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THE DARRYL STRAWBERRY STORY

Darryl Strawberry Story

Who is Darryl Strawberry?

Darryl Strawberry’s story is one of mountain highs and valley lows. On the Major League Baseball field he was as talented as they come and the fans loved to watch him hit those home runs. Off the field was a completely different side of the coin. Darryl’s story is how one can find redemption no matter how desperate the life.

Today, Darryl's purpose and passion is serving the Lord Jesus Christ by speaking a message of hope and helping others transform their lives through the power of the gospel. Darryl travels the country speaking and bringing a message of hope and restoration in Christ.

Darryl Strawberry is described as a legend by many who have been dazzled by the dynamics of his game, the power he possessed at the plate and the story of redemption that continues to bring hope to so many lives.

DARRYL STRAWBERRY'S STORY OF REDEMPTION

Darryl Strawberry boy

Darryl will be the first to tell you his childhood was a real disaster, mostly due to an abusive alcoholic father who was prone to outbursts of rage. It brought real terror into the family. Darryl grew up in south central Los Angeles with his two brothers and two sisters. The anger from his father was mostly directed toward Darryl and his older brother Ronnie. One night when Darryl was 13, he and his brothers decided to take a stand. The confrontation escalated to include the police and the father was asked to leave, which left a mother to raise five children.

Darryl used baseball as an outlet to cope with life, and he was good at it. Baseball gave him a feeling of control and he vowed to not let anything ever control him. Despite the cocky attitude, his talent for the game was undeniable. After a notable high school baseball showing, the New York Mets drafted Strawberry right out of Crenshaw High School.

Darryl Strawberry at Mets

As his baseball career was getting off to a start he met and married his first wife, Lisa. As pressure mounted in the world of baseball, he turned to alcohol and drugs to have an outlet and escape. Soon he was introduced to cocaine which became Darryl’s strongest addiction.

Darryl’s peak was the World Series win with the 1986 Mets. After 3 more years with the Mets, he accepted a lucrative deal to play in his home town with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Darryl spent three seasons with the Dodgers, but his drug habit sent him to rock bottom. He was invited to a convention by evangelist Morris Cerello. He cried all through the preaching and responded to the call. Darryl recalls, “The power of God hit me, and when I got up, my belly was like a river.” Darryl checked into rehab and left his addiction behind.

After a season with the San Francisco Giants Strawberry thought his baseball career was over. Then he got the call from the New York Yankees. Darryl's career got a second wind. He married his second wife Charrise and won three more World Series titles with the Yankees. However, troubles arose as his drug habit resurfaced, bringing to the surface the deep anger and abuse which impacted his marriage.

At the end of the ’98 season, Strawberry was diagnosed with colon cancer which required chemotherapy and recovery time. Then after the 1999 season, Darryl's life worsened as he faced arrest for soliciting prostitution and drug possession. Consequently, he was suspended from the League. In the five years that followed, Darryl lost everything, including his career and his wife.

Darryl Strawberry and Tracy

Darryl decided to attend a drug recovery convention where he met Tracy. Tracy could relate to Darryl, because she had her own struggle with drug addiction and saw his hurt, anger, brokenness and heaviness. The two became close friends and Tracy, being a new Christian, would pray and cry out to God for herself and for Darryl. Darryl soon knew it was time for a permanent turn-around. Strawberry recounts, “I just had to surrender. I had to get with God myself. I had to separate myself from everything and everybody. God was calling me, and it was either I was going to answer this call or I was going to die.”

Darryl reaffirmed his dedication to the Lord. This time, it was a lasting commitment. Tracy and Darryl married in 2006. After years of battling addictions, jail-time, alcoholism, emotional wounds, divorces, separation from our children, unforgiveness, bitterness, and other life controlling issues, Darryl and Tracy finally surrendered. Together they experienced a life changing transformation through the power of God and the process of change. They have devoted their lives to helping others do the same.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • 4 World Series Titles: New York Mets '86, New York Yankess '96, '98, '99
  • 8 Time National League All-Star ('84-'91)
  • National League Homerun Leader ('88)
  • 1983 National League Rookie of the Year: Mets
  • 1983 Topps All-Star Rookie of the Year
  • 2 Time NL Silver Slugger Award ('88)
  • National League Slugging Percentage Leader ('88)
  • 20 Home Run Seasons 10x's over ('83-'91, '98)
  • 30 Home Run Seasons 3x's over ('87, '88, '90)
  • 100 RBI Seasons 3x's over ('87, '88, '90)
  • 100 Runs Scored Seasons 2x's over ('87 & '88)
  • Hall of Fame Nomination in 2004
  • June 2024 Mets Darryl Strawberry #18 Retirement

LIFE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 2016 Appointed as Advisory Board Member of SAMSHA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration)
  • 2011 Founded Strawberry Ministries
  • 2010 Induction in Mets Hall of Fame
  • 2010 Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice
  • 2009 New York Best Selling Author “Straw, Finding My Way”
  • Youth Outreach Spokesperson
  • 2008-2010 Met's Special Instructor & Community Outreach Spokesperson
  • Darryl Strawberry is in the New York Times top 20 as one of the most favorite & famous celebrities out of the 100 most famous people in New York City.
  • Two time cancer survivor
  • 2021 Darryl releases his book "Turn Your Season Around"
  • 2024 heart attack survivor
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