View source for Darryl Strawberry

{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1962)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Darryl Strawberry
|image=Daryl Strawberry (29297363126).jpg
|caption=Strawberry in 2016
|position=[[Right fielder]]
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1962|3|12}}
|birth_place=[[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
|debutleague=MLB
|debutdate=May 6
|debutyear=1983
|debutteam=New York Mets
|finalleague=MLB
|finaldate=October 3
|finalyear=1999
|finalteam=New York Yankees
|statleague=MLB
|stat1label=[[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
|stat1value=.259
|stat2label=[[Home run]]s
|stat2value=335
|stat3label=[[Runs batted in]]
|stat3value=1,000
|teams=
*[[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|1983}}–{{mlby|1990}})
*[[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|1991}}–{{mlby|1993}})
*[[San Francisco Giants]] ({{mlby|1994}})
*[[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1995}}–{{mlby|1999}})
|highlights=
*8× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1984]]–[[1991 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1991]])
*<!--Three is correct, Strawberry did not play in the 1998 World Series-->3× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1986}}, {{wsy|1996}}, {{wsy|1999}})<!--Three is correct, Strawberry did not play in the 1998 World Series, therefore is not credited as a World Series champion, regardless if he was given a ring or not-->
*[[NL Rookie of the Year]] (1983)
*2× [[Silver Slugger Award]] (1988, 1990)
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders|NL home run leader]] (1988)
* [[New York Mets#Retired numbers|New York Mets No. 18]] retired
* [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]]
}}

'''Darryl Eugene Strawberry Sr.''' (born March 12, 1962) is an American former professional [[baseball]] [[right fielder]] who played 17 seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Throughout his career, Strawberry was one of the most feared sluggers in the sport, known for his prodigious [[home run]]s and his intimidating presence in the [[batter's box]] with his {{cvt|6|ft|6|in}} frame<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORZddY4akpA 'Darryl Strawberry on Winning 1986 World Series with NY Mets Against Red Sox (09:28)']. Darryl Strawberry Part 5, February 22, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2025</ref> and his long, looping swing that elicited comparisons to [[Ted Williams]].<ref name="SI-80">{{Cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1980/04/07/next-pick-strawberry |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=April 7, 1980 |last=Jares |first=Joe |title=Next Pick: Strawberry |location=New York City |publisher=Time |access-date=September 22, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| url= http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/other_magazines/2001/04/hawk_me_a_china.html|title=Hawk Me a China| first1= Amanda |last1=Fazzone|first2=Jeremy|last2=Derfner|first3=Siân|last3=Gibby|date=April 13, 2001|journal=Slate}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tomwatson.typepad.com/tom_watson/2005/02/the_straw_stirs.html| first= Tom | last= Watson| author-link= Tom Watson (journalist)| title= The Straw Stirs | date= February 10, 2015| website= tomwatson.typepad.com | access-date= March 6, 2020}}</ref>

Strawberry, who was nicknamed "'''the Straw Man'''" or "'''Straw'''",<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=strawda01 |title=MLB Stats for Darryl Strawberry |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=September 22, 2024 }}</ref> helped lead the [[New York Mets]] to a [[World Series]] championship in {{wsy|1986}} and the [[New York Yankees]] to two [[World Series]] championships in {{wsy|1996}} and {{wsy|1999}}. He was also suspended three times by MLB for substance abuse, leading to many narratives about his massive potential going unfulfilled.<ref name="Puma">{{Cite web |last=Puma |first=Mike |date=2004 |title=Strawberry's story one of unfulfilled potential |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/strawberry_darryl.html |access-date=September 22, 2024 |website=ESPN}}</ref> A popular player during his career, Strawberry was voted to the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] eight straight times from 1984 to 1991.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/26475/26475|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100221044259/http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/26475/26475|url-status= dead|archive-date= February 21, 2010|title=Chat with Darryl Strawberry|work=ESPN |date=January 2, 2011| access-date=May 23, 2012}}</ref> Strawberry was formerly an analyst for [[SportsNet New York]].<ref name="SportsNet">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/09/sports/baseball/09straw.html |work=The New York Times |title=Strawberry Joins SNY as Part-Time Analyst |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=April 9, 2008 |access-date=September 23, 2024 }}</ref> His memoir, ''Straw: Finding My Way'', written with author [[John Strausbaugh]], was published in April 2009.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Strawberry|first1=Darryl|title=Straw: Finding My Way|publisher=Ecco Press|date=April 2009|isbn=978-0-06-170420-8|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/strawfindingmywa00stra}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
[[Image:Darryl Strawberry playing for Crenshaw High School.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.67|Strawberry playing for Crenshaw High School in 1980]] 
Strawberry was born to Henry and Ruby Strawberry in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]. He played high school baseball for the [[Crenshaw High School]] Cougars along with [[Chris Brown (baseball)|Chris Brown]]. As an 18-year-old out of Los Angeles' Crenshaw High School, Strawberry signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma State, to play baseball for Gary Ward. However, a couple of months later, Strawberry was the first overall pick in the amateur draft, and he signed with the Mets in July 1980. Darryl's older brother Michael Strawberry was also a star athlete who went on to play professional baseball.<ref name="SI-80" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sokolove |first=Michael Y. |title=The Ticket Out: Darryl Strawberry and the Boys of Crenshaw |date=2004 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-7432-2673-8 |pages=1–10}}</ref>

==Professional baseball career==
===Early career===
The [[New York Mets]] selected Strawberry with the [[List of first overall Major League Baseball draft picks|first overall selection]] in the [[1980 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name="baseball-reference1">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/strawda01.shtml|title=Darryl Strawberry |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |access-date= May 23, 2012}}</ref> Darryl's older brother, Michael Strawberry, was also selected in that draft, going to the Dodgers in the 31st round.

Employing a distinctive batting stance with a high leg kick, Strawberry rose through the Mets system and reached the major league level in 1983, posting 26 home runs, 7 triples, and 74 runs batted in, while hitting for a .257 average.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/> He was named the [[National League (baseball)|National League]]'s [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of The Year]].<ref name="baseball-reference1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2010/08/dwight-gooden-darryl-strawberryinducted-into-the-mets-hall-of-fame/1|title=Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry inducted into the Mets' Hall of Fame|publisher=Content.usatoday.com|date=August 1, 2010|access-date=May 23, 2012}}</ref> In 1984, he made it to the [[1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star game]] for the first of 8 consecutive appearances (the first 5 as a starter), and he once again hit 26 home runs, this time driving in 97 runs.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/>

===Prime years===
Strawberry's Mets from [[1984 New York Mets season|1984]]–[[1990 New York Mets season|1990]] formed one of the premier teams in the National League, finishing either first or second in the division every year.

During the period from [[1983 New York Mets season|1983]] to [[1990 New York Mets season|1990]], Strawberry was very popular, with his image used on action figures ([[Kenner]]'s ''Starting Lineup''), posters and banners.

On May 11, [[1985]], Strawberry suffered torn ligaments in his thumb, making a diving catch off of [[Ozzie Virgil Jr.|Ozzie Virgil]] of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]]. This required surgery, and Strawberry missed the team's next 43 games, not returning until [[June 28]].  The injury was devastating to the Mets, who went only 20-23 (.465) without Strawberry (as opposed to 78-41 [.655] in all other games) and lost the [[National League East]] title to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] by only three games.

On [[October 1]], [[1985]], the Mets began a 3-game series in St. Louis, trailing the Cardinals by three games with only six remaining to play.  It seemed that they would need to sweep the series in order to have a chance at the title.  After starting pitchers [[Ron Darling]] of the Mets and [[John Tudor (baseball)|John Tudor]] of the Cardinals dueled scorelessly into extra innings, Strawberry provided the only run of the Mets' 1-0 victory in the 11th inning, hitting a massive home run off of [[Ken Dayley]] that hit the clock on the scoreboard in the right field stands of [[Busch Memorial Stadium|Busch Stadium]].  (The Mets won the next game, 5-2, behind [[Dwight Gooden]], but lost the final game, 4-3, despite five hits by [[Keith Hernandez]].)  For the season, Strawberry hit 29 home runs and drove in 79 runs; his .947 OPS would have been 2nd in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (behind [[Pedro Guerrero (baseball, born 1956)|Pedro Guerrero]] of the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]) if the injury had not limited him to 470 plate appearances.

The 1986 Mets jumped to an early lead (a 4-game sweep of the Cardinals in St. Louis was pivotal) and cruised easily to the divisional title, setting a team record with 108 wins.
Strawberry hit 27 home runs and had 93 RBIs, as the Mets defeated the [[Houston Astros]] in the [[National League Championship Series]] and rallied after losing the first two games at home to defeat the [[Boston Red Sox]] in the [[World Series]].<ref name="baseball-reference1"/>  With the Mets having rallied to take a 6-5 lead in the 8th inning of Game 7, Strawberry hit a home run off of [[Al Nipper]] to seal the victory and the series.  He took a notably-slow home run trot around the bases, leading to Nipper throwing at him and igniting a brawl between the teams during spring training, the next season.

[[File:Darryl Strawberry 1986.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Strawberry in 1986]]

In 1987, Strawberry hit 39 home runs and stole 36 bases, joining the exclusive [[30–30 club]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mancari |first=Jim |date=June 7, 2018 |title=New York Mets: Darryl Strawberry and the Top 10 Power Hitters in Team History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/655020-new-york-mets-darryl-strawberry-and-the-top-10-power-hitters-in-team-history#/articles/655020-new-york-mets-darryl-strawberry-and-the-top-10-power-hitters-in-team-history/page/11 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> at the time becoming one of only 10 players in baseball history to accomplish the feat. (Teammate [[Howard Johnson (baseball)|Howard Johnson]] [36 HR, 32 SB] also accomplished the feat; to this day, Strawberry and Johnson are the only teammates to have ever gone 30/30 in the same season.)  In addition to that, he hit 32 doubles and drove in 104 runs. Despite this, the [[1987 New York Mets season|1987]] team, plagued by pitching injuries,  missed the playoffs.

On [[Opening Day]] in 1988, Strawberry hit a massive home run (estimated at 525&nbsp;ft.) that struck the roof of [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]] in [[Montreal]].  For the season, Strawberry once again hit 39 home runs (despite a general decline in home run totals in all of baseball from the atypical 1987 season) to lead the National League for a second time.  Strawberry also led the league in slugging percentage at .545 and OPS at .911 and finished second with 101 runs batted in.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/> He finished a very close second in MVP voting to the Dodgers' [[Kirk Gibson]]. Strawberry led the Mets to the playoffs, losing to the Dodgers in seven games in the [[1988 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]].<ref name="baseball-reference1"/>

In 1989, Strawberry's offensive numbers declined: he had 29 home runs and 77 runs batted in, but only had a .225 average.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/> Nevertheless, the [[1989 New York Mets season|Mets]] came in a close second place to the [[1989 Chicago Cubs season|Chicago Cubs]] in the National League East.

In 1990, Strawberry rebounded by hitting 37 home runs, driving in 108 runs and batting for a .277 average.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/> His Mets, however, came once again in a close second place in the National League East, losing to the [[1990 Pittsburgh Pirates season|Pittsburgh Pirates]] by three games. Strawberry himself finished third in MVP voting that season.

Despite his accomplishments, Strawberry was sometimes criticized for disruptive behavior. He got into a physical altercation on team picture day with team captain [[Keith Hernandez]]<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/teammatefeuds/031103.html|first=Jeff |last=Merron|title=I hate you like a brother|work= ESPN |access-date=May 23, 2012}}</ref> and in the midst of a war of words with infielder [[Wally Backman]], threatened to "bust that little redneck in the face".<ref name="latimes1994">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-05-26-sp-62581-story.html|title=Darryl Strawberry Chronology|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|agency=Associated Press |date=May 26, 1994|access-date=September 22, 2024 }} {{subscription required}}</ref> On multiple occasions, he overslept and was late for, or missed, team workouts.

Strawberry signed as a free agent with the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] on November 8, 1990,<ref name="baseball-reference1"/> inking a lucrative five-year $22.25 million contract. In California, he was named ''Big Brother of The Year'' for 1991. After hitting 28 home runs and bringing in 99 runs batted in a successful first year for the Dodgers, injuries and personal problems kept him sidelined for much of the next two seasons, hitting five home runs in each season.

By the end of the 1991 season, he had 280 lifetime homers at the age of only 29, drawing comparisons to then home run king [[Hank Aaron]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcnet.org/~dlfleitz/aaron.htm|title=Who Can Catch Hank Aaron?|website= WCNet.org| access-date= May 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402092618/http://www.wcnet.org/~dlfleitz/aaron.htm|archive-date= April 2, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> His 252 home runs as a Met stood as a club record until 2025, when [[Pete Alonso]] surpassed him.

===Later years===
Strawberry's numbers tailed off considerably after 1991; over the next two years he only played in 75 games. In 1994, he was released in May by the Dodgers after failing to show up to a game. Later that season he signed with the [[San Francisco Giants]], where he saw limited playing time as he tried to make a comeback,<ref name="SI-Giants">{{Cite magazine |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1995/02/27/the-high-price-of-hard-living-reckless-years-in-the-fast-lane-fueled-by-alcohol-and-cocaine-have-cost-former-new-york-met-phenoms-darryl-strawberry-left-and-dwight-gooden-the-prime-years-of-their-careets |title=The High Price of Hard Living |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=February 27, 1995 |last=Verducci |first=Tom |location=New York City |publisher=Time |access-date=September 22, 2024 }}</ref> hitting only four home runs and driving in 17 runs that year.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/>

After a suspension at the beginning of 1995 after testing positive for [[cocaine]],<ref name="SICHRON">{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/04/03/strawberry_chronology_ap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010413161847/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/04/03/strawberry_chronology_ap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 13, 2001|title=Darryl Strawberry Chronology|work=CNN|access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref> Strawberry signed with the [[New York Yankees]] for the stretch run. The next year, Darryl signed with the [[Saint Paul Saints]] of the [[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|Northern League]] on May 3, 1996, in an attempt to rehabilitate. On June 2, the Saints faced the [[Duluth–Superior Dukes]] at [[Wade Stadium]], where Strawberry hit his first home run for the Saints, at a distance of 522' off pitcher [[Pat Ahearne]]. Soon thereafter, he found himself back with the Yankees, who signed him on July 4, 1996.

With the Yankees, he showed flashes of his former brilliance, belting 11 home runs in a part-time role and helping his team win the World Series in 1996 alongside former Mets teammates [[Dwight Gooden]] and [[David Cone]]. His second career three-homer game came against the [[Chicago White Sox]] on August 6 of that season.<ref>{{cite web| first= D.L.| last= Cummings |url= http://articles.nydailynews.com/1996-08-08/sports/18012663_1_darryl-strawberry-drinking-binge-plate| archive-url= https://archive.today/20120709073305/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1996-08-08/sports/18012663_1_darryl-strawberry-drinking-binge-plate |url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2012|title=After His Huge Three-homer Night, Darryl Rounds Third And Heads Straight Home|work=New York Daily News|date=August 8, 1996|access-date=May 23, 2012}}</ref>

He had a big series against the [[Baltimore Orioles]] in the [[1996 American League Championship Series|1996 ALCS]] as he blasted three home runs with five RBIs and a .417 average in four games.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/> In 1997, he did not have any home runs, with his playing time limited by injuries. He played in just 11 games that year, collecting just two runs batted in.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/>

In 1998, he had 24 home runs, once again helping the Yankees win the World Series and playing 100 games for the first time since 1991.<ref name="Puma" /> However, he suffered abdominal pain for around two months, which he did not disclose to his teammates or staff, and his playing time declined late in the season.<ref name=olney_10021998>{{cite news|first=Buster|last=Olney|title=Baseball; Strawberry to Have Surgery for Colon Cancer|page=D1|date=October 2, 1998|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/02/sports/baseball-strawberry-to-have-surgery-for-colon-cancer.html|access-date=September 16, 2021}}</ref> Strawberry was diagnosed with [[colon cancer]] during [[1998 American League Division Series|the American League Division Series]] (ALDS),<ref name=olney_10021998/> and he was replaced on the roster by rookie [[Ricky Ledée]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Buster|last=Olney|title=World Series Preview: Yankees vs. Padres -- Notebook; Father's Surgery a Strain on Pettitte|date=October 17, 1998|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D2|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/17/sports/world-series-preview-yankees-vs-padres-notebook-father-s-surgery-strain-pettitte.html|access-date=September 16, 2021}}</ref> In 1999, he made a comeback from his cancer treatment, but saw limited playing time, hitting 3 home runs. He did however hit a crucial 3-run home run against the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] in [[1999 American League Division Series|the ALDS]], helping the Yankees advance to the ALCS.<ref name="baseball-reference1"/>

Strawberry was set to return to the Yankees in 2000, but after testing positive for cocaine in February while attending spring training, Strawberry was ordered to leave the team while waiting for commissioner [[Bud Selig]] to make a decision on a possible suspension.<ref>{{cite news|first=Buster|last=Olney|title=Baseball; Strawberry Ordered Off Field Until Selig Ends Inquiry|date=February 24, 2000|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/24/sports/baseball-strawberry-ordered-off-field-until-selig-ends-inquiry.html|page=D1|access-date=June 13, 2022}}</ref> Six days after news of the positive test broke, Selig announced that Strawberry would be suspended for the entire 2000 season, effectively ending his career.<ref>{{cite news|first=Buster|last=Olney|title=Baseball: Strawberry Suspended for One Year; Selig Takes a Firm Stand, Leaving Slugger's Career in Doubt|date=February 29, 2000|newspaper=The New York Times|page=D1|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/02/29/sports/baseball-strawberry-suspended-for-one-year-selig-takes-firm-stand-leaving.html|access-date=June 13, 2022}}</ref>

===Career accomplishments===
Strawberry was the starting right fielder in five straight All-Star games and appeared in a total of nine All-Star games. He batted .333 with two stolen bases and two runs in 12 career All-Star at-bats. He had two three-home run games in his career, both of which came against [[Chicago]] teams and were almost 11 years to the day between each other. The first came against the Cubs on August 5, 1985, and the second was on August 6, 1996, against the White Sox.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

He is one of only five Major League Baseball players to hit two pinch-hit grand slams in the same season. The others are his former coach [[Davey Johnson]], who did it as a member of the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], as well as [[Mike Ivie]] of the [[San Francisco Giants]], [[Ben Broussard]] of the [[Cleveland Indians]], and [[Brooks Conrad]] of the [[Atlanta Braves]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100725&content_id=12608384&notebook_id=12608386&vkey=notebook_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|title=MLB.com news article}}</ref>

He is one of only three players in MLB history, along with former Yankees teammate [[Ricky Ledée]] and [[José Vizcaíno]], to have played for all four of the former and current New York-based MLB teams: the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Giants.  However, of the three, Strawberry is the only one to have played solely for the four teams with New York heritage; Ledée and Vizcaino were journeymen who played for numerous other teams.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

==Post-playing life==
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = Darrylretirednumber.png
|Name   = Darryl Strawberry
|Number = 18
|Team   = New York Mets
|Year   = 2024
|}}
[[File:Darryl Strawberry.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.75|Darryl Strawberry, [[American Century Celebrity Golf Classic]], July 13, 2008]]
Strawberry attended the Mets' 1986 World Champion team reunion on August 19, 2006, where the team received a standing ovation from fans at [[Shea Stadium]] in an on-field ceremony.<ref name="86reunion">{{cite news| url= http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/445143p-374880c.html |title= Reunion like it oughta be| access-date= August 21, 2006|last=Olson|first=Lisa|date=August 20, 2006|work=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref> He worked as an instructor for the New York Mets in 2005 and 2008, and was inducted to the Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

He has made regular appearances at the [[New York Yankees]]' [[Old Timer's Day]], most recently in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120625&content_id=33893390&vkey=pr_nyy&c_id=nyy|title=Yankees to hold 66th Old-Timers' Day on Sunday, July 1|website=newyork.yankees.mlb.com|date=June 25, 2012|access-date=January 28, 2013|archive-date=July 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703212753/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120625&content_id=33893390&vkey=pr_nyy&c_id=nyy|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He threw out the ceremonial [[first pitch]] at Shea Stadium before Game 1 of the [[National League Championship Series]] between the Mets and the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] on October 12, 2006. He was given a rousing ovation by the Shea Stadium crowd. He served as an anchor on the Mets pre- and post- game shows on SNY in 2007 and 2008, eventually settling into a part-time analysis role for the 2009 season.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

He opened his own restaurant, Strawberry's Sports Grill, in [[Douglaston, Queens]] in August 2010.<ref name="NYT_up_close">{{cite news| url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/14/fashion/14upclose.html?_r=1&hp|title=Up Close – Making Peace by Serving Wings |access-date= October 14, 2010|last=Williams|first=Alex|date=October 14, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The restaurant closed in October 2012.<ref>{{cite news|last=Orovic|first=Joseph|url=http://www.qchron.com/editions/north/darryl-strawberry-s-restaurant-closes-for-good/article_b6ec333e-0551-568d-8bfc-5ca06e97a943.html |title=Darryl Strawberry's restaurant closes for good |date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=September 22, 2024 |work=[[Queens Chronicle]]}}</ref>

On August 24, 2023, the Mets announced plans to retire Strawberry's number 18 - along with the number 16 of former teammate Dwight Gooden - in a ceremony during the 2024 baseball season.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38251179/mets-retire-numbers-dwight-gooden-daryl-strawberry-next-season | title=Mets to retire numbers of Gooden, Strawberry |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press | date=August 24, 2023 |access-date=September 22, 2024 }}</ref> His number was retired on June 1, 2024. In his acceptance speech, Strawberry apologized to Mets fans for leaving to sign with the Dodgers, saying it was "the greatest mistake I ever made".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/darryl-strawberry-s-number-retired-by-mets | title=Darryl Strawberry's number retired by Mets | work= MLB.com| date=June 1, 2024|access-date=June 1, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Strawberry is an evangelical [[born-again]] Christian and has appeared on the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]]. In 1999, he and [[Tiny Lister]] appeared on evangelist [[Benny Hinn]]'s television program giving their testimonies. Strawberry has also appeared on ''[[The 700 Club]]'' to talk about his life and his newfound Christian faith.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www2.cbn.com/article/not-selected/darryl-strawberrys-way-cross |title=Darryl Strawberry's Way to the Cross |website=CBN.com |last=Elliott |first=Mimi |date=December 10, 2022 |access-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923051205/https://www2.cbn.com/article/not-selected/darryl-strawberrys-way-cross |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref> He eventually became an ordained minister.<ref name="maroke" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=2016-07-04 |title=Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry on Their Intertwined Roads to Recovery |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/04/sports/baseball/doc-gooden-and-darryl-strawberry-on-their-intertwined-roads-to-recovery.html |access-date=2024-04-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
[[File:Darryl Strawberry Visits Travis Air Force Base (4291305).jpg|thumb|Strawberry speaking in a chapel at [[Travis Air Force Base]] in 2018]]
Strawberry frequently donates to charity and was a headliner of the BGC Charity Day event at [[BGC Partners]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://worldredeye.com/2010/09/bgc-charity-day/ |title=BCG Charity Day 2010 |website=Worldredeye.com |date=September 2010 }}</ref>

In October 2005, his wife Charisse filed for divorce.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2184079 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=October 7, 2005 |location=Tampa |title=Charisse Strawberry files for divorce from Darryl|access-date=April 5, 2012}}</ref>  After a second divorce, he married his third wife, Tracy Boulware, in October 2006; the couple met at a drug recovery convention and they share a vigorous Christian faith.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2015/03/28/first-was-the-fall-then-grace/29306812007/ |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]] |date=March 28, 2015 |title=First was the fall, then grace |access-date=September 22, 2024 |first=Danny |last=DeJarnette }}</ref>

In 2006, he and Tracy moved to [[St. Peters, Missouri]].<ref name="maroke">{{cite news |last1=Markoe |first1=Lauren |title=Darryl Strawberry goes from ballfield to pulpit |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2013/07/27/darryl-strawberry-goes-from-ballfield/41724853007/ |access-date=12 March 2024 |work=[[The State Journal-Register]] |date=July 27, 2013}}</ref> The couple founded "The Darryl Strawberry Foundation", an organization dedicated to children with [[autism]]. Strawberry's son, [[D. J. Strawberry|Darryl "D.J." Strawberry, Jr.]], born in 1985, was a star [[shooting guard]] with the [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball]] team and was drafted by the [[Phoenix Suns]] in the [[2007 NBA draft]]. Strawberry has another son, Jordan, who played [[college basketball]] for the [[Mercer Bears men's basketball|Mercer Bears]].

Strawberry has stated that his father was an alcoholic who was verbally and physically abusive to him and his brothers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Shawn |title=Darryl Strawberry |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/a75750fb |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]] |access-date=September 22, 2024 }}</ref> He attributes his initial alcohol and drug use to the pain he endured as a child and his subsequent substance abuse to the pressures of performing in New York.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Barnes |first1=Chris |title=Celebrity Addiction Series: Darryl Strawberry |url=https://www.thediscoveryhouse.com/11/02/2015/celebrity-addiction-series-darryl-strawberry/ |website=The Discovery House |access-date=19 September 2019 |date=November 2, 2015}}</ref>

On September 26, 2020, Strawberry led a prayer in the 2020 Franklin Graham Prayer March.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/HPKR0pB_NEY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200926163445/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPKR0pB_NEY&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPKR0pB_NEY| title = Prayer March 2020 with Franklin Graham | website=[[YouTube]]| date = September 26, 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Legal and health problems===
Strawberry has described himself as having struggled with a [[sex addiction]]. After retirement he admitted to routinely having sex between innings of MLB games in which he played.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Rapaport|first1=Daniel|date=December 21, 2017|title=Darryl Strawberry says he used to have sex between innings|language=en|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/21/darryl-strawberry-sex-addiction-dr-oz-between-innings-during-games|access-date=22 December 2017}}</ref>

On December 9, 1994, Strawberry was indicted on one count of income tax conspiracy and two counts of [[tax evasion]] for failing to pay $146,000 in income taxes from 1986 to 1990, stemming from failing to report $502,043 made at card shows and other appearances.<ref>[https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1994/12/09/strawberry-indicted-on-income-tax-charges/ Strawberry indicted on income tax charges]</ref> On February 10, 1995, in a [[plea deal]], Strawberry pled guilty to one count of [[tax evasion]].<ref>[https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1995/02/10/strawberry-pleads-guilty-to-tax-evasion/ Strawberry pleads guilty to tax evasion]</ref> On November 7, 2025, he was pardoned by President [[Donald Trump]]<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/07/trump-pardons-darryl-strawberry-tax-evasion.html Trump pardons New York baseball star Darryl Strawberry for tax evasion conviction]</ref> for this 1995 tax evasion conviction,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1995-04-25 |title=Strawberry Safe at Home, for 6 Months : Baseball: Judge imposes lighter sentence, disregarding plea bargain of three months in prison. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-25-sp-58556-story.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> for which he had served 6 months of home confinement and two years of probation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 November 2025 |title=Trump pardons ex-MLB star Darryl Strawberry after faith, sobriety turnaround: report |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/trump-pardons-mlb-darryl-strawberry-christianity-sobriety |access-date=7 November 2025 |work=[[foxnews.com]]|agency=[[Fox News]] |language=en}}</ref>

On December 19, 1995, Strawberry was charged in [[California]] with failing to make child support payments. When he missed a June 5, 1996, deadline to pay the child support, a Los Angeles judge set a trial date of July 17, at which time Strawberry agreed to use his signing bonus to pay the debt.<ref>{{cite news|title=Strawberry agrees to pay support for wife, children |agency=[[Associated Press]]| date=June 6, 1996|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/sbbw0511.htm|work=[[USA Today]]| access-date= May 1, 2010}}</ref>

In August 1998, Strawberry was sued by attorney [[Robert Shapiro (lawyer)|Robert Shapiro]] for failing to pay $100,000 in legal fees, dating back to 1994, when Shapiro represented him in a contract with the Dodgers.<ref>{{cite news |title= Strawberry Sued Over Legal Fees |date=August 19, 1998 |url=https://apnews.com/35ed9d81753bdc73ffa09c269d257806 |website= apnewsarchive.com |publisher=The Associated Press |access-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref>

On October 1, 1998, Strawberry was diagnosed with [[colon cancer]]. Two days later, he had surgery to remove a tumor. On October 14, doctors announced that cancer had been detected in a [[lymph node]] so he would also have to undergo [[chemotherapy]].<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.cnn.com/US/9810/16/strawberry.home/| work=CNN |title=Darryl Strawberry leaves hospital after cancer surgery |date=October 16, 1998 |access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref>

On April 3, 1999, Strawberry was arrested in [[Tampa, Florida]] for soliciting sex from a policewoman posing as a prostitute and for having a small amount of cocaine. On April 24, he was suspended for 140 days by Major League Baseball for the incident. On May 29, he pleaded [[nolo contendere|no contest]] to the charges and was sentenced to 21 months probation and community service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://augustasports.com/stories/051199/bas_124-1757.shtml|title=Sports|work=[[The Augusta Chronicle]]|access-date=May 23, 2012|archive-date=July 7, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707200406/http://augustasports.com/stories/051199/bas_124-1757.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On July 28, 2000, a [[Computed tomography|C.T. scan]] suggested that Strawberry's cancer had spread to his [[lymph nodes]]. The next month, he had surgery to remove a [[tumor]] near his left [[kidney]] on August 7.<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/strawberry-in-stable-condition/|work=CBS News|title=Strawberry In Stable Condition|agency=Associated Press|date=August 7, 2000}}</ref>

On September 11, 2000, in [[Tampa]], [[Florida]], Strawberry tried to drive to see his probation officer after taking painkillers. While driving, he [[Syncope (medicine)|blacked out]], rear-ended another car, and then tried to drive away. An off-duty police officer witnessed the episode and arrested him at gunpoint. The next day, Strawberry admitted to the charges and his probation was changed to two years of house arrest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Curry |first=Jack |date=2000-09-13 |title=Baseball; Strawberry Sentenced To Home For 2 Years |page=D3 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/09/13/sports/baseball-strawberry-sentenced-to-home-for-2-years.html |access-date=2024-04-24 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On November 21, he was sentenced to a year of probation and community service.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/11/21/strawberry_dui_ap/|work=CNN|title=Facing the consequences |publisher=Sports Illustrated |agency=Associated Press |date=November 21, 2000 |access-date=May 1, 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100414083600/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/11/21/strawberry_dui_ap/|archive-date=April 14, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On October 25, 2000, Strawberry left a Tampa drug treatment center to use drugs with a female friend, violating his house arrest and parole. On November 9, he was sentenced to 40 days in jail with credit for time served.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/11/09/strawberry_ap/|work=CNN|publisher=Sports Illustrated|date=November 9, 2000|access-date=May 1, 2010|title=Strawberry sentenced to 30 days in jail|url-status=dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110628224648/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/11/09/strawberry_ap/|archive-date=June 28, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On November 3, 2000, Strawberry told a judge in Tampa that he had lost his will to live and had stopped chemotherapy. On November 30, he was released from jail and sent back to rehab.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/11/03/strawberry_ap/|work=CNN|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Sports Illustrated|title='I'd rather kill myself'|date=November 3, 2000|access-date=May 1, 2010|url-status=dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110628224347/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2000/11/03/strawberry_ap/|archive-date=June 28, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On April 2, 2001, Strawberry was arrested for again disappearing from his house arrest drug treatment center in Tampa. On May 1, he was sentenced to more time at a drug treatment center.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/04/03/strawberry_update_ap/ |work=CNN |title=Continuing saga |date=April 3, 2001 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Sports Illustrated|access-date=May 1, 2010|url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110628224528/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/news/2001/04/03/strawberry_update_ap/|archive-date=June 28, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On March 12, 2002, Strawberry was back in jail for violating several non-drug rules at the drug treatment center where he was on probation in [[Ocala, Florida]]. On April 29, he was ordered to serve the 22-month suspended prison sentence from 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/04/29/strawberry_sentenced_ap/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020808012058/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2002/04/29/strawberry_sentenced_ap/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 8, 2002|work=CNN|publisher=Sports Illustrated |agency=Associated Press |date=April 29, 2002|title=Strawberry sentenced|access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref> On April 8, 2003, he was released from prison after 11 months.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/04/07/strawberry_released_ap/|work=CNN|publisher=Sports Illustrated |agency=Associated Press |title=Time served |date=April 8, 2003 |access-date=April 5, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140302072938/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/04/07/strawberry_released_ap/|archive-date=March 2, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In September 2005, Strawberry was charged with filing a false police report after he claimed his SUV was stolen. He admitted that he had lied on the report but was not arrested because it was a misdemeanor.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2175653 |work=ESPN |title=Strawberry charged with filing false report |date=September 29, 2005 |agency=Associated Press|access-date=April 5, 2012 }}</ref>

On or about March 11, 2024, Strawberry suffered a [[heart attack]], underwent a [[Coronary stent|stent]] procedure and reported that he was recovering in a hospital in [[Lake St. Louis, Missouri]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 March 2024 |title=Strawberry says he's recovering after heart attack |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39713227/darryl-strawberry-recovering-heart-attack |access-date=12 March 2024 |work=[[ESPN.com]]|agency=[[Associated Press]] |language=en}}</ref> He recovered and was able to attend the ceremony where the Mets retired Gooden's number 16 on April 14, as well as his own retirement ceremony on June 1.

==In media==
[[File:Darryl Strawberry 2008-09-28.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Strawberry at Shea Stadium in 2008]]
Strawberry appeared on the cover of ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' seven times: five times by himself, once with [[Don Mattingly]], and once with [[Dwight Gooden]].{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

In 1988, he was featured heavily in the William Goldman and Mike Lupica book ''Wait Till Next Year'', which looked at life inside the Mets over a whole season (among other New York sports teams). It gives a frank account of both his importance to the team and his problematic behavior.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

In 2004, the [[Rebecca Gilman]] play ''The Sweetest Swing in Baseball'' premiered at the [[Royal Court Theatre]] in London. The lead character ‒ Dana, as portrayed by [[Gillian Anderson]] ‒ adopts the personality and speech of Darryl Strawberry in an attempt to pass herself off as schizophrenic. The title is a reference to Strawberry's playing skills.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

Strawberry appeared, as himself, in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Homer at the Bat]]".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/02/the-simpsons-softball-episode-mlb-players-homer-at-the-bat-25th-anniversary-hall-of-fame-griffey-sax-canseco-facts |title=For the 25th anniversary of the Simpsons softball episode, 6 facts you didn't know |work=USA Today |author=Charles Curtis |date=February 22, 2017 |access-date=16 October 2018}}</ref> He was a featured pro on the second season of the physical [[reality game show]] ''[[Pros vs. Joes]]''. He currently does occasional commentary for baseball on [[SportsNet New York]].{{citation needed|date=January 2014}}

In 2010, Strawberry appeared on NBC's ''[[The Apprentice (U.S. season 9)|The Apprentice]]'' with [[Sharon Osbourne]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], [[Bret Michaels]], and others. At the end of the third episode, Strawberry was fired after he admitted he was the weakest contestant, was tired, and wanted to go home. [[Donald Trump]] sent him home. After Strawberry made a successful return in the season finale to assist Bret Michaels, the show made a donation of $25,000 to The Darryl Strawberry Foundation. Strawberry placed 12th.{{citation needed|date=November 2025}}

On February 8, 2011, Strawberry appeared along with [[Clara Hughes]] and [[Stéphane Richer (ice hockey forward)|Stephane Richer]] on a Canadian documentary by [[Michael Landsberg]] to talk about his battle with depression.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ctv.ca/BellLetsTalk/Video.aspx#clip615574|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120718031659/http://www.ctv.ca/BellLetsTalk/video.aspx#clip615574|url-status= dead|archive-date= July 18, 2012|title= Video clip | work= Bell Let's Talk |publisher= Bell Media| via= CTV.ca| access-date= March 6, 2020}}</ref>

On Wednesday, November 15, 2017, Strawberry appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'' to talk about his new book ''Don't Give Up on Me'', which sheds light on addiction and recovery.<ref>{{cite AV media| url= https://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/guest/darryl-strawberry/db241b6a3a3ff04bf0bb5cd70f2b8625c4d88643 | work= [[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]| title= Guest Darryl Strawberry| date= November 15, 2017| via= NBC.com}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*{{Official website|https://www.darrylstrawberry.com}}
*{{baseballstats|mlb=122864|espn=1350|br=s/strawda01|fangraphs=1012606|brm=strawb001dar|retro=S/Pstrad001}}
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|a75750fb}}
*{{IMDb name|nm0833936|Darryl Strawberry}}
*[https://strawberrycenter.com Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110207105047/http://strawberrysfieldforever.com/ Darryl Strawberry Then and Now, A Tribute to Darryl Strawberry] (archived)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20181110034826/http://strawberrysgrill.com/ Strawberry's Sports Grill] (archived)

{{s-start|header={{S-ach}}}}
{{Succession box|before=[[Andre Dawson]]|title=[[MLB Player of the Month|National League Player of the Month]]|years=September 1987|after=[[Bobby Bonilla]]}}
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