Former Major League Baseball star Darryl Strawberry recently expressed heartfelt gratitude toward former President Donald Trump during a church sermon in Oklahoma, following Trump’s pardon of Strawberry earlier this month. The pardon wiped away previous legal troubles related to tax evasion and drug charges, marking a significant moment in Strawberry’s journey of redemption and faith.
Strawberry was warmly received by a congregation of over 400 people at Sheridan Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he spoke about how the pardon symbolized a new chapter in his life. The event was hosted by Jackson Lahmeyer, founder of Pastors for Trump, an organization that supports the former president. During the sermon, Strawberry emphasized the role of his Christian faith in his transformation, crediting God for “setting him free” through the pardon granted by Trump. “Other presidents had opportunities, but they didn’t do it,” Strawberry remarked, highlighting the rarity and importance of the pardon.
Darryl Strawberry’s baseball career was marked by both exceptional talent and personal struggles. Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1980 MLB Draft, he made his major league debut at age 21 in 1983. Strawberry spent the first part of his career with the New York Mets, playing for them until 1990, and later joined the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and New York Yankees. Over his career, he earned three World Series titles, hit 335 home runs, and maintained a batting average of .259 with an impressive .862 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
Despite his on-field success, Strawberry’s life was marred by legal, health, and personal issues, including drug and alcohol abuse. In 2002, he served 11 months in a Florida prison for violating probation. His struggles were well-publicized, but over time, Strawberry turned to his Christian faith as a source of strength, helping him maintain sobriety for over twenty years. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “All glory to God because he found me in a pit and put me in a pulpit.” He also humorously noted that “the devil should have killed me when he had a chance,” underlining the severity of his past challenges and the depth of his recovery.
The pardon came as a surprise to Strawberry. He recounted that he first heard from Trump on November 6, when the former president announced his intention to pardon him. The two had become acquainted years earlier during their time together on the reality TV show “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2010. Their conversations often revolved around Strawberry’s baseball career in the 1980s, with Trump expressing admiration for his skills and joking about his own inability to hit a baseball. Strawberry joked back, “Well, the way you hit a golf ball, you can hit a baseball.”
The pardon specifically addressed Strawberry’s 1999 guilty plea for tax evasion, which stemmed from his failure to report $350,000 in income earned through autographs, personal appearances, and memorabilia sales. Trump acknowledged Strawberry’s past mistakes but emphasized his current positive impact, stating, “Today, the way your life is and what you’re doing, your faith and helping people and being sober, I’m giving you a full pardon. You’re going to be clean. I’m wiping everything out.”
Strawberry’s story has often been intertwined with that of fellow Mets star Doc Gooden, another player whose immense talent was overshadowed by struggles with substance abuse. While Strawberry was able to turn his life around earlier, Gooden has also made significant progress in recent years, staying on the path of recovery. The two remained connected through their shared history and appeared together during the 2024 National League Championship Series between the Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Their journey was also the focus of ESPN’s acclaimed “30 for 30” documentary, “Doc and Darryl,” which chronicled their parallel careers and personal battles.
In recognition of their contributions to the team and the sport, both Strawberry’s and Gooden’s jersey numbers were retired by the New York Mets last season, a testament to their enduring legacies despite the hardships they faced.
Strawberry’s public acknowledgment of his pardon and faith during the church sermon serves as a powerful example of personal redemption and the impact of forgiveness. His story resonates not only with sports fans but also with anyone who has faced adversity and sought a second chance.
This news has been covered by Fox News’ Ryan Morik and