Darryl Strawberry

At 62 years old, Darryl Strawberry has this physical status:

Darryl Eugene Strawberry (born March 12, 1962) is an American former professional baseball right fielder and author who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB).

Strawberry was one of the game's most feared sluggers of the 1980s and 1990s, best known for his 6-foot-6 frame and his long, looping swing, which inspired comparisons to Ted Williams'.

He was also banned by MLB for substance abuse three times, contributing to a slew of tales about his huge potential going unfulfilled.

Strawberry, a well-known player during his career, has been voted eight times in a row from 1984 to 1999.

Strawberry was formerly an analyst for SportsNet New York.

Ecco Press published Straw: Finding My Way, a memoir co-authored by author John Strausbaugh, on April 28, 2009.

Early life and education

In Los Angeles, California, Strawberry was born to Henry and Ruby Strawberry. He and Chris Brown played high school baseball for the Crenshaw High School Cougars. Michael Strawberry, Darryl's older brother, was also a professional baseball player.

Post-playing life

Strawberry attended the Mets' 1986 World Champion team reunion, where the team received a standing ovation from fans at Shea Stadium in an on-field ceremony. He served as an instructor for the New York Mets in 2005 and 2008 and was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.

He has appeared on a regular basis at the Old Timer's Day in New York City, most recently in 2012.

At Shea Stadium, the Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the National League Championship Series between the Mets and the St. Louis Cardinals on October 12, 2006. The Shea Stadium audience erupted him with a rousing applause. In 2007, and 2008, he appeared on SNY's pre- and post-game shows, before shifting to a part-time analysis position for the 2009 season.

Strawberry's Sports Grill, he opened in Douglaston, Queens, in August 2010. In October 2012, the restaurant was closed.

Personal life

Strawberry is an evangelical born-again Christian who has appeared on The Trinity Broadcasting Network. In 1999, he and Tiny Lister appeared on evangelist Benny Hinn's T.V. The testimonies were collected as part of a program. Strawberry has also appeared on The 700 Club to discuss his personal life and his newfound faith in Jesus.

Strawberry is a headliner of the BGC Charity Day celebration at BGC Partners in 2010.

Charisse's wife Charisse filed for divorce in October 2005.

He and his third wife Tracy, who he encountered in a drug recovery conference, now reside in St. Charles, Missouri. The two married in October 2006 and have since founded "The Darryl Strawberry Foundation," an organization dedicated to children with autism. Darryl "D.J.," Strawberry's uncle, says. Strawberry, Jr., was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the 2007 NBA Draft and was drafted by the Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team. Jordan, Strawberry's older brother, played college basketball for the Mercer Bears, plays for the Mercer Bears.

Strawberry has claimed that his father was an alcoholic who was verbally and physically harmful to him and his siblings. He attributes his early alcohol and opioid use as a child and his subsequent heroin use to the pressures of performing in New York.

Strawberry led a prayer in the 2020 Franklin Graham Prayer March on September 26, 2020.

Strawberry was charged in California on December 19, 1995, with failure to make child support payments. A Los Angeles judge scheduled a trial date on July 17, which was the date Strawberry decided to use his signing bonus to pay the debt as he passed the deadline on June 5, 1996.

Strawberry was sued by attorney Robert Shapiro for failing to pay $100,000 in court fees dating back to 1994, when Shapiro drafted him in a Dodgers contract.

Strawberry was diagnosed with colon cancer on October 1, 1998. He underwent surgery to remove a tumor and 24 inches of his colon, two days later. Doctors announced on October 14 that cancer had been detected in a lymph node, so he would also have to perform chemotherapy.

Strawberry was arrested in Tampa, Florida, on April 3, 1999, for soliciting sex from a police woman posing as a prostitute and holding a tiny amount of cocaine. Major League Baseball suspended him for 140 days for the incident on April 24, which was suspended for 140 days. On May 29, he pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to 21 months in prison as a result of his community service and probation.

A C.T. became a C.T. on July 28, 2000, a C.T. Strawberry's cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, according to a scan. On August 7, he underwent surgery to remove a tumor near his left kidney.

Strawberry, a man from Tampa, Florida, attempted to see his probation officer after taking painkillers on September 11, 2000. While driving, he blacked out, rear-ended another car, and then tried to turn around. An off-duty police officer witnessed the shooting and arrested him at gunpoint. Strawberry confessed to the charges the next day, and his probation was suspended to two years of house arrest. On November 21, he was sentenced to a year of probation and community service. Strawberry left a Tampa drug rehabilitation center to use opioids with a female friend, in breach of his house arrest and parole. He was sentenced to 40 days in prison with credit for time served on November 9. Strawberry told a judge in Tampa that he had lost his will to live and had stopped chemotherapy on November 3, 2000. On November 30, he was released from prison and sent back to rehab. Strawberry was arrested in Tampa, Florida, on April 2, 2001, for allegedly fleeing from his house arrest drug rehab center. He was sentenced to more time in a drug rehabilitation center on May 1.

Strawberry was in jail again on March 12, 2002, for breaching several non-drug regulations at the drug rehabilitation center where he was under probation in Ocala, Florida. He was sentenced to the 22-month suspended prison term from 1999 on April 29, which was suspended indefinitely. He was released from jail after 11 months on April 8, 2003.

Strawberry was charged in September 2005 with false police report after he said his vehicle was stolen. He admitted lying on the report but not arrested because it was a misdemeanor.

Strawberry has admitted to struggling with a sex disorder. He confessed to having sex between innings of MLB games in which he competed.

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Baseball career

Strawberry was drafted first overall in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets. Michael Strawberry, Darryl's older brother, was also selected in the draft and will meet the Dodgers in the 31st round.

Strawberry soared through the Mets system in 1983, averaging.257 runs and a high leg kick, while still possessing a.257 average. He was named Rookie of the Year by the National League. He made it to the All-Star game for the first time in 8 years (the first five as a starter), and he once more hit 26 home runs, this time driving in 97 runs.

Strawberry's Mets, 1984-1990, formed one of the nation's best teams, finishing either first or second in the division every year.

Strawberry was extremely popular during the 1980s to 1990s, with his image used on action figures (Kenner's Starting Lineup), posters and banners. He was also known for his disruptive conduct. On team picture day with team captain Keith Hernandez and the midst of a verb war with infielder Wally Backman, he burst the little redneck in the chest. He often overslept and was late for, or skipped, team workouts. After being banned from the game in a double switch during Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, the Mets would win in a double swap. Strawberry was hit 27 home runs and had 93 RBIs in 1986 during the regular season.

Strawberry earned 36 bases in 1987, becoming one of only 10 players in baseball history to do so. In addition to that, he hit 32 doubles and drove in 104 runs. Despite this, the 1987 team did not qualify for the playoffs.

Strawberry also hit 39 home runs in 1988 to lead the National League. He also led the league in slugging percentages at.545 and OPS of.911 and finished second with 101 runs batted in. In MVP voting to the Dodgers' Kirk Gibson, he came in second place. Strawberry led the Mets to the playoffs after losing in seven games to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Strawberry's offensive numbers fell in 1989: he had 29 home runs and 77 runs batted in, but only had a.225 average. Nevertheless, the Mets finished in a close second place to the Chicago Cubs in the National League East.

Strawberryfields hit 37 home runs in 1990, batting in 108 runs and batting for a.277 average. His Mets were still in second place in the National League East after losing by three games to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Strawberry himself came in third place in MVP polls this season.

Strawberry signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 8, 1990, settling for a lucrative five-year $22.25 million contract. He was named Big Brother of the Year in 1991 in California. Batted in a good first year for the Dodgers, but injuries and personal issues kept him sidelined for the next two seasons, with five home runs in each season.

He had 280 lifetime homers by the end of the 1991 season, many at the age of 29, comparing Hank Aaron to home run king Hank Aaron.

Strawberry's numbers dropped sharply after 1991; in the ensuing two years, he played in 75 games for the first time. Since he didn't turn up to a game in 1994, he was released by the Dodgers in May. He signed with the San Francisco Giants later this season, where he saw little playing time as he attempted to make a comeback, with only four home runs and driving in 17 runs.

Strawberry, who was suspended from the league after testing positive for cocaine, signed with the New York Yankees for the stretch run. Darryl signed with the Saint Paul Saints of the Northern League on May 3, 1996, in an attempt to rehabilitate. Strawberry played for the Saints at Wade Stadium on June 2, where they defeated the Duluth–Superior Dukes, where Strawberry struck his first home run for the Saints. He returned to the Yankees shortly after, having signed him on July 4, 1996.

He displayed flashes of his youthful brilliance with the Yankees, belting 11 home runs in a part-time role and assisting his team win the World Series in 1996 with former Mets teammates Dwight Gooden and David Cone. On August 6, he played against the Chicago White Sox in his second game in his career.

In the 1996 ALCS, he had a big series against the Baltimore Orioles, batting five home runs with five RBIs and a.417 average in four games. He didn't have any home runs in 1997, although his playing time was limited by injuries. He played in just 11 games this year, with only two runs batted in.

He had 24 home runs in 1998, helped the Yankees win the World Series and played 100 games for the first time since 1991. However, he suffered with abdominal pain for about two months, which he did not reveal to his coworkers or employees, and his playing time depressed later this season. Strawberry was diagnosed with colon cancer during the American League Division Series (ALDS), and rookie Ricky Ledée brought him right back to the roster. In 1999, he returned from his cancer treatment but he only saw limited playing time, with only three home runs. In the ALDS, he did however run a crucial 3-run home run against the Texas Rangers, assisting the Yankees in the ALCS.

Strawberry was supposed to return to the Yankees in 2000 after testing positive for cocaine in February while attending spring training, but Strawberry was told to leave the team while waiting for commissioner Bud Selig to make a decision on a potential suspension. Selig reported that Strawberry will be ban from the entire 2000 season, effectively ending his career, six days after learning of the positive test findings.

Strawberry appeared at nine All-Star games and was the starting right fielder five times in a row. In 12 career All-Star at-bats, he batted.333 with two stolen bases and two runs. In his career, he had two three-home run games, both of which came against Chicago clubs and were almost 11 years old. The first came against the Cubs on August 5, 1985, and the second against the White Sox on August 6, 1996.

He is one of only five major league baseball players to reach two pinch-hit grand slams in the same season. Davey Johnson of the Philadelphia Phillies, Mike Ivie of the San Francisco Giants, Ben Broussard of the Cleveland Indians, and Brooks Conrad of the Atlanta Braves are among the others.

He is one of only three players in MLB history, alongside Ricky Ledée and José Vizca, to have played for all four of the former and existing New York-based MLB franchises: the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants.

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