Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Eugene Strawberry
Born:	March 12, 1962 Los Angeles, California
Charges:	Tax evasion (federal), Cocaine possession, Solicitation (state)
Sentence:	6 months home confinement (tax evasion), 11 months prison (probation violation)
Facility:
Status:	Pardoned

Darryl Eugene Strawberry (born March 12, 1962) is an American former professional baseball player who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball as an outfielder. An eight-time All-Star and four-time World Series champion, Strawberry was one of the most talented players of his era but saw his career derailed by substance abuse and legal troubles. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion for failing to report $350,000 in income. After multiple drug-related arrests and probation violations throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, he served 11 months in a Florida prison. On November 7, 2025, President Donald Trump granted Strawberry a full presidential pardon for his 1995 tax evasion conviction, citing his Christian faith and longtime sobriety.

Summary

Darryl Strawberry emerged as one of baseball's most electrifying talents when he was selected first overall in the 1980 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. He won the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year award and became a cornerstone of the Mets' 1986 World Series championship team. His combination of power, speed, and athleticism made him a perennial All-Star selection and earned comparisons to the game's all-time greats.

However, Strawberry's career became increasingly defined by his battles with addiction and legal troubles. His father's alcoholism and abusive behavior had left deep psychological scars, and Strawberry turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the pressures of stardom. Beginning in the late 1980s, his substance abuse led to domestic violence incidents, multiple MLB suspensions, and a tax evasion prosecution. Despite these struggles, he managed to contribute to three more World Series championships with the New York Yankees in the late 1990s.

After his playing career ended, Strawberry committed himself to recovery and Christian ministry. He has been sober for over a decade and operates recovery centers to help others struggling with addiction. The November 2025 presidential pardon represented the final chapter in his legal rehabilitation, with President Trump citing Strawberry's transformation and faith as the basis for clemency.

Background

Early Life and Family

Darryl Eugene Strawberry was born on March 12, 1962, in Los Angeles, California, to Henry and Ruby Strawberry. He was the third of five children, with two older brothers (Michael and Ron) and two younger sisters (Regina and Michelle). The family lived in the Crenshaw neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles, just two miles from Dodger Stadium.

Strawberry's childhood was marked by trauma. His father Henry, who worked for the postal service, struggled with alcoholism and gambling. Henry Strawberry was verbally and physically abusive to his sons, and the couple divorced when Darryl was approximately 13 years old. Ruby Strawberry raised her children as a single mother while working for the telephone company. Strawberry has attributed 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.

High School and Draft

Strawberry attended Crenshaw High School, where he became a star athlete on the baseball team alongside future major leaguer Chris Brown. His exceptional talent drew the attention of MLB scouts, and in 1980, the New York Mets selected him with the first overall pick in the amateur draft. His older brother Michael was also a talented athlete who played professional baseball.

MLB Career

New York Mets (1983-1990)

Strawberry made his major league debut on May 6, 1983, at age 21. In his rookie season, he hit 26 home runs with 74 RBIs and 19 stolen bases, earning the National League Rookie of the Year award. He quickly established himself as one of baseball's most feared sluggers, combining exceptional power with outstanding speed.

In 1986, Strawberry was a key contributor to the Mets' World Series championship team, helping them defeat the Boston Red Sox. The following year, he achieved a rare feat by hitting 39 home runs and stealing 36 bases, making him a member of the exclusive 30/30 Club.

Strawberry led the National League in home runs in 1988 with 39, along with a .545 slugging percentage. His 252 home runs as a Met stood as the franchise record until Pete Alonso surpassed him in 2025. He was selected to the All-Star team eight times during his career.

Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants (1991-1994)

After the 1990 season, Strawberry signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent. His time with the Dodgers was hampered by injuries and personal problems. In 1994, he briefly joined the San Francisco Giants, but was suspended 60 days by MLB after testing positive for cocaine. The Giants subsequently released him.

New York Yankees (1995-1999)

Strawberry returned to New York with the Yankees in 1995, where he experienced a career renaissance. Despite serving as a part-time player, he showed flashes of his former brilliance. In 1996, he hit 11 home runs and delivered a memorable performance in the American League Championship Series against Baltimore, batting .417 with three home runs and five RBIs. The Yankees won the World Series that year, giving Strawberry his second championship ring.

In 1998, Strawberry hit 24 home runs in 100 games and became the first American League player to hit two pinch-hit grand slams in the same season. The Yankees won another World Series title, but Strawberry's celebration was tempered by a diagnosis of colon cancer that kept him from playing in the World Series. He underwent surgery in October 1998 and made a remarkable comeback in 1999, helping the Yankees win their third consecutive championship.

The cancer returned in 2000, effectively ending his playing career. Over 17 seasons, Strawberry hit 335 home runs with 1,000 RBIs and a .259 batting average.

Criminal History

Domestic Violence Incidents (1987-1993)

Strawberry's legal troubles began during his playing career with multiple domestic violence incidents. In 1987, his then-wife filed for legal separation, alleging that he broke her nose. In 1990, he was arrested for alleged assault with a deadly weapon during an argument with his wife, accused of hitting her and threatening her with a semiautomatic handgun. He was released on $12,000 bail. In 1993, he was arrested after allegedly striking the woman he lived with, though no criminal charges were filed.

Tax Evasion (1994-1995)

In 1994, Strawberry was indicted on federal tax evasion charges for failing to report approximately $350,000 in income from autographs, personal appearances, and sales of memorabilia. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion to avoid a prison sentence. As part of the plea agreement, he agreed to pay more than $430,000 in back taxes and penalties.

Strawberry was sentenced to six months of home confinement and two years of probation. This conviction remained on his record for 30 years until the 2025 presidential pardon.

Drug Arrests and MLB Suspensions (1995-2000)

Strawberry's struggles with cocaine addiction led to multiple arrests and suspensions throughout the mid-to-late 1990s:

• 1995: MLB suspended Strawberry for 60 days after he tested positive for cocaine while with the San Francisco Giants.
• 1995: He was charged in California with failing to make child support payments and agreed to use his signing bonus to pay the debt.
• 1999: On April 3, Strawberry was arrested in Tampa, Florida, for soliciting sex from an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute. He was also charged with possession of a small amount of cocaine. On April 24, MLB issued a 140-day suspension. In May, he pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 21 months of probation plus community service.
• 2000: On September 11, Strawberry tried to drive to see his probation officer after taking painkillers. He blacked out behind the wheel, rear-ended another car, and attempted to flee the scene before being arrested at gunpoint by an off-duty police officer. On October 25, he left a Tampa drug treatment center to use drugs, violating his house arrest and parole. On November 9, he was sentenced to 40 days in jail with credit for time served.

Prison Sentence (2001-2003)

• 2001: On April 2, Strawberry was arrested for disappearing from his court-ordered drug treatment center in Tampa. On May 1, he was ordered to serve additional time at a drug treatment facility.
• 2002: On March 12, Strawberry was jailed again for violating several rules at the Ocala, Florida drug treatment center where he was on probation. On April 29, 2002, a judge ordered him to serve the 22-month suspended prison sentence from his 1999 case.

Strawberry served approximately 11 months at a minimum- to medium-security prison in Gainesville, Florida. He was released on April 8, 2003, after receiving 122 days credit for time already served and 82 additional days for good behavior as a model prisoner.

False Police Report (2005)

In September 2005, Strawberry was charged with filing a false police report after claiming his SUV was stolen. He admitted to lying on the report but was not arrested because it was a misdemeanor offense.

Presidential Pardon

On November 7, 2025, President Donald Trump granted Darryl Strawberry a full presidential pardon for his 1995 federal tax evasion conviction. A White House official announced the pardon, stating: "President Trump has approved a pardon for Darryl Strawberry, three-time World Series champion and eight-time MLB All-Star."

The White House official noted that "Strawberry served time and paid back taxes after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion" and that "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 which still operates today."

Trump personally called Strawberry to inform him of the pardon. According to Strawberry, Trump told him: "You know you did some very bad things. But he said, 'Today, the way your life is and what you're doing, your faith and helping people and being sober, I'm giving you a full pardon. You're going to be clean. I'm wiping everything out.'"

Strawberry thanked Trump in an Instagram post, writing: "Thank you, President @realdonaldtrump for my full pardon and for finalizing this part of my life, allowing me to be truly free and clean from all of my past."

Strawberry was the second alumnus of Trump's reality television show "The Celebrity Apprentice" to receive a pardon from the president. Strawberry had appeared on the show in 2010 and developed a relationship with Trump. Trump had previously pardoned fellow contestant and former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in February 2020.

On November 23, 2025, Strawberry publicly thanked Trump for the pardon during a sermon at a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Recovery and Ministry

Following his release from prison in 2003, Strawberry committed himself to recovery and Christianity. He has been sober for over a decade and became an ordained Christian minister.

Strawberry Ministries

Strawberry and his wife Tracy founded Strawberry Ministries, an organization focused on helping people struggling with addiction, troubled teens, and others in need. The ministry's primary mission is to lead people to Christ while providing resources for recovery and restoration.

Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center

Strawberry founded the Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center in St. Cloud, Florida, in partnership with Oglethorpe Healthcare Inc. The center uses Christian faith alongside holistic detox programs and long-term sobriety programs to help people recover from substance abuse.

Strawberry and his wife also started a Christian recovery program at Oglethorpe's behavioral hospital in Longview, Texas. When not traveling for speaking engagements, Strawberry visits his recovery centers two to three days per week, participating in group therapy sessions and speaking with patients.

Academic Role

Darryl and Tracy Strawberry serve in roles with Liberty University's Global Center for Mental Health, Addiction, and Recovery, contributing to education and awareness about addiction treatment.

Public Recognition

Despite his troubled history, Strawberry has been recognized for his contributions to baseball:

• 2005 and 2008: Served as an instructor for the New York Mets
• 2010: Inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame
• 2004: Received a Hall of Fame nomination (did not gain induction)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Darryl Strawberry do?

Darryl Strawberry was convicted of federal tax evasion in 1995 for failing to report approximately $350,000 in income from autographs, personal appearances, and memorabilia sales. He pleaded guilty to one count and was sentenced to six months of home confinement and two years of probation. He also had multiple drug-related arrests in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including cocaine possession and solicitation charges, which eventually led to an 11-month prison sentence in 2002-2003 for violating probation.

Q: Was Darryl Strawberry pardoned?

Yes. On November 7, 2025, President Donald Trump granted Strawberry a full presidential pardon for his 1995 federal tax evasion conviction. The White House cited Strawberry's embrace of Christianity and his decade-plus of sobriety as reasons for the pardon. Trump called Strawberry personally to deliver the news, telling him the pardon would make him "clean" from his past.

Q: How long was Darryl Strawberry's prison sentence?

For his 1995 tax evasion conviction, Strawberry received six months of home confinement and two years of probation, avoiding prison. However, after repeated probation violations from drug use and leaving treatment facilities, he was ordered in 2002 to serve a previously suspended 22-month sentence from his 1999 drug and solicitation case. He served approximately 11 months at a minimum- to medium-security prison in Gainesville, Florida, before being released in April 2003.

Q: What was Darryl Strawberry's MLB career?

Strawberry was an eight-time All-Star and four-time World Series champion who played 17 MLB seasons (1983-1999). He was the first overall pick in the 1980 draft and won the 1983 NL Rookie of the Year with the Mets. He won World Series titles with the Mets (1986) and Yankees (1996, 1998, 1999). He hit 335 career home runs, led the NL in home runs in 1988 with 39, and his 252 home runs as a Met was the franchise record until 2025.

Q: What is Darryl Strawberry doing now?

Strawberry is an ordained Christian minister who has been sober for over a decade. He and his wife Tracy founded Strawberry Ministries and the Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center in St. Cloud, Florida, helping people struggling with addiction through faith-based treatment. He speaks publicly about his addiction struggles and was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.

Q: How many times was Darryl Strawberry suspended by MLB?

Strawberry was suspended three times by Major League Baseball for substance abuse. In 1995, he received a 60-day suspension after testing positive for cocaine with the Giants. In 1999, he was suspended 140 days following his arrest for cocaine possession and solicitation. His final suspension came in 2000 after testing positive for cocaine while with the Yankees. These suspensions contributed to the premature end of what many considered a Hall of Fame-caliber career.

Q: Did Darryl Strawberry have cancer?

Yes. Strawberry was diagnosed with colon cancer in October 1998 and underwent surgery to remove a tumor. He made a comeback with the Yankees in 1999, helping them win the World Series. The cancer returned in 2000, effectively ending his playing career. He has since become an advocate for cancer awareness and early screening.

See also

• Tax Evasion
• Presidential Clemency and Pardons
• Supervised Release
• Drug Trafficking