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President Donald Trump has pardoned former Major League Baseball slugger Darryl Strawberry.
Throughout his playing career, the former New York Mets star had numerous run-ins with the law, fueled by drug and alcohol problems, which led to three separate MLB suspensions.
But after turning his life around, Trump rewarded the eight-time All-Star with a pardon.
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1986 New York Mets alumnus Darryl Strawberry is introduced during a ceremony prior to a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on Saturday, May 28, 2016, in the Queens borough of New York City. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
“President Trump has approved a pardon for Darryl Strawberry, a three-time World Series champion and eight-time MLB All-Star,” the White House said in an email to Pak Gazette Digital. “Mr. Strawberry served time and paid back taxes after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion. Following his career, Mr. Strawberry found faith in Christianity and has been sober for over a decade; he has become active in ministry and started a recovery center that is still operating today.”
The final years of Strawberry’s career were plagued by legal problems, including a 1999 arrest as a member of the New York Yankees for soliciting sex from a police officer posing as a prostitute. That resulted in a 140-day suspension and 21 months of probation, plus community service.
The following year, he tested positive for cocaine, resulting in a suspension for the entire 2000 season, effectively ending his career. He served 11 months in prison between 2002 and 2003 for violating non-drug rules at a treatment center. Strawberry also admitted to having sex between innings of his games.
After the 1994 season, he was accused of tax evasion. He was suspended to start the 1995 season for cocaine and admitted to having a substance abuse problem.
Former New York Mets player Darryl Strawberry throws out a ceremonial first pitch before game three of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York City, New York, on October 16, 2024. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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The eight-time All-Star met his current wife at a drug recovery convention.
In an ironic twist, Strawberry appeared on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” hosted by Trump, in 2010.
Strawberry and Doc Gooden have been notoriously close due to their immense talent while playing for the Mets while battling drug and alcohol abuse. Strawberry was able to turn his life around long before Gooden, but Gooden seems to have been on the right path in recent years. The two appeared together in last year’s National League Championship Series between the Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers and were the stars of ESPN’s 30 for 30 show, “Doc and Darryl.”
Both numbers were retired by the Mets last season.
Former New York Mets player Darryl Strawberry walks on the field before game three of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York City, New York, on October 16, 2024. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
During his best nine years, when he was named National League Rookie of the Year and an eight-time All-Star, Strawberry batted .263 with an .875 OPS, averaging 36 home runs and 108 RBIs in 162 games.
Strawberry won the World Series with the Mets in 1986 and with the Yankees in 1996, 1998 and 1999. He had been the Mets franchise leader in home runs with 252 until Pete Alonso passed him earlier this season.
