Darryl Strawberry Is Touring The Country To Inspire Young Students

Darryl Strawberry is on a mission to teach and inspire the next generation of business people, athletes, and educators. The famed baseball player is currently traveling around the Midwest in the hopes of inspiring students to take a positive path with their lives.

The New York Mets’ all-time leading home run hitter is visiting schools and talking about the pitfalls of fame and the various life lessons he has learned throughout the years.

On Monday Darryl Strawberry told students at Steubenville High that they need to stay on track. “Through God in my life is why I stand here today. There were issues in me embedded at a young age — and they eventually play out. In this generation, I think young kids are challenged with so many things, and you just want to guide them around because of the many challenges they face today,” he said.

Strawberry’s own struggles are well known. Throughout his career and life, he suffered with alcohol and drug abuse. Eventually Strawberry turned to the church and became a pastor. He spends his post-MLB days offering help to young people and families in need.

The New Direction Ministry recently asked Darryl to appear at their end of month fundraiser. According to executive director Tyrone McGruder, “Having this superstar status as a great baseball player and then falling to drugs and incarceration — that’s our tie to this ministry because we deal with guys that used to have good lives and they lost them. But to come back and look at Darryl Strawberry’s life and say ‘man, look at him now.’ He went through whatever storm he was going through and now he’s on the other side of it.”

Here’s a great interview in which Darryl Strawberry talks about his baseball days, his struggles with substance abuse, and his role as a father.

Darryl Strawberry Is Touring The Country To Inspire Young Students