World Series wins and drug suspensions: The life and MLB career of Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry's life has been in the spotlight throughout his baseball career. He spent most of his time in MLB playing in either New York or Los Angeles, which has magnified his achievements and his pitfalls.

Strawberry's life has been filled with the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. He’s been a key part of World Series championship teams, but has also battled personal demons that won’t go away for good. Strawberry’s story is a roller coaster ride that every baseball fan should be familiar with.

Strawberry was born in Los Angeles in 1962, as one of five children. Later in life, Strawberry would comment that he didn’t have a great relationship with his father, although he did instill a love of sports. It made sense that the tall, lanky boy would gravitate towards basketball first, which is the sport he preferred as a youth.

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Playing high school sports helped Strawberry develop into the professional he would become. He starred at Crenshaw high school, and the discipline that the baseball program provided helped him focus on his potential. As a teenager, he got to play at Dodger Stadium for important playoff games. It turned out to be a sneak preview of what would await him.

The athletic profile Strawberry brought to a baseball diamond was generationally special. He had power, speed, hand-eye coordination, and was a talented outfielder as well. There was little doubt that he would star at the major league level, and the New York Mets selected him right out of high school with the first pick in the 1980 MLB Draft.

Strawberry would join the major league club in 1983, and promptly clubbed 26 home runs as a rookie. He also swiped 19 bases that season, and his versatility would be a hallmark of his game. He was named to the All-Star team for eight consecutive seasons between 1984-1991, and was as good as advertised.

Perhaps the height of Strawberry’s baseball career came in 1986, where he finished second in National League MVP voting, and was a force on the New York Mets championship team. However, he was part of a clubhouse that admitted to using drugs like cocaine throughout the decade, which was something Strawberry would have trouble avoiding for many years to come.

Despite his production on the field, the Mets curiously allowed Strawberry to hit free agency after the 1990 campaign. Many believe that they knew about problems off the field, but it allowed Strawberry to sign with the hometown Los Angeles Dodgers. While he had a strong first year there, he struggled in his final two seasons with the team.

It was during the early 1990s that Strawberry’s alcohol and drug use prevented him from maintaining his production as a star Major Leaguer. He was also involved in domestic violence incidents, and was caught on tax evasion charges. Things were spiraling out of control, and MLB suspended him for 2 months for testing positive for c o c a i n e in 1995.

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During this time, Strawberry made attempts to get clean, and would play baseball in independent leagues to maintain his conditioning. It was a stark fall from grace for the All-Star, who now played with teammates who had a very remote chance of playing in the big leagues. It was all part of the journey for Strawberry.

Strawberry would find his way back to New York in 1995, this time playing for the Yankees. He would be part of a dynastic run for the club until 1999, where they won three World Series. However, Strawberry was still a work in progress when it came to battling addiction. MLB suspended Strawberry for the entire 2000 season for repeated violations of the league’s drug policy throughout his career.

The final suspension ended Strawberry’s career. He would battle severe depression throughout the following year and spent years in rehabilitation centers. He met his third wife while in a rehab clinic, and the couple has worked together to give back to the community and help others battling personal demons. The Yankees have invited Strawberry to speak at spring training from time to time too.

There are many “what if” stories in sports, but Strawberry’s career is one of the most prevalent. He’s an eight-time All-Star, a World Series champion, Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby champion, yet it feels like he only scratched the surface of his full baseball potential. He might be one of the most talented players ever without steroid allegations to not make the Hall of Fame.

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Darryl Strawberry was invited by the Mets to throw out the first pitch before Game 3 of the National League Championship Series in October 2024. He threw the ball to fellow 1986 Mets legend Dwight Gooden.