History of Darryl Strawberry in Timeline
Darryl Strawberry is a former MLB right fielder who played for 17 seasons. Known for his powerful hitting and intimidating presence, he was considered one of the most feared sluggers in baseball. Standing at 6'6", his distinctive swing drew comparisons to Ted Williams.
March 12, 1962: Darryl Strawberry Born
On March 12, 1962, Darryl Eugene Strawberry Sr. was born in the United States. He would later become a professional baseball right fielder.
July 1980: Signed with the Mets
In July 1980, after being the first overall pick in the amateur draft, Darryl Strawberry signed with the New York Mets.
1980: Drafted by the New York Mets
In 1980, The New York Mets selected Darryl Strawberry with the first overall selection in the Major League Baseball draft.
1983: Popularity and Image Usage
From 1983, Darryl Strawberry's image was used on action figures, posters and banners.
1983: Major League Debut and Rookie of the Year
In 1983, Darryl Strawberry reached the major league level, posting 26 home runs and earning the National League's Rookie of The Year award.
1984: Mets Team Success
From 1984, Strawberry's Mets became one of the premier teams in the National League.
1984: All-Star Game Appearance and Home Runs
In 1984, Darryl Strawberry made his first All-Star game appearance and hit 26 home runs, driving in 97 runs.
1984: All-Star Game Appearance
In 1984, Darryl Strawberry was voted to the All-Star Game, marking the first of eight consecutive appearances.
May 11, 1985: Thumb Injury
On May 11, 1985, Darryl Strawberry suffered torn ligaments in his thumb while making a diving catch, requiring surgery and causing him to miss 43 games.
August 5, 1985: Three-Home Run Game Against Cubs
On August 5, 1985, Darryl Strawberry had a three-home run game against the Chicago Cubs.
October 1, 1985: Game-Winning Home Run
On October 1, 1985, Darryl Strawberry hit a game-winning home run in the 11th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals, helping the Mets win 1-0.
1985: Birth of son Darryl "D.J." Strawberry, Jr.
In 1985, Darryl Strawberry's son, Darryl "D.J." Strawberry, Jr., was born. He would later become a star basketball player and be drafted into the NBA.
1986: Mets World Champion Team Reunion
In 1986, Darryl Strawberry attended the New York Mets' World Champion team reunion.
1986: Mets Win the World Series
In 1986, Darryl Strawberry contributed 27 home runs and 93 RBIs as the Mets won the World Series, defeating the Boston Red Sox.
1986: World Series Championship with the Mets
In 1986, Darryl Strawberry helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship.
1987: Joins 30-30 Club
In 1987, Darryl Strawberry joined the 30-30 club with 39 home runs and 36 stolen bases, also driving in 104 runs.
1987: Home Run Totals
In 1987, Strawberry had a general decline in home run totals in all of baseball from the atypical season.
1988: Featured in "Wait Till Next Year" book
In 1988, Darryl Strawberry was prominently featured in the book "Wait Till Next Year" by William Goldman and Mike Lupica, which examined life inside the Mets and provided an honest account of his importance and behavior.
1988: Home Run at Olympic Stadium
On Opening Day in 1988, Darryl Strawberry hit a massive home run that struck the roof of Olympic Stadium in Montreal. He also led the league in slugging percentage and OPS.
1989: Offensive Decline
In 1989, Darryl Strawberry's offensive numbers declined, with 29 home runs and 77 RBIs, but the Mets still came in a close second place.
November 8, 1990: Signed with the Dodgers
On November 8, 1990, Darryl Strawberry signed a five-year, $22.25 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1990: Offensive Rebound
In 1990, Darryl Strawberry rebounded with 37 home runs and 108 RBIs, finishing third in MVP voting.
1990: Popularity and Image Usage
Through 1990, Darryl Strawberry's image was used on action figures, posters and banners.
1990: Mets Team Success
Through 1990, Strawberry's Mets were one of the premier teams in the National League.
1991: Numbers Tailed Off
After 1991, Strawberry's numbers tailed off considerably; over the next two years he only played in 75 games.
1991: Home Run Comparisons
By the end of the 1991 season, Darryl Strawberry had 280 lifetime home runs at the age of 29, drawing comparisons to Hank Aaron.
1991: All-Star Game Appearance
In 1991, Darryl Strawberry made his eighth straight All-Star Game appearance.
1991: Big Brother of the Year
In 1991, Darryl Strawberry was named Big Brother of The Year.
December 9, 1994: Indicted on tax charges
On December 9, 1994, Darryl Strawberry was indicted on charges of income tax conspiracy and tax evasion for failing to pay $146,000 in income taxes from 1986-1990.
1994: Released by Dodgers and Signed with Giants
In 1994, Darryl Strawberry was released by the Dodgers in May and later signed with the San Francisco Giants.
February 10, 1995: Guilty plea for tax evasion
On February 10, 1995, Darryl Strawberry pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion as part of a plea deal, following charges for failing to report income taxes.
December 19, 1995: Charged with failing to make child support payments
On December 19, 1995, Darryl Strawberry was charged in California with failing to make required child support payments.
1995: Suspension and Signed with Yankees
In 1995, after a suspension for testing positive for cocaine, Darryl Strawberry signed with the New York Yankees for the stretch run.
May 3, 1996: Signed with Saint Paul Saints
On May 3, 1996, Darryl Strawberry signed with the Saint Paul Saints of the Northern League in an attempt to rehabilitate his career.
June 5, 1996: Child support deadline missed
After Darryl Strawberry missed a June 5, 1996, deadline to pay child support, a Los Angeles judge set a trial date, leading to an agreement where Strawberry would use his signing bonus to cover the debt.
July 4, 1996: Signed with the Yankees
On July 4, 1996, Darryl Strawberry signed with the New York Yankees.
August 6, 1996: Three-Home Run Game Against White Sox
On August 6, 1996, Darryl Strawberry had a three-home run game against the Chicago White Sox.
1996: ALCS Performance
In 1996, Darryl Strawberry had a big series against the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS, blasting three home runs with five RBIs and a .417 average in four games.
1996: World Series Championship with the Yankees
In 1996, Darryl Strawberry helped the New York Yankees to a World Series championship.
1997: Limited Playing Time
In 1997, Darryl Strawberry's playing time was limited by injuries, and he did not hit any home runs.
August 1998: Sued by attorney Robert Shapiro
In August 1998, Darryl Strawberry was sued by attorney Robert Shapiro for failing to pay $100,000 in legal fees dating back to 1994, when Shapiro represented him in a contract matter with the Dodgers.
October 1, 1998: Diagnosis of colon cancer
On October 1, 1998, Darryl Strawberry was diagnosed with colon cancer, leading to surgery to remove a tumor shortly after.
1998: World Series Win and Colon Cancer Diagnosis
In 1998, Darryl Strawberry hit 24 home runs, helping the Yankees win the World Series, but was diagnosed with colon cancer during the ALDS.
April 3, 1999: Arrested for soliciting sex and drug possession
On April 3, 1999, Darryl Strawberry was arrested in Tampa, Florida, for soliciting sex from a policewoman posing as a prostitute and for possessing a small amount of cocaine.
1999: Testimony on Benny Hinn's television program
In 1999, Darryl Strawberry and Tiny Lister gave their testimonies on evangelist Benny Hinn's television program, speaking about their faith.
1999: World Series Championship with the Yankees
In 1999, Darryl Strawberry helped lead the New York Yankees to another World Series championship.
1999: Comeback and Home Run
In 1999, Darryl Strawberry made a comeback from his cancer treatment, hitting a crucial 3-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the ALDS.
July 28, 2000: Cancer spread suggested by C.T. scan
On July 28, 2000, a C.T. scan indicated that Darryl Strawberry's cancer may have spread to his lymph nodes, requiring further medical intervention.
September 11, 2000: Arrested for DUI and probation violation
On September 11, 2000, in Tampa, Florida, Darryl Strawberry was arrested after blacking out while driving under the influence of painkillers, rear-ending another car, and attempting to flee. This led to changes in his probation.
October 25, 2000: Violation of house arrest and parole
On October 25, 2000, Darryl Strawberry violated his house arrest and parole by leaving a drug treatment center in Tampa to use drugs with a female friend.
November 3, 2000: Admission of lost will to live and chemotherapy cessation
On November 3, 2000, Darryl Strawberry told a judge in Tampa that he had lost his will to live and had stopped undergoing chemotherapy.
2000: Suspension and Career End
In 2000, Darryl Strawberry tested positive for cocaine and was suspended for the entire season, effectively ending his career.
April 2, 2001: Arrest for Disappearing from Drug Treatment Center
On April 2, 2001, Darryl Strawberry was arrested again for disappearing from his house arrest drug treatment center in Tampa.
March 12, 2002: Jailed for violating drug treatment center rules
On March 12, 2002, Darryl Strawberry was jailed again for violating several non-drug related rules at the drug treatment center where he was on probation in Ocala, Florida.
April 8, 2003: Released from prison
On April 8, 2003, Darryl Strawberry was released from prison after serving 11 months of a 22-month suspended sentence from 1999.
2004: Reference in "The Sweetest Swing in Baseball" play
In 2004, the play "The Sweetest Swing in Baseball" by Rebecca Gilman premiered, featuring a lead character who adopts Darryl Strawberry's personality and speech, referencing his playing skills.
September 2005: Charged with filing a false police report
In September 2005, Darryl Strawberry was charged with filing a false police report after claiming his SUV was stolen. He admitted to lying but was not arrested due to it being a misdemeanor.
October 2005: Wife files for divorce
In October 2005, Darryl Strawberry's wife, Charisse, filed for divorce, marking a change in his personal life.
2005: Instructor for New York Mets
In 2005, Darryl Strawberry worked as an instructor for the New York Mets.
August 19, 2006: Mets Reunion
On August 19, 2006, Darryl Strawberry attended the New York Mets' 1986 World Champion team reunion at Shea Stadium.
October 12, 2006: Ceremonial First Pitch
On October 12, 2006, Darryl Strawberry threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Shea Stadium before Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.
October 2006: Third marriage to Tracy Boulware
In October 2006, Darryl Strawberry married his third wife, Tracy Boulware, after meeting her at a drug recovery convention; the couple shared a strong Christian faith.
2006: Move to St. Peters, Missouri and Founding of The Darryl Strawberry Foundation
In 2006, Darryl Strawberry and his wife Tracy moved to St. Peters, Missouri, and together they founded "The Darryl Strawberry Foundation", an organization focused on supporting children with autism.
2007: Anchor on SNY
In 2007, Darryl Strawberry served as an anchor on the Mets pre- and post- game shows on SNY.
2007: Son drafted by the Phoenix Suns
In 2007, Darryl Strawberry's son, Darryl "D.J." Strawberry, Jr., was drafted by the Phoenix Suns, marking a significant achievement in his basketball career.
2008: Anchor on SNY
In 2008, Darryl Strawberry served as an anchor on the Mets pre- and post- game shows on SNY.
2008: Instructor for New York Mets
In 2008, Darryl Strawberry worked as an instructor for the New York Mets.
April 2009: Strawberry's Memoir Published
In April 2009, Darryl Strawberry's memoir, Straw: Finding My Way, co-written with John Strausbaugh, was published.
2009: Part-Time Analysis Role
In 2009, Darryl Strawberry settled into a part-time analysis role for the season on SNY.
August 2010: Restaurant Opening
In August 2010, Darryl Strawberry opened his own restaurant, Strawberry's Sports Grill, in Douglaston, Queens.
2010: Appearance on "The Apprentice"
In 2010, Darryl Strawberry appeared on NBC's "The Apprentice." He was fired in the third episode but returned for the finale. The show donated $25,000 to The Darryl Strawberry Foundation.
2010: Headliner of BGC Charity Day
In 2010, Darryl Strawberry was a headliner at the BGC Charity Day event at BGC Partners, demonstrating his commitment to charitable causes.
2010: Inducted into Mets Hall of Fame
In 2010, Darryl Strawberry was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
February 8, 2011: Appearance on Canadian documentary about depression
On February 8, 2011, Darryl Strawberry, along with Clara Hughes and Stephane Richer, appeared on a Canadian documentary by Michael Landsberg to discuss his battle with depression.
October 2012: Restaurant Closure
In October 2012, Darryl Strawberry's restaurant, Strawberry's Sports Grill, closed.
November 15, 2017: Appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon"
On November 15, 2017, Darryl Strawberry appeared on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" to promote his new book, "Don't Give Up on Me," which addresses addiction and recovery.
September 26, 2020: Prayer at Franklin Graham Prayer March
On September 26, 2020, Darryl Strawberry led a prayer during the 2020 Franklin Graham Prayer March.
August 24, 2023: Number Retirement Announcement
On August 24, 2023, the Mets announced plans to retire Darryl Strawberry's number 18 during the 2024 baseball season.
2023: Yankees Old Timer's Day Appearance
In 2023, Darryl Strawberry made a recent appearance at the New York Yankees' Old Timer's Day.
March 11, 2024: Suffered a heart attack
On or about March 11, 2024, Darryl Strawberry suffered a heart attack and underwent a stent procedure, recovering in a hospital in Lake St. Louis, Missouri.
June 1, 2024: Number Retired and Apology to Mets Fans
On June 1, 2024, Darryl Strawberry's number was retired, and he apologized to Mets fans for leaving to sign with the Dodgers.
November 7, 2025: Pardoned by President Donald Trump
On November 7, 2025, Darryl Strawberry received a pardon from President Donald Trump for his 1995 tax evasion conviction, for which he had previously served time.
2025: Club Record Surpassed
In 2025, Pete Alonso surpassed Darryl Strawberry's record of 252 home runs as a Met.
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