both events will open at 11am, however, the Card Show will run through 3pm. Attendees of the Johnny Damon event are strongly encouraged to make their way over to the Local Legends Card Show, which will be run in the room next door.

These events on August 5th offer an exciting opportunity for local fans, athletes and collectors to connect with neighbors, meet new friends and enjoy a unique, community experience. The event is presented by A-Game, the Ultimate in Hydration, and the Mordecai Brown Legacy Foundation, a non-profit focused on supporting the growth and preservation of baseball in the local community. Media partners, Legends on Deck, will be on hand to document the event and run the Q&A session.

If you have questions on tickets, becoming a vendor or sponsor of the event, reach out to Brian Koss at BrianMKoss@Gmail.com.

To purchase tickets for the Exclusive Meet & Greet with Johnny Damon, Click Here.

Updated information on both the Meet & Greet and Local Legends Card Show will be posted on Facebook, Click Here.

And for ongoing information about Local Legends Card Show events in the Horizon West area, Click Here.

About the Author

Brian Koss is a community contributor for Horizon West Happenings. He is a Social Studies Teacher at Water Spring Middle School (Seidel Area) and lives with his wife and four children in the Seidel Area. Brian is also the Managing Editor and Podcast Co-Host at Legends On Deck, a Florida-based baseball website.