Baseball Great Receives Presidential Pardon
Former US President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon to Darryl Strawberry, the legendary New York Mets outfielder, absolving him of past convictions for tax evasion and drug-related charges. The decision was announced by the White House, with officials highlighting Strawberry's post-baseball life, his long-term sobriety, and his dedication to Christian ministry work as key reasons for the clemency.
From Baseball Stardom to Legal Troubles
Darryl Strawberry was one of baseball's most formidable players during the 1980s. Debuting in 1983, he was named the National League Rookie of the Year and went on to become an eight-time All-Star. Over his 17-season career, primarily with the Mets, he amassed 335 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, and 221 stolen bases. He was a key member of the 1986 World Series-winning Mets team and later won three more championships with the New York Yankees in 1996, 1998, and 1999.
However, his life off the field was marred by significant challenges. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to a felony count of tax evasion for failing to report approximately $350,000 in income from autograph signings and memorabilia sales. As part of his sentence, he agreed to pay back more than $430,000.
His struggles continued, and in 1999 he was suspended from baseball and given probation after a no-contest plea to charges of cocaine possession and soliciting a prostitute. He publicly battled depression and repeatedly violated his probation, leading to an 11-month prison sentence in a Florida state prison from which he was released in 2003.
A New Chapter and an Unexpected Call
The White House official stated that Strawberry had not only served his time and repaid his taxes but had also turned his life around. He has been sober for more than a decade, found faith in Christianity, and now operates an active recovery centre.
Strawberry himself described the moment he received the news on Instagram. He recounted being at home caring for his wife when his phone rang persistently. Upon answering, he was told he had a call from the President of the United States.
“President Trump spoke warmly about my baseball days in NYC, praising me as one the greatest player of the ’80s and celebrating the Mets,” Strawberry wrote. “Then, he told me he was granting me a full pardon from my past.” He expressed being “overwhelmed with gratitude” and emphasised that the act was about a man caring for a friend, not politics.
This pardon adds Strawberry to a list of celebrities and political allies who have received clemency from Trump. The presidential pardon power does not erase a criminal record but is considered an act of mercy. For Strawberry, it represents a final step towards closing a difficult chapter, which has also seen him survive colon cancer in 1998 and suffer a heart attack in March 2024, just before his 62nd birthday.
