Darryl Strawberry

" I never had trouble hitting. I had trouble living."

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My Story

Darryl Strawberry: The Straw Man

A Legend Born in Los Angeles

Darryl Eugene Strawberry was born on March 12, 1962, in Los Angeles, California. From the sandlot fields of his youth to the grandest stages in Major League Baseball, Strawberry became one of the most feared sluggers of his generation. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall with a long, looping swing that drew comparisons to Ted Williams, he was a physical specimen unlike almost anyone the game had seen.

As a senior at Crenshaw High School, Strawberry was already a national sensation. The New York Mets selected him with the #1 overall pick in the 1980 MLB Draft, and the baseball world would never be the same.

Career Overview

Strawberry spent 17 seasons in Major League Baseball, playing for four teams:

New York Mets (1983–1990)
Los Angeles Dodgers (1991–1993)
San Francisco Giants (1994)
New York Yankees (1995–1999)

Over that span, he accumulated 335 career home runs, 1,000 RBIs, 1,401 hits, and a career OPS of .862 — numbers that reflect his status as one of the elite power hitters of his era.

Awards & Honors

1983 NL Rookie of the Year — Strawberry burst onto the scene with 26 home runs, 74 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases in his debut season.
8-Time MLB All-Star (1984–1991) — He was selected for eight consecutive All-Star Games, a testament to his sustained excellence. He was also the first National League player ever voted to start the All-Star Game in each of his first four full seasons.
2x Silver Slugger Award — Recognizing him as one of the best offensive players at his position.
NL Home Run Leader (1988) — He led the National League with 39 home runs, also topping the league in slugging percentage (.545) and OPS (.911) that season.
Hall of Fame Nominee (2004)

World Series Champion — Four Times Over

Strawberry helped bring World Series titles to two of baseball's most iconic franchises:

1986 New York Mets — In one of the most celebrated World Series in history, Strawberry and the Mets defeated the Boston Red Sox. He contributed 27 home runs and a .507 slugging percentage that season, capping it with a home run in the clinching Game 7.

1996, 1998 & 1999 New York Yankees — After joining the Yankees, Strawberry proved he could still deliver in October. During the 1996 ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles, he hit three home runs and batted .417 to help propel New York to the championship. The Yankees won the World Series all three years, giving Strawberry a total of four World Series rings across his career.

Record-Breaking Feats

The 30-30 Club (1987): In one of the most impressive individual seasons of the decade, Strawberry hit 39 home runs and stole 36 bases, joining the exclusive 30-30 Club — players who achieve 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season. Even more remarkably, teammate Howard Johnson accomplished the feat the same year, making the 1987 Mets the first team in MLB history to have two 30-30 players in the same season.

All-Time Mets Home Run Leader: Strawberry hit 252 home runs as a Met — a franchise record that still stands today. On June 1, 2024, the Mets officially retired his number, #18, honoring him at Citi Field. In a fitting tribute, the team even turned their iconic home run apple into a strawberry for the occasion.

Opening Day Cannon Shot (1988): On Opening Day in Montreal, Strawberry launched a home run estimated at 525 feet that struck the roof of Olympic Stadium — one of the most legendary blasts of his career.

In just his fourth season (1986), Strawberry had already hit his 100th career home run AND stolen his 100th career base — a rare dual milestone that speaks to his all-around athletic brilliance.

The Straw Man's Legacy

Darryl Strawberry appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated seven times and was a cultural icon of 1980s New York. His powerful swing was described by many as the sweetest in baseball — so beautiful that a 2004 Broadway play was titled The Sweetest Swing in Baseball in his honor.

Despite the personal hardships he faced off the field, Strawberry's on-field achievements remain extraordinary. He overcame serious illness — including a colon cancer diagnosis in 1998 — to continue playing and winning. After baseball, he channeled his experiences into ministry and charitable work, including founding the Darryl Strawberry Foundation, which supports those affected by autism.

From a #1 draft pick out of South Los Angeles to a four-time World Series champion, Darryl Strawberry's story is one of staggering talent, resilience, and an unforgettable place in baseball history.

Career Stats:

.259 BA | 335 HR | 1,000 RBI | 221 SB | .862 OPS | 17 Seasons

A New Chapter:

Faith, Purpose & Ministry

Today, Darryl Strawberry's greatest passion has nothing to do with home runs or World Series rings. As an ordained Minister of the Gospel, he has dedicated his life to serving Jesus Christ and helping others find restoration and healing through faith.

Together with his wife Tracy — an international speaker, published author, and CEO in her own right — Darryl co-founded Strawberry Ministries in 2011. The mission is straightforward and powerful: restoring lives and relationships through the power of God and the process of change. The two travel extensively, bringing a message of hope to churches, schools, prisons, hospitals, and motivational conferences across the country. Darryl is known to preach an extraordinary 270 days a year, often accompanied by his son Jordan.

His ministry has taken him to some of the most unlikely and impactful places — including maximum security prisons and death row — where his personal testimony resonates deeply with those who feel beyond redemption. The same fearlessness that made him a force at the plate now drives him to reach the most forgotten corners of society with a message of grace.

Another Life — New Book Coming August 2026

Darryl's most anticipated book yet is set to release August 11, 2026. Titled Another Life: Discovering the Healing Power of Purpose on My Long Journey from Player to Preacher (co-authored with Jerome Preisler, published by Simon & Schuster), the book takes readers on the road with Darryl as he travels the country in ministry. True to his conviction, Darryl made one condition clear to his publisher before agreeing to write it: the book would not be about baseball. It is instead a deeply personal reflection on purpose, faith, and the healing power of a life surrendered to God.

Another Life is available for pre-order now wherever books are sold.