**Darryl Strawberry Thanks Trump for Pardon During Church Sermon**
Former New York Mets star Darryl Strawberry expressed his heartfelt appreciation for President Donald Trump during a church sermon in Oklahoma on Sunday. Earlier this month, Trump granted Strawberry a pardon for his previous tax evasion and drug-related charges. Strawberry was warmly received by the congregation of over 400 at a Tulsa church, where he was introduced by Jackson Lahmeyer, founder of Pastors for Trump. The crowd erupted in applause when he spoke about the pardon.
“God just completely set me free when he gave me a pardon from President Donald J. Trump,” Strawberry stated. “Other presidents had opportunities, but they didn’t do it.”
Strawberry, who was the first overall pick in the 1980 MLB Draft, made his Major League Baseball debut at 21 in 1983 and played for the Mets until 1990. He also had stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and New York Yankees, achieving three World Series titles, hitting 335 home runs, and maintaining a .259 batting average with an .862 OPS.
Throughout his career, Strawberry faced numerous challenges, including legal issues, health problems, and personal struggles. He served 11 months in a Florida prison for a probation violation in 2002. At 63, he attributes his turnaround to his Christian faith, which has helped him remain sober for over two decades. “All glory to God because he found me in a pit and put me in a pulpit,” he remarked, humorously adding that the devil “should have killed me when he had a chance.”
Strawberry recounted his surprise when Trump reached out to him on November 6 to announce the pardon. The two had previously connected during the filming of “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2010. “We just talked about my baseball career in the 1980s and what kind of player I was,” Strawberry shared. “He was just telling me how great of a player I was… and he just kind of joked around that he couldn’t hit a baseball.”
During their conversation, Trump acknowledged Strawberry’s past mistakes, saying, “You know you did some very bad things,” but also expressed admiration for Strawberry’s current life, faith, and commitment to helping others. “I’m giving you a full pardon. You’re going to be clean. I’m wiping everything out,” Trump told him.
Strawberry’s journey has often been compared to that of his former teammate Doc Gooden, as both faced similar struggles with substance abuse. While Strawberry managed to turn his life around earlier, Gooden has also shown signs of stability in recent years. The two were featured together in last year’s National League Championship Series and in ESPN’s documentary “Doc and Darryl.”
In conclusion, Darryl Strawberry’s story is one of redemption and gratitude, highlighting the impact of faith and second chances in overcoming life’s challenges.
**FAQ**
**What charges did Darryl Strawberry receive a pardon for?**
Darryl Strawberry was pardoned for past tax evasion and drug-related charges.
