Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry at homeplate in Shea Stadium, Goodbye to Shea, on September 28, 2008
Right fielder
Born: (1962-03-12) March 12, 1962 (age 54) Los Angeles, California
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 6, 1983, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1999, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Batting average	.259
Home runs	335
Runs batted in	1,000
Teams
New York Mets (1983–1990) Los Angeles Dodgers (1991–1993) San Francisco Giants (1994) New York Yankees (1995–1999)
Career highlights and awards
8× All-Star (1984–1991) 4× World Series champion (1986, 1996, 1998, 1999) NL Rookie of the Year (1983) 2× Silver Slugger Award (1988, 1990) NL home run leader (1988)

Darryl Eugene Strawberry, Sr. (born March 12, 1962) is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder and an ordained Christian minister and author. Strawberry is well known for his career in baseball and his controversial personal life. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Strawberry was one of the most feared sluggers in the game, known for his prodigious home runs and his intimidating presence in the batter's box with his 6-foot-6 frame and his long, looping swing that elicited comparisons to Ted Williams.

During his 17-year career, he helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship in 1986 and the New York Yankees to three World Series championships in 1996, 1998 and 1999. He was also suspended three times by Major League Baseball for substance abuse, leading to many narratives about his massive potential going unfulfilled. A popular player during his career, Strawberry was voted to the All-Star Game eight straight times from 1984–1991. Strawberry was formerly an analyst for SportsNet New York. His memoir, Straw: Finding My Way, was written in collaboration with author John Strausbaugh, was published on April 28, 2009 by Ecco Press, an imprint of HarperCollins publishers.

Strawberry was born to Henry and Ruby Strawberry in Los Angeles. He played high school baseball for the Crenshaw High School Cougars along with Chris Brown. Strawberry was drafted first overall in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets. Darryl's older brother Michael Strawberry was also selected in that draft, going to the Dodgers in the 31st round.