Darryl Strawberry #18

Graduated from Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles...brother, Michael, was drafted by the Dodgers in the June 1980 free-agent draft...was named 1991 Southern California Big Brother of the Year...has been a spokesman for the RBI program to revive baseball in inner cities...is the only player ever to play for the Mets, Yankees, Giants and Dodgers...the Yankees wore his #39 on the back of their caps throughout the '98 playoffs after he was diagnosed with colon cancer on 10/1/98...was named national spokesman for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence in January 1999...was the recipient of the Milton Richman "You Gotta Have Heart" Award in February 1999, presented annually by the BBWAA.

2000

1999

Hit .327 with 3 HR and 6 RBI in 24 games...made 15 starts, all at designated hitter...hit .375 (3-for-8) with two doubles and 1 RBI in nine plate appearances as a pinch hitter...on 4/24 was placed on administrative leave by Commissioner Bud Selig for the purpose of allowing further inquiry into circumstances surrounding a 4/14 incident in Tampa, Florida...it was also announced that Strawberry would not be able to participate in any Major or Minor League games or any workouts under the auspices of the New York Yankees...was suspended for 120 days (retroactive 4/14) for violating Baseball's drug policy and his aftercare program...was reinstated on 8/4 (term was to end on 8/11), one week earlier than the full 120-day suspension, and played for Triple-A Columbus that same night vs. Norfolk, going 2-for-4 as the DH...hit .288 with 4 HR and 15 RBI in 20 games with Triple-A Columbus...started 13 games at designated hitter and eight in left field...on 9/1 the Yankees purchased his contract from Columbus...made his first appearance with the Yankees on 9/2 vs. Oakland, starting at DH and going 0-for-2 with 1BB...on 9/4 at Anaheim, had his first two stolen base game since 8/1/96 at Texas...hit solo-HR--his first in the Majors since 8/30/98 vs. Seattle--and was 2-for-3 on 9/5 at Anaheim...collected his 1,000th career RBI with a solo-HR in 10/1 win at Tampa Bay...batted .333 (5-for-15) with 2 HR and 4 RBI in post-season play...his three-run homer in Game Three of the Division Series at Texas on 10/9 was his first post-season home run since Game Five of the 1996 ALCS at Baltimore...hit his seventh career LCS home run in Game Four on 10/18 at Boston and moved into third place on the all-time LCS home run list behind George Brett (9) and Steve Garvey (8).

1998

Was one of the Yankees' top power hitters and team leaders before a bout with colon cancer ended his season on 10/1 (prior to Game Three of the Division Series)...batted .247 with 24 HR and 57 RBI in 101 games, recording his highest home run total since hitting 28 with Los Angeles in 1991...made 94 starts (79 at DH and 15 in LF)...returned to Shea Stadium for the first time as a Yankee on 4/15 vs. Anaheim and went 3-for-4 with a solo homer...became the 12th player to hit a home run into the black section in center field of the remodeled Yankee Stadium, belting a solo homer in the second inning on 4/30 vs. Seattle...hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the ninth inning of a 12-6 win on 5/2 at Kansas City...was suspended for three games after participating in a 5/19 brawl vs. Baltimore...served the first two games of the suspension on 5/20 and 5/21 vs. Baltimore before appealing...started at DH on 5/22 and 5/23 at Boston before dropping the appeal and serving the final game on 5/24 at Boston...blasted a 465-foot, three-run homer off Mike Mussina on 6/17 at Baltimore, the longest home run ever recorded at Camden Yards...had a season-high 11-game hitting streak from 6/11-27...belted two home runs in a 5-4 win on 7/24 vs. Chicago, the 30th multi-homer game of his career...hit his second pinch-hit grand slam of the season in the ninth inning of a 10-5 come-from-behind win on 8/4 at Oakland (Game 2)...became only the fourth Yankee to have two career pinch-hit grand slams (also Berra, Skowron and Murcer)...was suspended for the second time in '98 for his part in a 9/11 bench-clearing brawl vs. Toronto...served three games from 9/16-18...was diagnosed with colon cancer on 10/1 and missed the entire postseason...underwent surgery on 10/3 at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center for the removal of a 16-inch portion of the large intestine...surgery was performed by a team of specialists under the direction of Dr. George J. Todd...was discharged from the hospital on 10/16...club option for the 1999 season was not exercised on 12/18 and he was not tendered a contract.

1997

Missed almost the entire season due to injury...batted .103 with 0 HR and 2 RBI in 11 games...made eight starts (4 in LF and 4 at DH)...was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 4/11 (retroactive to 4/7) with fluid on the left knee...was 0-for-14 before going on the disabled list...was cleared to run by Dr. Alan Miller on 4/27...reported pain in his left knee while running on 4/29...saw Dr. Stuart Hershon and Dr. Russell Warren on 4/30 at the New York Hospital for Special Surgery and was diagnosed with inflammation of the articular surface under the left patella (knee cap)...was reinstated from the disabled list on 8/15 after rehab assignments at Class-A Tampa, Double-A Norwich and Triple-A Columbus...made his first appearance since 4/6 at Oakland on 8/16 vs. Texas, pinch-hitting for Pat Kelly (walked)...was excused from the team on 9/21 to begin 6-8 week rehab program for his left knee.

1996

Hit .262 with 11 HR and 36 RBI in his second stint with the Yankees...played 63 games, making 55 starts (25 in LF, 24 at DH and 6 in RF)...began the season with St. Paul of the independent Northern League, where he hit .435 with 18 HR and 39 RBI in 29 games...his contract was purchased by Triple-A Columbus on 7/4...after hitting three home runs in eight at-bats with the Clippers, he was promoted to New York on 7/7...belted two home runs on 7/13 at Baltimore (Game 2) after starting the season 0-for-10...hit three consecutive homers off Kevin Tapani on 8/6 vs. Chicago, the second three-homer game of his career (also 8/5/85 at Cubs)...hit two more homers on 8/8 vs. Chicago, becoming the first Yankee since Bill "Moose" Skowron (1956) to hit five home runs in three regular-season games...became the 74th player in Major-League history to reach the 300-homer plateau, belting a game-winning, two-run shot in the ninth inning of a 3-2 victory on 7/28 vs. Kansas City (off Jason Jacome)...was ejected on 8/28 at Seattle for his part in a bench-clearing brawl (had not been in the game)...batted .242 with 3 HR and 6 RBI in the postseason...enjoyed his best series in the ALCS vs. Baltimore, batting .417 with 3 HR and 5 RBI.

1995

Signed with the Yankees on 6/19 and helped them late in the season after stints in the minors...reported to the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa on 6/22 and spent time with Tampa (rookie) of the Gulf Coast League, Class-A Tampa and Triple-A Columbus before joining the Yankees...made his Yankee debut on 8/4 at Detroit, going 1-for-4 in a 4-1 loss...was 3-for-5 with 1 R, a triple and 2 RBI in his second game, a 7-1 win on 8/5 at Detroit...hit his first home run as a Yankee off Chad Ogea in a 5-2 loss on 8/10 vs. Cleveland (Game 2)...was 0-for-2 in the Division Series vs. Seattle.

1994

Was signed by San Francisco on 6/19 after being released by Los Angeles on 5/26...batted .239 with 4 HR and 17 RBI in 29 games with the Giants...made 27 starts, all in right field...spent two weeks in a Palm Springs personalized conditioning program before he joined Triple-A Phoenix on a rehabilitation assignment on 7/4...made his debut with San Francisco on 7/7 vs. Philadelphia (was 0-for-3 with a walk)...hit his sixth career grand slam on 7/14 at Montreal, his first home run as a Giant...was 3-for-4 with 2 R, a double and 5 RBI in that game...hit .303 with 4 HR and 16 RBI in his first 20 games, but went 2-for-26 (.077) in his last nine games of the season.

1993

Suffered an injury-plagued season, appearing in only 32 games for the Dodgers while recovering from 9/15/92 back surgery to repair a herniated disc...batted .140 with 5 HR and 12 RBI...played 25 games before back problems put him on the 15-day disabled list on 5/14...was activated on 6/5 after a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque...played just seven games before returning to the disabled list on 6/17, where he spent the rest of the season.

1992

Because of back injuries, failed to play in 100 games for the first time in his career...batted .237 with 5 HR and 25 RBI in his second season with the Dodgers...played just 43 games, making 41 starts (39 in RF and 2 in LF)...played in 26 games before going on the disabled list on 5/14 with a herniation of the L4-5 disc in his lower back...was batting .250 with 5 HR and 21 RBI before the injury...returned on 7/6, but played in just 12 games before going back on the disabled list on 7/21...returned from his second stint on the disabled list on 9/1 and played five more games before undergoing back surgery on 9/15...Dr. Robert Watkins performed the surgery at Centinela Hospital Medical Center.

1991

In his first and only full season with Los Angeles, Strawberry established a Dodger record for home runs by a left-handed batter...his 28 home runs were the most by a Dodger since Pedro Guerrero hit 33 in 1985...his 99 RBI were the most by a Dodger since Guerrero's 103 in 1983...was seventh in the National League in home runs and ninth in RBI...was selected to his eighth consecutive All-Star Team, but did not play because of a sore left shoulder...suffered the injury on 5/15 vs. Montreal, running into the outfield wall...the sore shoulder eventually put him on the disabled list from 6/18-7/3...made his return to Shea Stadium on 5/7 and belted a two-run homer off Frank Viola in a 6-5 loss...recorded his 200th career stolen base on 8/19 vs. San Diego...hit his fifth career grand slam on 8/21 vs. San Diego (off Ricky Bones)...recorded a career-high tying 7 RBI in that game, adding a three-run homer (off Rich Rodriguez)...his 7 RBI were the most ever by a Dodger in Dodger Stadium...hit six home runs in the Astrodome and 10 vs. Houston overall, tying records set by Atlanta's Dale Murphy in 1984.

1990

Batted .277 with 37 HR and 108 RBI in his final season with the Mets...played 152 games, making 146 starts (all in RF)...established a Mets' record with 108 RBI...became the first Met to record at least 100 RBI in three seasons (also 1987, '88)...ranked second in the National League in home runs and fifth in RBI...was also among the National-League leaders in slugging percentage (.518, T9th) and total bases (281, 10th)...was selected to his seventh consecutive All-Star Team (0-for-1)...had a career-high 18-game hitting streak from 6/8-29, batting .412 (28-for-68) with 9 HR and 24 RBI...recorded his 1,000th Major-League hit on on 9/1 vs. San Francisco, a double off Jeff Brantley.

1989

Batted .225 with 29 HR and 77 RBI in 134 games...made 128 starts, all in right field...was fifth in the National League in home runs...was also among the National-League leaders in slugging percentage (.466, 10th) and extra-base hits (56, 10th)...was selected to his sixth consecutive All-Star Team, but did not play due to a fractured small toe on his right foot...suffered the injury when he was hit by a Kevin Gross pitch on 6/19...hit the 200th home run of his career on 6/9 at Pittsburgh, a solo shot off Doug Drabek.

1988

Enjoyed one of his finest seasons in the Majors, nearly winning his first MVP Award...batted .269 with 39 HR and 101 RBI in 153 games...made 149 starts, all in right field...led the National League with 39 home runs, tying his own club record set in 1987...was also among the National-League leaders in slugging percentage (.545, 1st), RBI (101, 2nd), extra-base hits (69, 2nd), runs (101, T4th), total bases (296, 4th) and walks (85, T5th)...became the first National-League player to be voted to start in the All-Star Game in each of his first five full seasons (was 1-for-4)...finished second in the National-League Most Valuable Player voting...the Dodgers' Kirk Gibson won by 36 votes...his 236 MVP points were the most by a Met since Tom Seaver had 243 in 1969.

1987

Had his most productive season in the Majors, batting .284 with 39 HR and 104 RBI in 154 games...set or tied career highs in nearly every offensive category, including: batting average (.284), games played (154), runs scored (108), hits (151), doubles (32), triples (5), home runs (39), walks (97) and stolen bases (36)...joined third-baseman Howard Johnson (36 HR, 32 SB) as the first pair of 30-30 teammates in baseball history...became the first National-League player to be voted to start the All-Star Game in each of his first four full seasons (was 0-for-2)...hit his first career pinch-hit home run on 6/6 vs. Pittsburgh (off Doug Drabek)...was named the National League's Player-of-the-Month for September.

1986

Helped the Mets to their first World Championship since 1969, batting .259 with 27 HR and 93 RBI in 136 games...had his third consecutive 20-20 season, stealing 28 bases and belting 27 home runs...was tied for sixth in the National League in home runs, was second in slugging percentage (.507), seventh in RBI (93) and third in game-winning RBI (15)...was voted to start his third consecutive All-Star Game, leading the Majors with 1,619,511 votes...became the first National-League player to be voted to start the All-Star Game in each of his first three full seasons (was 1-for-2)...recorded a career-high five hits on 4/30 at Atlanta, going 5-for-5 with 2 R, a double, HR and 3 RBI in an 8-1 victory...had the 10th multi-homer game of his career on 5/4 at Cincinnati, hitting two off Mario Soto in a 7-2 win...had a season-high eight-game hitting streak from 6/23-7/3, batting .448 (13-for-29) with 4 HR and 9 RBI...hit his 100th career home run on 8/27 at San Diego, a two-run shot off Ed Whitson...belted his third career grand slam and stole his 100th career base on 10/5 vs. Pittsburgh...batted .217 with 3 HR and 6 RBI in the postseason...led all players in the NLCS vs. Houston with 2 HR and 5 RBI (both homers brought the Mets back from behind)...smacked his first career post-season home run in Game Three of the NLCS on 10/11, a game-tying, three-run shot off Bob Knepper in the bottom of the sixth inning...hit his second home run in Game Five on 10/14, a game-tying, solo blast off Nolan Ryan in the bottom of the fifth inning...batted .208 with 1 HR and 1 RBI in the World Series vs. Boston...hit his first career World Series homer in the Mets' 8-5 victory Game Seven, belting a solo shot off Al Nipper in his final at-bat of the Series.

1985

Suffered an injury-plagued season, playing just 111 games due to a torn ulnar colateral ligament in the right thumb...sustained the injury on 5/11 vs. Philadelphia while diving for a ball...had surgery two days later (performed by Dr. Dick Eaton and Mets' team physician Dr. James Parkes)...was on the disabled list from 5/12-6/28...batted .277 with 29 HR and 79 RBI for the season...was voted to start his second All-Star Game, becoming the first Met ever to be voted two straight years (was 1-for-1 with 2R a walk, stolen base and HBP)...his first home run of the season was a ninth-inning, solo blast off John Franco, giving the Mets a 2-1 victory on 4/13 vs. Cincinnati...had a season-high eight-game hitting streak from 4/20-28, batting .286 (10-for-35)...belted his first career grand slam on 4/28 vs. Pittsburgh (off Mike Bielecki)...set a career high with 7 RBI on 7/20 vs. Atlanta, belting two homers (including his second career grand slam) in a 16-4 win...smashed three home runs on 8/5 at Chicago, becoming just the fourth Met ever to homer three times in a game.

1984

Followed an auspicious rookie campaign with another impressive season, leading the Mets with 26 HR and 97 RBI while batting .251 in 147 games...was named to his first career All-Star team, starting in right field for the National League (was 1-for-2)...played center field for the first time in his career on 4/4 at Cincinnati (made 10 starts overall in CF)...recorded his first career four-hit game on 4/22 at Philadelphia, going 4-for-4 with 1 R, HR, 4 RBI and a stolen base...had a career-high three doubles on 5/1 vs. Chicago...had his fifth career two-homer game on 6/17 at St. Louis, including his first career inside-the-park homer (off Bruce Sutter)...stole a career-high three bases on 7/19 vs. Cincinnati...collected a season-high 5 RBI on 9/16 at Chicago...had his sixth career two-homer game on 9/30 at Montreal.

1983

Began the season at Triple-A Tidewater before being recalled by the Mets on 5/4...was batting .333 with 3 HR and 13 RBI in 16 games at Tidewater...batted .257 with 26 HR and 74 RBI in 122 games with the Mets...led all National-League rookies in home runs and RBI...was 0-for-4 with 1 R, two walks and a stolen base in his Major-League debut on 5/6 vs. Cincinnati (scored the winning run on a George Foster three-run homer in the 13th inning of a 7-4 victory)...collected his first Major-League hit on 5/8 vs. Cincinnati, an RBI-single off Ben Hayes (had been hitless in his first 11 AB)...hit his first Major-League home run on 5/16 at Pittsburgh, a two-run shot off Lee Tunnell...had his first two-homer game on 6/28 at St. Louis (Game 1), collecting a season-high 5 RBI in a 10-1 victory...had four two-homer games for the year (also 7/19 at Atlanta, 8/22 at San Diego and 8/27 vs. San Francisco)...had a season-high 11-game hitting streak from 9/2-13, batting .465 (20-for-43) with 4 HR and 12 RBI...won the National League Rookie-of-the-Year, receiving 18 of 24 first-place votes.

1982

Was named Most Valuable Player of the Texas League after leading the league in home runs (34), walks (100) and slugging percentage (.604)...batted .283 with 34 HR and 97 RBI in 129 games at Double-A Jackson...established the Jackson record for home runs, stolen bases (45) and runs scored (93)...hit for the cycle in his first game of the season...was promoted to Triple-A Tidewater for the International-League playoffs.

1981

Batted .255 with 13 HR and 78 RBI in 123 games at Class-A Lynchburg.

1980

Spent his first professional season at Kingsport (rookie) of the Appalachian League...batted .268 with 5 HR and 20 RBI in 44 games...singled in his first professional at-bat.