Darryl Strawberry Appearing at “Faith & Family Night” for Syracuse Mets

Syracuse, N.Y.– Former MLB superstar Darryl Strawberry headlined the Syracuse Mets “Faith & Family Night” at NBT Bank Stadium on Friday to stress how religion changed his life for the better. Strawberry played 17 seasons in the MLB, including his first eight with the New York Mets. The former first-overall pick broke onto the scene in 1983, winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award. The four-time World Series Champion was a key member of Mets most recent title in 1986, and won three more with the New York Yankees in the late 1990s. 

Throughout his baseball career, Strawberry struggled with substance abuse and addiction resulting in three different suspensions by the Major League Baseball. He has been open about his drug use and alcoholism as a player, but also how he grew up with an abusive father during his youth in Los Angeles, California. 

Strawberry’s career came to a close after being suspended for the entire 2000 season began a cycle of rehab and jail visits. In 2003, Strawberry felt a call from God to turn his life around, and to live a life of faith. The 61-year-old says his true purpose in life is traveling the country with his wife Tracy sharing his story of redemption as a pastor. 

“What I used to do was great as a player. It was a a lot of fun and a lot of happy smiles to a lot of people. But today, walking in my faith and being a minister over the last 17 years has been more important than anything I’ve ever done in life,” Strawberry said. 

Getting Strawberry to come to the Salt City for the “Faith & Family Night” promotion has been something in the works for many years. Syracuse Mets General Manager Jason Smorol says he got connected with Strawberry in 2016, and was thrilled to find out that the beloved slugger could fit this event into his hectic travel schedule. 

“We were close in 2019 when we had a Darryl Strawberry Bobblehead night and he was supposed to make it, but couldn’t with his schedule. I’m so glad that Darrly is finally here and he’s been a true professional and gentleman. When he couldn’t make it for Faith & Family Night last year, I asked him who we could think about getting. He turned me to Mookie Wilson (a former Mets teammate of Darryl’s) who I did not know was an ordained pastor. Mookie was great and Darryl was the key that made that happen,” Smorol said. 

Strawberry has been part of other “Faith & Family Night” promotions at other minor league ballparks, and says they are some of his favorite events to be part of. Combining his passions of baseball and faith is something that hits home for Strawberry. 

“It’s pretty cool and it’s good to see that Syracuse does this for the community. Baseball is a fun sport for everyone to come out and watch players play, but faith is something that’s been missing in this country a lot. It’s good to see that how the organization want do it to engage people in Syracuse,” Strawberry said. 

Fans poured into NBT Bank Stadium when the gates opened at 5:30 p.m in hopes that they would get to meet the 8-time All-Star. As the tarp came onto the field and the game entered a rain delay, fans embraced the elements in the concourse to hold their spot in line. Smorol decided to call an audible and have Strawberry preach as they waited to see if the game would be played instead of waiting to do his message about faith on the field postgame. 

Strawberry spoke for over 16 minutes and gave a powerful sermon to fans why he believes that he’s still here. The two-time colon cancer survivior knows that his purpose is to be a shining light for others.

“I’m nothing without God’s love and his grace. I just think it’s important that we always remind ourselves about that. Every day I wake up I remind myself the goodness of the Lord, not the goodness of Darryl Strawberry…You can keep all the trophies and fame because one day, I’m looking to enter the kingdom of God,” Strawberry proclaimed. 

The New York Mets Hall of Famer was escorted down the left field line concourse after meeting quickly with organizers of the event from Mission Syracuse. The line  for a free autograph started at the 315 Bullpen Bar in left field, and wrapped around to section 211 near home plate. Strawberry started signing autographs at 7:50 p.m. even though the game against the Columbus Clippers was officially canceled, made it a point to sign for every single person in line. 

With a smile on his face never taking a single break after signing hundreds of autographs, Strawberry put his sharpie down at 9:27 p.m. Lifelong supporters like Brian Nielson who brought a 1985 action figure of Strawberry and an old Topps baseball card were thrilled getting to meet their childhood hero.

“He’s such an inspiration by turning his life around and sharing that with everybody. The amount of courage it takes to stand in front of so many people and share your story to show how they can overcome their own challenges. I think that Darryl doing things like this are much more meaningful than what he did on the field,” Nielson said.

“It’s very important to me that everyone who came tonight and wanted an autograph got one. Especially because they waited in line for so long and didn’t get to see the game happen because of the rain. If I can make a difference in just one person’s life by preaching the gospel or taking a picture then I’m doing something right,” Strawberry said. 

To learn more about Strawberry’s career endavors as a minister, visit: https://findingyourway.com/