Sporting Long Hair, Beard Again, Johnny Damon Reminds Red Sox Fans of 2004

Back at Fenway Park with a shaggy beard and his signature long hair thrown up in a tidy manbun, Johnny Damon had Red Sox fans feeling like it was 2004 all over again on Thursday night.

Damon, now 52, was back in Boston for his induction into the Red Sox Hall of Fame and was joined by fellow inductees Jon Lester and Mike Timlin Those three Boston legends represent three World Series-winning squads: Lester spearheaded the 2007 and ‘13 teams with his gritty pitching, Timlin got his second ring with Boston in 2007 and Damon was one of the leaders among the "idiots" and their storybook run to a title in 2004.

Keeping things light and loose, Damon said he drew energy from the Fenway faithful and admitted to being flattered by the induction to the Sox Hall.

“I feel like I’m back, like He-Man,” said Damon, referring to his nickname from 22 years earlier. “I know a big movie is coming out, one of my favorite superheroes of all time, Masters of the Universe. I'm thrilled my hair is back. It's my identity now. I may get a trim or so. The fans of Boston love the look, and it's here for as long as it will stay.”

Those same fans were galled by Damon not only signing a four-year, $52 million free-agent deal with the Yankees following the 2005 season, but also when he returned to Fenway with a clean-shaven face and short hair, per Pinstripe rules. His exit from Boston was unexpected and ugly, but Damon felt it was a choice he had to make when the Red Sox kept their offer at $40 million and refused to match the deal extended by the Yankees. Ultimately, he would another World Series in 2009 with the hated Yankees.

“Yeah, it was a tough departure,” Damon said to reporters. “The sports world, the business side of it, is absolutely horrible. We understand everything that happened. But everyone knew how much I loved playing for Boston, and how much I still love coming back here.”

The cheers that Damon received on Thursday spoke to how much Red Sox fans have forgiven him for signing with the arch-enemy Yankees. With his bear and long hair back, Damon is often recognized by Red Sox fans who prefer talking about his Boston brilliance than his New York defection.

“I sure hope so, because it’s been 21 years,” Damon said of the forgiveness extended to him by Red Sox fans. “Let’s definitely let bygones be bygones. But everyone knew what I brought to the table, and how I became the fan favorite. And you know, when the fan favorite isn't brought back and you go elsewhere, it's a tough one. ... Hopefully I'm still their favorite (player) now.”