NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Darryl Strawberry Posts Heartfelt Message of Thanks to President Donald Trump for pardoning the eight-time MLB All-Star.
New York Mets Legend was pardoned, the White House announced Friday, in part because he turned to faith and remained sober after turning his life around from drug and alcohol abuse that led to arrests and suspensions.
“Thank you, President @realdonaldtrump, for my complete forgiveness and for bringing closure to this part of my life, allowing me to be truly free and clean from my entire past,” Strawberry. wrote on Instagramas well as three photographs of them together.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS RESOURCES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Former New York Mets player Darryl Strawberry throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Citi Field on July 26, 2022 in New York. (Adam Hanger/Getty Images)
“Yesterday at 4:37 pm I was caring for my wife while she was recovering from surgery when my phone kept ringing incessantly. Half asleep, I looked back and saw a call from Washington. Curious, I answered, and to my amazement, the woman on the line said, “Darryl Strawberry, this is the President of the United States, Donald Trump.” I put it on speaker with my wife nearby, and President Trump spoke warmly about my baseball days in New York, praising me as one of the greatest players of the '80s and praising the Mets. He then told me that he would grant me complete forgiveness for my past. My wife captured the moment on video, and I was filled with gratitude—thanking God for freeing me from my past and helping me become a better man, husband, and father. This experience strengthened my faith and commitment to work for His Kingdom as a true follower of Jesus Christ.
“This has nothing to do with politics – this is about a man, President Trump, who cares deeply about a friend. God used him as a vessel to set me free forever! I'm free, I'm free; I’m so humbled and grateful.”
The final years of Strawberry's career were riddled with legal troubles, including the 1999 arrest of a member of the New York Yankees for soliciting sex from a police officer posing as a prostitute. This resulted in a 140-day suspension and 21 months of probation, as well as community service.
Darryl Strawberry, Donald Trump and a guest attend the Milwaukee Bucks vs. New York Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2012 in New York City. (James Devaney/WireImage)
TRUMP PARDONS FORMER MLB STAR DARRYL STROBBERRY AFTER FAITH AND SOBRIETY
The following year, he tested positive for cocaine, resulting in a suspension for the entire 2000 season, effectively ending his career. He served 11 months in prison from 2002 to 2003 for violating drug rules at a treatment center. Strawberry also admitted to having sex between innings of his games.
After the 1994 season, he was charged with tax evasion. He was suspended at the start of the 1995 season for cocaine and admitted to having a substance abuse problem.
The eight-time All-Star met his current wife at a drug addiction convention.
Ironically, Strawberry appeared on Trump's Celebrity Apprentice in 2010.
During his nine best years, in which he was named National League Rookie of the Year eight times and an All-Star, Strawberry was .263 hitter with a .875 OPS, averaging 36 home runs and 108 RBIs over 162 games.
Former New York Mets player Darryl Strawberry walks down the field before Game 3 of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets at Citi Field in New York, New York on October 16, 2024. (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Strawberry won the World Series with the Mets in 1986 and with the Yankees in 1996, 1998 and 1999. He was the Mets franchise leader in home runs with 252. Pete Alonso surpassed him earlier this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital sports reporting on Xand subscribe to Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
