Kansas City Royals Countdown: Top 10 Individual Offensive Seasons

No. 8) Johnny Damon 2000

There’s a couple of surefire ways to land on this list. One of which is to lead the league in some of the biggest stats. Damon accomplished that during his sensational 2000 season, as he led the league in runs (136) and stolen bases (46). The 26-year-old also put up some other ridiculous numbers.

He racked up 214 hits, including 42 doubles, 10 triples and 16 home runs. Damon also had 88 RBI, which constitutes the second-highest total in his career behind his 94-RBI campaign for Boston in 2004. The left-handed hitting outfielder also put up personal-bests in each of his triple-slash categories. Damon had a .327 batting average, .382 on-base percentage and .492 slugging percentage.

Thanks in part to that explosive season, he was part of a blockbuster three-team trade prior to the 2001 campaign. The former first-round pick along with Mark Ellis went to Oakland, while the Royals picked up Angel Berroa, A.J. Hinch and Roberto Hernandez. After his lone season with the A’s, which ended with a heartbreaking ALDS loss to the Yankees, Damon signed with the Red Sox. He won the 2004 World Series with Boston before signing with their rival. Damon picked up another World Series ring with the Yankees in 2009.

He earned MVP votes in four different seasons, finishing 19th after the aforementioned 2000 campaign. Damon also earned two All-Star nods in his career, which both came while he was in Boston. For someone who found plenty of success with the Red Sox and Yankees, it’s impressive that arguably Damon’s greatest season ever came with the Royals.