Former baseball superstar Darryl Strawberry shared an emotional account of his life-changing moment during a church sermon in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he expressed profound gratitude towards former President Donald Trump for granting him a complete presidential pardon.
The Life-Altering Pardon
On Sunday, the ex-New York Mets icon opened up about the significant impact of the pardon signed on November 7, which he described as an unexpected transformation in his life. During his heartfelt address to church members, Strawberry emphasized that this official forgiveness felt like a fresh beginning after numerous challenging years filled with legal troubles and personal struggles.
"God just completely set me free when he gave me a pardon from President Donald J. Trump," Strawberry declared during his sermon. He specifically credited Trump for taking decisive action when previous presidents had opportunities but failed to respond to his situation.
Strawberry's Legal Battles and Redemption
The baseball legend faced substantial legal challenges during the latter part of his MLB career. In 1994, Strawberry encountered serious tax evasion charges for failing to report earnings amounting to $502,043. The court sentenced him to two years of probation and six months of house confinement for this offense.
His legal problems continued when in 1999, he faced additional charges related to drugs and prostitution, resulting in twenty-one months of community service and probation. The situation worsened in 2002 when Strawberry served 18 months in prison for violating probation terms and breaking rules at a rehabilitation center. He later described these years as the most difficult period of his life.
Turning Point and Spiritual Awakening
The trajectory of Strawberry's life changed dramatically when he met his wife, Tracy, at a drug rehabilitation conference in 2005. This encounter marked the beginning of his spiritual transformation. Both sharing strong Christian beliefs, the couple eventually became ministers, with Darryl Strawberry receiving official ordination in 2024.
During his recent church appearance, Strawberry recalled the memorable phone conversation with Donald Trump on November 6, preceding the official pardon. "We just talked about my baseball career in the 1980s... he joked that he could not hit a baseball," Strawberry told The Associated Press. The former president then delivered the life-changing news: "You did some very bad things, but today you are clean. I am wiping everything out."
Throughout his remarkable baseball career, Darryl Strawberry achieved legendary status, winning the World Series with the New York Mets in 1986 and later securing championships with the New York Yankees in 1998 and 1999. The Mets organization retired his iconic No. 18 jersey and inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2010, cementing his legacy in baseball history.
