Darryl Strawberry

Lore & Background

Strawberry, who was nicknamed "the Straw Man" or "Straw", helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship in 1986 over the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees to two World Series championships in 1996 and 1999, both over the Atlanta Braves. He was also suspended three times by MLB 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 to 1991. Strawberry was formerly an analyst for SportsNet New York. His memoir, Straw: Finding My Way, written with author John Strausbaugh, was published in April 2009.

Reader's Guide

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. As an 18-year-old from 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. The New York Mets selected Strawberry with the first overall selection in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft. 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. He was named the National League's Rookie of The Year. In 1984, he made it to the 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. Strawberry's Mets from 1984–1990 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 to 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 of the Philadelphia Phillies. This required surgery, and Strawberry missed the team's next 43 games, not returning until June 28. 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. After starting pitchers Ron Darling of the Mets and 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 Stadium. For the season, Strawberry hit 29 home runs and drove in 79 runs; his .947 OPS would have been 2nd in the National League (behind Pedro Guerrero of the Los Angeles Dodgers) if the injury had not limited him to 470 plate appearances.

Did You Know?

• Strawberry and Howard Johnson are the only teammates in MLB history to have ever gone 30/30 in the same season (1987).
• Strawberry's 252 home runs as a Met stood as a club record until 2025, when Pete Alonso surpassed him.