Strawberry’s journey a long, twisting one
Darryl Strawberry has chapters in his 52 years of life that have been charmed, troubled and benevolent.
The eight-time Major League Baseball All-Star will be in Macon on Feb. 10 to share his story at Mercer’s seventh annual First Pitch Classic at Hawkins Arena. He joins a star-studded list of speakers who have appeared through the history of the event, a benefit for the Mercer baseball program, including John Smoltz, Pete Rose, Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Gordon Beckham and Jeff Francoeur.
Strawberry, who grew up in Los Angeles, was the first overall pick in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets. He went on to enjoy a 17-year career that saw him win NL rookie of the year honors in 1983. He was selected for the All-Star game eight straight years from 1984-91, with five times as a starter.
In 1987, Strawberry hit 39 home runs and had 36 stolen bases to join the exclusive 30-30 club. He is one of only 10 players in major league history to accomplish that feat. In 1988, he led the NL in home runs with 39.
The 6-foot-6 Strawberry, who cast an intimidating presence in the batter’s box, has four World Series championship rings. He won the first with the Mets in 1986, then three more with the New York Yankees in 1996, 1998 and 1999.
As good as he was on field, Strawberry was not always the best teammate, sometimes oversleeping and missing team meetings, feuding with other players and managers, and once getting into a physical altercation with Mets captain Keith Hernandez.
Even with those indiscretions, he was loved by fans wherever he played.
Strawberry once made the statement, “I had no trouble hitting. I had trouble living.” He has had run-ins with the law, ranging from failure to make child support payments to income tax evasion and drug possession. He has spent time in Jail and at drug treatment centers and he has overcome all those issues, as well colon cancer and the removal of a cancerous kidney, and today lives a totally different life.
Now an ordained minister, Strawberry said in an 2013 interview in USA Today, “I’m over the Mets. I’m over the Yankees. I don’t want to exist as Darryl Strawberry the baseball player. People don’t understand that is no longer you. I’m not a baseball player anymore. That person is dead.”
Strawberry is active in Promise Keepers, a Christian organization for men dedicated to introducing men to Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, helping them to grow as Christians. He and his wife have also established a foundation that supports children with autism, and he works with the BGC Charity Day organization, as well as other charitable events.
Strawberry has five children, including Jordan, who is a freshman guard on the Mercer men’s basketball team.
His lifetime experiences should make for an interesting and entertaining First Pitch Classic. To purchase tickets for the event, contact volunteer assistant coach Tanner Gordon at 301-2738. Tickets for the event are $50 each. There will be a private autograph session prior to the dinner, which has a fee of $50 and allows individuals to have two items signed by Strawberry.
Contact Bobby Pope at bobbypope428@gmail.com
This story was originally published February 2, 2015 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Strawberry’s journey a long, twisting one ."