Whatever Happened to Daryl Strawberry?

Whatever happened to Daryl Strawberry? You remember Strawberry,  the lanky, 200-pound right fielder, who helped the NY Mets win the World Series in 1986. In his debut year with them, 1983, he received the National League Rookie of the Year award. He ended his major league career with the NY Yankees in 1999, after helping them win the World Series in 1996 and 1999.  He played in eight All-Star games during his career. What team wouldn’t want him on their roster? “I was a big shot then,” he says. “I love that I was a great player, and won championships, but I was always more driven. I knew there had to be more than just putting on a uniform and hitting grand slams and making millions of dollars.”

Something gnawed inside. “I always believed there was a greater purpose to life,” he says, reflecting on his emptiness in the midst of his successful career.

When fame, money, and success didn’t fully fill Daryl’s life, he covered  that emptiness with alcohol and drugs. One of his long-time friends watched Daryl, and wondered. “He’s been a friend of mine almost 30 years,” says former Mets pitcher Bobby Ojeda. “You wonder how bad he would wind up before he gets it. Or if he would ever get it.” After crack houses, prison, two ex-wives, and six children he also acknowledges the  enormous pain and shame he brought his family.

What, if anything, would  turn Daryl’s life around? Where would he find that purpose? If you also sense an emptiness in your life, maybe what Daryl found could help you.

Watch for next week’s blog to find out what happened to Daryl Strawberry.

About Grose

Gordon Grose loves most to write, speak, and preach on the message of hope from the book of Job. Using drama, video, and PowerPoint, he has preached and presented this message of hope to churches around the country. Grose pastored three congregations 25 years, then served 12 years as a pastoral counselor in a Portland, Oregon counseling clinic. He now serves with Good Samaritan Counseling Services, Beaverton, OR. A graduate of Wheaton College (IL), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Brandeis University, and Boston University, he comes from a rich and varied background in theological and counseling training. In 2015, Gordon published Tragedy Transformed: How Job's Recovery Can Provide Hope For Yours, a book about turning to Job for hope after tragedy. If you have experienced life challenges or personal tragedy, visit his Transforming Tragedy (gordongrose.com) blog to learn more. TragedyTransformed.com provides a sample of Gordon's speaking as well as an opportunity to purchase copies of his book.
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