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Darryl Strawberry

Darryl Strawberry
Inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame, 2010
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 11 of 1218 players
Strawberry
Darryl Eugene Strawberry
Born: March 12, 1962 at Los Angeles, Cal.
Throws: Left Bats: Left
Height: 6.05 Weight: 190

Darryl Strawberry has been the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup 82 times, most recently on March 12, 2024.

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First Mets game: May 6, 1983
Last Mets game: September 27, 1990

Share your memories of Darryl Strawberry

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Razz
If we are lucky, people will remember him as a Yankee.

Robert Ford
Say what you will about Strawberry, he was one of the greatest power hitters in Mets history and, if he hadn't hurt himself with drug and alcohol, he would have been one of the greatest ever.

I will always have fond memories of Straw. He was my favorite player growing up. My first Mets game was in April, 1985 vs. the Reds. Rookie Tom Browning and Ed Lynch both pitched well and the game was scoreless into the 9th. John Franco came on to pitch for the Reds. Darryl Strawberry homered to win the game and I was a Mets fan for life.

Robin Brass
I remember a game in 88 against the Expos where Darryl was sitting out due to a stomach virus but was available for pinch hitting. Pascal Perez was pitching for the Expos and the Mets were behind by like one run. So Davey Johnson sent Darryl up to face Perez. Perez thought he was being cute (even though he was A NUT) by throwing "Hesitation" pitches to Straw (I swear I never saw ANYTHING like it). Strike one, Straw's getting mad. Strike two, Straw's getting pissed. Third pitch and Darryl hit a TOWERING homer to tie the game (or there was a man on base and we went ahead?? I don't remember except that the Mets WON the game). It was the best game I ever personally saw!! It's a shame Straw ruined his career. He would have been a Hall of famer!

BluesDuke
The Darryl Strawberry I want to remember is the Darryl Strawberry who stepped up in the eighth inning in Game 7, 1986 World Series, and hit that ICBM shot of a home run over the right field fence. Anyone who says (and many did, exposing themselves as asses) it was meaningless has never tried to hold a 6-5 lead against a team which was just as good at a late-inning revival that season as were the Mets. Strawberry bought the insurance policy with that homer, and there were people idiotic enough to say (and publish) that it was a meaningless shot.

Shem
I am in no way condoning Straw's addiction, but I will be forever grateful for the late inning heroics that thrilled me as a kid. He gave a dream that led me all the way to the Little League World Series, and I will always look back fondly on those warm summer evenings listening to the game on that old clock radio back home in NY.

Won Doney
When I was little, I thought of Darryl Strawberry as a great hitter. I didn't have a reason to think anything else of him. Now he's famous for his drug problem. If he didn't have the drug problem, he could have gone on to be a person people remembered for good things. He hit 30 or so home runs each season in the 1980's. If he didn't get involved with drugs, he could have gone on to more.

I don't hate Darryl Starwberry. I feel sorry for him.

Richard Kissel
March 29, 2001
Darryl had become something of a folk hero before his more recent problems (I'm writing this in 2001).

Darryl stands for wasted potential. He stands as a good example to my children when I want to point out the dangers of taking drugs. This guy was on his way the Hall of Fame and got sidetracked by drugs. It's a shame but he isn't an innocent.

I applauded his comeback with the Yankees. I also remember, though, that he was an absolute jerk with the Mets--especially at the end. Someone mentioned that the last time he hit the cut-off man was when he smacked Keith Hernandez after the team's picture was taken one Spring Training.

Coach HoJo 20
April 1, 2001
THE FUGITIVE 2: Staring Darryl Strawberry.

This guy is freaking NUTS. Talk about how the mighty have fallen. He is now a fugitive. It wont be long before Tommy Lee Jones is checking every out house, in house and dog house in the Tampa Bay area. The question is will Strawberry try to swim to Cuba to play Fidel Castro's baseball league. On a side note it is rumored that Fidel and Steinbrenner are related. This is no surprise because they are both evil and they are both dictators.

Logan Swanson
April 22, 2001
In a TV interview, Tom Lasorda was asked if he ever called recently departed Dodger Strawberry a dog. Tommy's answer went something like this:

"I never called Strawberry a dog. At least a dog runs for the ball".

Mr. Sparkle
April 25, 2001
There's only one word to describe this guy--Pathetic. He was an awesome talent with a bad attitude you always put up with while he was a Met. He wanted to go back to Crenshaw and so he took the Dodgers for a ride. Never came close to putting up the numbers he had with the Mets anywhere else. If he was in his prime in the expansion age of the late 90's to now you gotta think he could have hit 50 dingers at some point. You always stopped what you were doing to see him hit.

Now it seems like he doesn't care if he lives or dies going from crack house to whore house like they were going out of style. He's the most pathetic guy I can think of in all of baseball.

Coach HoJo 20
May 18, 2001
Back to rehab for Darryl, This is another reason why we need reform in our justice system. If Darryl wasn't a famous baseball player he would have been in prison the first time he was caught with drugs.

DB
June 19, 2001
When I think of straw I try to think of his 8 years with the Mets. They can stack up against anybody's eight years in Mets history.

Sujan Vasavada
August 17, 2001
Say what you will about Darryl ruining his career with drugs, and everything, but true Mets fans will remember him as the guy who hit more home runs, and more RBIs than any other Met (until, and unless Piazza breaks the records). For 8 seasons he averaged 30 + homers, and 90 + RBIs in the pre-juiceball era. It's sad that there were a bunch of ingrates out there who never appreciated Darryl, and who still don't.

Darryl's # should be retired. I can't think of any other organization out there who would even have doubts about retiring the number of the guy who hit the most HRs, and RBIs in their franchise's history.

Cappy
August 18, 2001
I really get a kick out of all the self-rightous know- it-alls who have taken the time to castgate Darryl for HAVING A DISEASE! I'm SURE he just woke up one day and decided to become a helpless addict so he could end up broke and develop cancer. Gee, thats what I'd do! The guy was the best all-around talent ever to wear a Mets uniform. And yes, he should be an example to show to kids how NOT to live your life, but unless you've walked in his shoes, leave the man alone. The funny thing is if somehow a scientest were to develop a time machine and send the 1986 Darryl to the Mets this year, these narrow-minded pinheads, who somehow take his slide personally, would be the ones cheering the loudest.

Mike Philips
December 14, 2001
Let me just tell you this, I calculated a graph over how old you are to the number of home runs you have and Darryl was above the pace of aaron and ruth, its a shame to see that as a met fan

Scrappy
December 25, 2001
I once made a pizza for Daryl Strawberry. Pepperoni and sausage. Thin crust. I have more respect for that pizza than I have for Daryl himself.

Charles
February 12, 2002
I had not had a "favorite Met" since Cleon Jones until Strawberry--who I admiringly called StrawBOOM!--arrived in 1983. I always wondered who did Darryl have as an older "voice of reason" mentor-type of person in his life. Consider this: not close to his pops, his moms dies of cancer at a relatively young age. And don't forget, he's a young man making LOADS of money, so you've gotta figure that in that equation lies a feeling that he's conquered life.

Yet, no one will EVER convince me that Darryl did not suffer from some form of clinical depression--PERIOD!

I only wish one of the former greats of the game had taken him under his wing. I always wish that I personally had the chance to get to Darryl's ear after the 1989 season when he hit .225, and bring up the example of Willie McCovey's poor season in 1964--when "Stretch's" numbers were 18 HRs, 64 RBIs, with a .218 average. I'd would've said to Darryl, "Look how McCovey rebounded from that off-year. He went on to continue his Hall of Fame career; surely, you could do the same." But alas, so much for my career as a "crack psychologist."

Though he let HIMSELF down eventually, my "good" memories of StrawBOOM! will always far outweigh my "bad" ones. When "No. 18" was in the game, I always thought my Mets had a chance to win! And many times, with one swing of his bat--they did!

Straw, if there's ANY chance that you read this--God bless you, and get well. As much emotion as you may see here--in our hearts, we DO want to see you rebound and come back!

Longo
February 16, 2002
What can you say about Darryl? I get sick to my stomach when I hear his name. A role model that cannot handle the pressure and turns to drugs. Sorry poor excuse. In my eyes "The Straw" had it all. He deserves the pain he goes thru..... just like the pain he put his fans thru that looked up to him.

Eli (ROSY)
February 18, 2002
I used to like Strawberry alot when I was yonger. Even with the Yankees you had to love Staw. But ever since his last incident that will probably keep him out of baseball forever I rever since really lost respect for Darryl.

Coach HoJo 20
February 21, 2002
(From MSGNETWORK.COM)

The New York Yankees owner said Tuesday the troubled former outfielder will be offered a job as a player development coach after completing court-mandated drug treatment.

“He will join me,” Steinbrenner said. “He will come with us. He knows he has a place to go.”

Strawberry was sentenced May 18 to two years’ house arrest at a rural Florida drug treatment center.

Steinbrenner has been monitoring the progress of the eight-time All-Star, and said he deserves another opportunity.

“I’ll take that chance,” Steinbrenner said. “You got reach out and help.”

The position likely would involve working with minor league players at the Yankees’ complex in Florida.

I wonder if one of the requirements needed to work for the YES is a track record of rampant drug abuse? If so Darryl should have a promising future in the YES organization. Maybe if Darryl Overdoses a few more times Steinbrenner will promote him to GM! Brian Cashman watch your back!

Patrick Ryan
April 19, 2002
When I watched Darryl take BP it was as if it was the only event in the world. His swing had my full attention. I would watch and think of nothing. It was as if I was in a trance. Darryl had that power over people. Sure there are the Barry Bonds and Sosas and McGwires, but NONE of them could capture a crowd's attention in BP the way Darryl could.

I try not to think of his problems and just think of him during BP. Thats where he belonged. Just him and his bat nothing else. It wasn't a game, there was no pressure. It was just him.

DREWHALL
May 1, 2002
I know he's had lots of problems -but I can still remember waiting with my dad through a two hour rain delay at Shea just to watch him bat.

Larry Burns
May 28, 2002
If spousal abuse, drug abuse, cancer, convicted felony and fugitive from the law are "some problems" then Dennis Rodman has "a tattoo." Are you Strawberry apologists for real? Here is a guy with Hall of Fame talent. NO one, and I mean NO one did not stop and watch him bat, who through all fault of his own threw it away over drugs and violence. If I did not pity him, I would hate him. The tragedy of potential unfulfilled is criminal. Even with these enormous faults, Darryl gave us his share of great Met moments. His home run in Game 7 iced the World Series. I only wished for his and our sakes he gave us more memories---a true tragedy.

brett
October 3, 2002
Be sure to visit the Darryl Strawberry webpage at http://www.darrylstrawberry.org. It was just updated (10/02/02) and includes info on the SportsCentury which just aired in September on ESPN Classic, as well as info on Darryl Jr, who just signed a college basketball contract with Maryland.

Markus
November 7, 2002
During spring training in 1988, Darryl Strawberry and Keith Hernandez got into fisticuffs during the team photo session, due to Hernandez busting on Strawberry for being late. Met historians reflected that this was the first time in over a year that Strawberry managed to hit his cut-off man.

Bob R.
January 8, 2003
I was at Shea when Darryl made his first appearance in a Mets uniform after being called up from the minors. He hit a long foul ball that was more exciting than anything else that happened in the game. Like Dwight Gooden, Darryl had tremendous talent but his personal demons kept him from making the Hall of Fame. I hope he conquers his battles with cancer and drugs. Thanks for some of the most exciting moments in Mets history, Darryl.

nick
April 10, 2003
Bottom Line: Straw was the best position player the Mets ever had. Name any other player the Mets have had that required you to be paying full attention to each and every at bat! He was the perfect compliment to Gooden.

Yes they robbed themselves of their God-given talents by getting in trouble off the field...but on the field they gave us plenty of good memories growing up. Could have been worse, you could have been rooting for Dan Pasqua at the time. Read "High & Tight."

Jim Snedeker
May 2, 2003
Ah, the name brings back memories of simpler, fun times... along with the likes of Mookie, Wally, and Hubie... when Davey took the helm, he knew the young talent he had to work with, and predicted the Mets were going to roll over everyone after years of unabashed futility (Foli, Nino, Mike Howard, aka the "Come Back Kids"). And they did.

Since I haven't heard anything about him for a few months, I'm hoping that Darryl may finally be getting "it". I miss his sweet swing.

Steven Gallanter
July 22, 2003
What is most offensive about Darryl Strawberry is that he punched his wife on 1 occasion and pulled a gun on her on another occasion. Drugs and alcohol are human weaknesses that one must take responsibility for. However, the desire for instant happiness is all too human and can be justified as understandable. The desire to inflict physical pain on someone who is weaker can not be justified as understandable.

Do I look down on Darryl Strawberry because of his substance abuse? A little. Do I look down on Darryl Strawberry because he abuses his wife? Completely.

Mitch45
September 3, 2003
He was the only Met who made me drop whatever I was doing to watch him at the plate. Awesome talent, 10 cent head.

Joseph Kohler
January 25, 2004
I was a big Straw fan, but my girlfriend/Wife/Ex-Wife was a HUGE fan, thought he was "Cute." So in '87 we went to spring training to see the Mets. I believe Straw's Birthday was days away and my girlfriend had printed up this "Happy Birthday" poster/banner thing that she wanted to give to him. "Just great," I thought. Well we went to Clearwater to see them play the Phils and lo and behold there is Darryl doing an interview about 30' from us and I thought this was our chance, so I call the ball boy over and say, "Can you give this to Darryl?" He takes it and brings it to him. We were ecstatic. Then Darryl signs it and the ball boy brings it back to us, We said, "No, it's for Darryl to keep!" Just then they started to play "Happy Birthday" on the PA for him. It would have been a nice piece of memorabilia, but, hey, that was not the intention.

LenDog
January 27, 2004
I love Darryl. He is a flawed human being who has done many bad things. But let he who is without...etc. etc.

The guy gave us many thrills and won many games with big HRs. He was billed as 'savior' at a young age and had to endure NYC pressure with an overly-sensitive personality and a rough childhood. How would you have done in his shoes?

Do not mistake this as an excuse for wife-beating. That's horrific and inexecusable.

But substance abuse is a fairly common human pitfall. Darryl was young, flawed, and famous. Most young and flawed people are not famous and don't have to see their mistakes recounted in the NY Post.

Thanks for the memories, Darryl. Take it one day at a time.

George from Manhattan
February 2, 2004
Darryl's potential as a ballplayer is underscored by the amazing stats this guy put up DESPITE his off-field troubles and in a much shorter time frame.

Career Stats: .259 AVG. - 335 HR - 1000 RBI - 221 SB in 1,583 games played.

Compared against some of the other leading outfielders of his time (some of whom now being considered candidates for the HOF).

Andre Dawson: .279 AVG - 438 HR - 1591 RBI (in 2627 GP)
Dale Murphy: .265 AVG - 398 HR - 1266 RBI (in 2180 GP)
Tim Raines: .294 AVG. - 170 HR - 980 RBI (in 2502 GP)
Eric Davis: .269 AVG. - 282 HR - 934 RBI (in 1626 GP)
Willie McGee: .295 AVG. - 79 HR - 856 RBI (in 2201 GP)
Dave Winfield: .283 AVG. - 465 HR - 1833 RBI (in 2973 GP)

Even more, his individual accolades were impressive: 8 All-Star games, 2 Silver Sluggers, and 1 Rookie of the Year. 1-time 30-30 club member and 1-time NL HR leader.

Take away his terrible afflictions and weaknesses, assume he continued to play (deteriorating with age), and it is very likely that he would have put up near HOF statistics.

Jonathan Stern
February 12, 2005
All-Amazin' Night at Shea Stadium, 2002, was a demoralizing experience. Forty years of Mets baseball and that's our all-time team? Well, at least we're 2 for 4 in World Series play.

But in an evening full of embarassments, a potentially inspiring moment occurred when Darryl Strawberry, Jr. accepted his father's All-Amazin' trophy for him. There was no getting around it. Darryl belonged on that team. Given that he was in jail, his son came in his place. I was all set to join the Shea fans in a warm ovation.

But before I could even stand up, the Diamondvision scoreboard suddenly displayed Darryl in his jail cell, a blue computer background covering his immediate surroundings. Bleary-eyed, beaten and broken, there he was thanking us fans for all our support and assuring us all, once again, that he was going to turn his life around.

I have never been more repulsed in all my years as a sports fan. In truth, it was one of the most horrifying things I have ever seen, period. The Mets really should not have shown Darryl in his cell. Surely they could have avoided doing it. The man had lost so much of his dignity already. Even if he had insisted, they should have said no to him. For his own sake.

What a terrible, terrible tragedy. I cannot feel too sorry for him, but I pity Strawberry so much that I sometimes cross the line into genuine sympathy. If I feel somewhat less that way about Dwight Gooden, it is only because he was spared the ridicule and abuse that the fans (myself included) and the media regularly rained on his teammate. Gooden was no less disgraceful yet he was left alone, probably because he was less outspoken and thus was believed by many to be a good guy. Was there an element of racism there? In the end, the story of those two fallen stars represents the sorriest part of the Mets' overall legacy. The team failed them, the media failed them, we fans failed them, and, most importantly, they failed themselves.

eli376
February 14, 2005
Darryl was my favorite ballplayer as a kid growing up in the 80s, and even though I've come to respect a lot of other ballplayers since then, nobody has ever meant the same to me as Darryl did. I think his career path was the sad product of too much being given to (and too much pressure being placed upon) a kid who was too young and immature to handle it all. While he's certainly responsible for his own actions and shortcomings, I think people are way too quick to judge his failures (on and off the field) and mislabel them as character faults -- he's certainly not the first young star to make poor choices under the spotlight.

In any event, my favorite memory of Darryl was a game- winning missile home run he hit in the bottom of the 9th or 10th against Lee Smith (then pitching for the Cardinals) circa mid-season 1990. Jon Miller and Joe Morgan were calling the game on ESPN, and Miller referred to it as perhaps the hardest hit ball he'd ever seen... it almost hit the scoreboard on a stringline. Darryl had more natural power (and a prettier natural power stroke) than anybody I've ever seen.

I'm glad to see he's back with the Mets as a spring- training instructor this spring. I hope he makes the best of the opportunity.

Gary
March 7, 2005
I always said that if you combined Dykstra's drive with Strawberry's talent, you would have had an incredible player. Darryl could have been so much better than he was. Still ticked off that he took a swing at Keith. Hernandez always tried to help him out.

Jersey Jerry
July 11, 2005
Let me start by saying this; I hated Darryl Strawberry back when he broke in. Hated him through his tenure with the Mets. Hated him when he pushed the envelope to be traded to L.A. Finally DEFINITELY hated him when he was on the Yankees.

Never saw anyone with as much talent who totally wasted it, actually throw Gooden in that last part as well.

Darryl was to me useless after he hurt his thumb back in I believe 1985. He was a crybaby, a drug abuser, and a slacker. Where guys like Mookie, Lenny, Backman, Hernandez, and Carter busted it every single game, here was Darryl wasting his talent. Got more chances than most players did. If the game was meaningless here comes Darryl with a moon shot off some poor slob. But if it meant something like against the Cubs, Pirates, Cardinals, Dodgers, here comes Darryl okey doking after a hit, or lumbering down to first base not knowing if there is going to be an errant throw.

What an incredible waste of talent. Darryl, my boy you really could've been great.

coach kelley
November 17, 2005
I saw Strawberry play for the Jackson Mets one night in Tulsa, and it was the night a young Oklahoma boy became a Mets fan. He hit one out to right that crossed the street behind the ballpark (four lanes with a median and turning lane) and landed on top of a building on the other side of the road. I never saw a ball hit that far (in person) before or since.

I lived in Brooklyn in 1990 when the Mets played the Reds on a June day when they both were in first place. I snapped a picture of Straw and Eric Davis that day during BP; it is one of my favorite pics. (Incidently, Davis jacked one that hit off the facade of the upper deck down the left field line and ricocheted back the field as hard as it went out.)

Mr. Sparkle
April 28, 2006
Now that Darryl is back in the Mets family as a spring training coach, and he appears to at least have somewhat of a clue as to how to keep his life from falling apart, maybe it's time to elect Darryl into the Mets Hall of Fame just in time for the 20th anniversary of 1986. I always felt he was a more pathetic character than Gooden since you kinda expected Darryl to fall apart them way he did. I don't think anyone was surprised. And now he seems to be able to hold it together and not screw up too much. Doc on the other hand no one ever expected his downfall and he doesn't get any better. He just gets worse. Doc needs to get his life clean and to stay away from the Yankees before he can get into the Mets Hall of Fame. But for Darryl, I think it's time to enshrine him.

Deb H
December 22, 2006
I became a fan of Darryl's in 85 when I was just amazed watching him. Then in '86 when he was on the championship team he was even more awesome. I think that even though he had some dreadful times over the past years, some at his own hand and some at the hand of God, he deserves the recognition for what he did in those glorious years. I can remember just getting so excited when he would step up to the plate when they needed just that one run to go ahead and Darryl had that sweet swing that just sent it out of the park. And when he hit the clock at Bush Stadium it was great. I so wish he had not gone down the road he did but we all make mistakes. I am still a fan and always will be. I hope that he finally staightened out his life and stays healthy. It seems he is finally trying. It sure was great to see him and the crowd's reaaction to him at the celebration at Shea in August. www.strawberrysfieldforever.com

J-murph
December 22, 2006
Straw was my hero growing up. He was the cleanup hitter on my favorite team and in my eyes he could do no wrong. June 19, 1988 was my sixth birthday and the first Mets game I ever attended in person. David Cone brought a no-hitter into the 8th inning that day, however, I was more excited that Straw hit a homer.

Along with the playoff run, my favorite part of the 2006 season was the 20 year celebration of the '86 team. Seeing all the guy I watched as a kid, come out to take a curtain call 20 years later, was awesome.

Mex was our captain, Kid is the Hall of famer, but they still brought Strawberry out last. Shea went nuts when he made his way through the seats. That was my guy... that was our guy.

Through all the drug problems, prison, and sickness, Straw was fanialy back home and looking so well. I was so proud of him... we were so proud of him.

No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes, however, Darryl has seemingly picked himself up, mended ralationships and made himself a better person. That is the type of person we can all look up to. Here's to hoping he doesn't let us down again.

Catfish Tortuga
September 23, 2007
September 1983. Night game. Shea Stadium. George Foster spanks homer over right-center field fence. Place goes nuts cheering for the old geezer. Next batter up - Daryl Strawberry. First pitch - the baseball ten miles into the black night sky, out over the left-center field fence, out over the bullpen...it's still flying.

Shea Stadium shaking like a billion elephants stampeding, cheering so loud it swallowed me up.

Gets by Buckner
September 23, 2007
It still ticks me off when I see Darryl in a Yankee uniform and the fact that he won Championships with them. He was such an exciting player and I remember his 1983 debut all the way to when he left for the Dodgers. He had such a great swing. I'll never forget his home run in September 1985 in St. Louis. I wish he was a Met for life but his drug abuse was a downfall for him. Who knows? Maybe we would have had more World Series championships in the 90's?

Chris
March 6, 2008
So good to see Darryl back in a Mets uniform in Port St. Lucie priming our 2008 Mets.

Darryl has an incredible story start to finish, rose and fell like all the greats do and now has put a very nice life together. It all shows it's never too late to change and give back.

Ah, that 86 World Series team... the best season of baseball from opening day to the World Series in my life time. God how this game has changed. Thanks for all the real memories and honest home runs Darryl.

Mitch45
March 28, 2010
As great as Straw was, he never lived up to his potential. When he came to the plate, everyone stopped what they were doing to watch. That physique, that sweet left handed swing - it seemed that every time he came up, a 500 foot homer was in the offing.

Darryl should have been better than he was. A classic case of a kid who needed guidance.

Hot Foot
May 18, 2022
One day, if I ever have grandkids, they might ask me, "Hot Foot, what was life like when you were a kid?"

And I would respond with, "It was great. The Mets had this guy, Darryl Strawberry, and he was the best baseball player ever, at least while I was a kid. And not only did he put up big numbers, he was a badass off the field. His friend and teammate Lenny Dykstra called him, 'Soul Pole'. And even though he was married, guess what? He once boinked a female Mets fan in the clubhouse during a game! I didn't learn this until I was a big boy, but still, even when I became a Mets fan I knew Darryl had it in him, and that's why he was my favorite from the start. He was the best player on the team: hitting, fielding, stealing bases, beaver shooting; he did it all.

What's 'beaver shooting'? Oh, that's when players pick out women in the stadium that they want to meet after the game, and then somehow, with a combination of eye contact and some work on behalf of a clubhouse attendant, the player eventually meets his favorite female fan. It usually happens on the road, but on at least one occasion, Darryl did it at Shea, and he didn't even wait until the game was over!

Also, he hit a home run in Game 7 of the 1986 World Series. That game was the perfect ending to the 1986 season and might be one of the happiest days of my life. Top five easy.

The year after, Darryl missed a couple of huge games when he faked having the flu and recorded a rap song in Midtown Manhattan when he was supposed to be home in bed. There was even video recorded in the studio, and it ended up on the 6:30 pm news; the one with Len Berman. Was I surprised Darryl did that? No! His teammates made a big stink about it, but that's only because it showed how hopeless they were without him.

Was the rap song good? No. Not at all, but it was back in the '80s so you can say Darryl was a rap pioneer. He was the best baseball player in the history of baseball until he left NY, and then everything changed. Things got a lot harder and less enjoyable for him after 1990, and guess what, the same is true for me. My family left New Jersey in 1990, and that was Darryl's last year with the Mets. Things got more difficult for both of us when we got older and went past our prime years. But that's another story for when you kids get older.

The best I can say is that things are better now for Darryl and me, and I feel lucky that I was able to see such a great baseball player when I was a kid."

Anthony L. Gonzalez
January 24, 2023
Whether you liked him or not, he always played on contending, championship, and winning teams from 1984-1999.

Darryl was a clutch player that helped his team win when he was in the lineup. Winning games is more important than what his career numbers could have been.

Going to Shea Stadium in the 1980s was an unbelievable experience during the time he played and it is the only time the Mets were more significant than the Yankees when it came to NY Sports.

John R.
April 26, 2023
Back in '80 to '82 Darryl was playing for the Jackson Mets, I was 10 or 12 years old and able to go see several games during his last last few seasons in the minors. A neighbor of mine (Mike) had box seats and would often take a neighborhood kid or two to the games. Mike and Darryl were on friendly terms. One game Darryl broke his bat trying to knock the hide off a pitch. Mike got him to sign the bat for me. I had that and a dozen or so autographs stored away for years in my closet. 10 years later Darryl's name was in the news a lot and I remember the bat. Looked for it for several hours before I found out that my mother tossed it out years ago. She didn't know why I was keeping an old broken bat. I let her know that she threw a semester or two of college for me away. Got over it a couple of weeks but would remind her about it every once in a while for kicks.








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