Trump Grants Full Pardon to Former Mets Star Darryl Strawberry

Former New York Mets outfielder Darryl Strawberry — once one of baseball’s brightest stars — has received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, marking a symbolic end to one of sports’ most dramatic redemption stories. The White House announced the decision on Friday, highlighting Strawberry’s transformation from troubled athlete to faith-driven mentor and recovery advocate.

Strawberry’s baseball career was marked by both brilliance and turmoil. The eight-time All-Star and 1983 National League Rookie of the Year was a central figure in the Mets’ 1986 World Series championship and went on to win three more titles with the New York Yankees. Yet, his success was shadowed by drug addiction, legal issues, and repeated suspensions that derailed what many believed could have been a Hall of Fame career.

In 1995, Strawberry pleaded guilty to a felony tax evasion charge for failing to report more than $350,000 in income from autograph signings and memorabilia sales. He agreed to pay back taxes and penalties exceeding $430,000. In the years that followed, his personal challenges deepened, leading to a string of arrests, health struggles, and battles with addiction.

Now 63, Strawberry’s life has taken a vastly different turn. After finding sobriety and dedicating himself to Christian ministry, he has spent more than a decade counseling others through his recovery foundation. The pardon, his supporters say, represents not just forgiveness, but recognition of how far he has come since his darkest days.

1. A President’s Call and a Player’s Gratitude

According to a White House official, Trump’s decision to pardon Strawberry was influenced by his post-career transformation and dedication to helping others overcome addiction. The official, speaking anonymously, emphasized that Strawberry has been sober for over a decade and now leads recovery programs through his ministry centers. Strawberry himself confirmed the news on Instagram, posting a photo with Trump and expressing deep gratitude. “Thank you, President @realdonaldtrump, for my full pardon and for finalizing this part of my life, allowing me to be truly free and clean from all of my past,” he wrote. The former slugger described how he received the news: a call from the White House while he was home caring for his wife, who was recovering from surgery. “I was half asleep when the phone rang,” Strawberry recounted. “The woman said, ‘Darryl Strawberry, you have a call from the President of the United States.’ President Trump spoke warmly about my baseball days in New York and told me he was granting me a full pardon.” Strawberry said he was “overwhelmed with gratitude,” crediting both God and Trump for what he called a life-changing moment. “This has nothing to do with politics,” he added. “It’s about a man caring for a friend. God used him as a vessel to set me free forever.”

2. From Scandal to Spiritual Leadership

Strawberry’s path to redemption has been shaped by years of public struggle and personal loss. In 1999, he faced probation and a suspension from baseball after pleading no contest to charges of cocaine possession and solicitation. Repeated probation violations followed, including an arrest on his 40th birthday in 2002. He ultimately served 11 months in a Florida state prison before being released in 2003. His health issues compounded his troubles. Diagnosed with colon cancer in 1998, he underwent surgery and chemotherapy before returning to the public eye as a cancer survivor and motivational speaker. Over time, he redirected his focus toward faith-based recovery work, founding the Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center, which continues to serve individuals battling addiction. Trump’s pardon adds Strawberry to a growing list of public figures and former officials who have received clemency from the former president. In recent days, Trump also pardoned a former Tennessee House speaker and a onetime political aide convicted of corruption. Previous recipients have included ex-governors, former lawmakers, and reality television personalities convicted of financial crimes. Despite the political implications, Strawberry’s case stands out for its personal transformation. His pardon arrives more than two decades after he served his sentence — and in a year when his contributions to baseball were once again celebrated.

3. Legacy, Loss, and Second Chances

Strawberry’s baseball achievements remain impressive even amid controversy. Over a 17-year career with the Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants, he hit 335 home runs, drove in 1,000 RBIs, and stole 221 bases. His natural power and charisma made him one of the most recognizable figures in baseball during the 1980s. In 2024, just a day before his 62nd birthday, Strawberry suffered a heart attack — a health scare that came shortly before the Mets retired his No. 18 jersey. The emotional ceremony at Citi Field symbolized both reconciliation and closure, as Strawberry tearfully apologized to Mets fans for his past mistakes. “I’m truly, deeply sorry that I ever left you guys,” he said. “I never played baseball in front of fans greater than you.” For many, Trump’s pardon now serves as the final chapter in Strawberry’s long journey toward peace and acceptance. It also reinforces his ongoing message about the power of redemption, faith, and forgiveness — themes he has championed in public speaking and ministry for years. While the pardon has drawn some political debate, Strawberry’s supporters view it as an acknowledgment of how profoundly his life has changed. The man once defined by scandal and addiction now defines himself by service and spirituality — a transformation that few could have imagined during his tumultuous playing days.