BOSTON -- Friday was a black day indeed for the fans for whom bearded Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon has become something of a cult icon. As of high noon, Damon's beard was no more.

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Johnny Damon Gets A Shave! Photos: Johnny's Shave

The affable outfielder got tongues wagging when he appeared for spring training this year with shoulder length hair and a shaggy beard, inspiring scores of fans to appear at games wearing fake beards and wigs. The new groupies dubbed themselves "Damon Disciples," and some of his teammates started calling him "Caveman."

Well, the disciples were probably crying in the beards Friday as Damon sat down to shave the beard for charity -- all part of a Gillette Co., publicity stunt to introduce its new battery-powered razor, the M3Power Razor. About 1,000 people gathered around to watch Damon get shaved in public at the Prudential Center as cameras rolled, capturing the moment.

Boston-based razor maker Gillette agreed to donate $15,000 to two literacy programs if Damon shaved the much-ballyhooed beard. The cash will go to a Boston Public Library program that provides homework help for kids and to ReadBoston, which works to ensure city children can read by third grade.

Damon, 30, said he is going to let the beard grow back, however, and he never had any plans to cut his tresses because he's afraid not all his hair would grow back.