Darryl Strawberry story from 1986 : Forest Hills Queens , December 10th around 1AM -- Darryl and another man saw me getting jumped by 4 individuals and for some crazy reason he jumped out of his Limousine and cleared the block, he hit one guy with a nasty left hook and flung another guy into the Limo.. they ran and he asked if I was good and went on about his night. Never forgot how he helped out and when you watch his career and saw when any of his teammates needed help in a brawl he was always on the frontline!! Strawberry is a legend
I remember hearing him on NY Sports radio talking about this story and saying the guy was getting pummeled and he just left a bar and no hesitation went to help.
Heard him preach the last two years at Bethlehem Assembly of God in Valley Stream. Amazing man and preacher. He had an amazing testimony and life story
Proud of you Darryl, I’m a Crenshaw alumni. We still talk about when Darryl would hit the ball over the fence. People would sit on their front porches to watch Darryl play baseball Crenshaw. He’s a L.A. legend!
I remember seeing Darry at a baseball game I was in a juvenile detention facility in NYC back in 96-97 first time being to a baseball game I was fortunate to see him from my seat first time seeing a professional athlete up close so i will never forget that experience too bad I wasn’t able to get a autograph but good to see him In good health
D. Strawberry was one of the first BIG NAMES I came to know as a young baseball fan growing up. Watching this made me realize how much influence he had on me as a kid playing ⚾️. But as an adult, I'm even more a fan of his transformation and success in recovery and in life. God bless him and his family. Peace to the universe. 🦍💙
In 1990 or so I went to a club on a Sunday night after a Pittsburgh Pirates v. New York Mets game. At the corner of the bar were Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Bobby Bonilla, and Barry Bonds (Bonilla and Bonds were Pirates at the time, Bonilla later played for the Mets). The charisma coming from those four guys was OFF THE CHARTS. Wow. They were in the prime of their careers and lives. Another time walking out of a bar/club in Pittsburgh my friends and I were walking right behind Rick Sutcliffe of the Cubs (he was also mentioned by Strawberry).
I’m from the same time but you realize every single person thinks that there formative years were the best of any sports eras. Guilty of that same bias. But I know I’d feel the 50s and 60s were it had I’d grown up In those times.
I met Wally Backman at a baseball card shop in NJ in the late 80's. He was signing autographs with a Marlboro red hanging out of his mouth. 80's baseball was funny.
Thank you Vlad and Darryl Strawberry for an all around great interview. So refreshing to hear Darryl embrace his journey and share his ups and downs. So many people you interview try and shy away from the past and get bothered when you bring things up. You can tell Strawberry is comfortable with where he’s been and where he is today. Thank you!
18 was my favorite player. I stole his batting stance and emulated everything about his game. I wanted to play football. Straw and Dykstra were the only 2 baseball players I liked. I ain't even like baseball. But playing "like" straw got me on every traveling league all star team and a varsity letter freshman year. I always walked with straw in my heart and mind. When I think back to my childhood... my sports idols were few. Straw. Dykstra. McEnroe and Gary Clark(wr for redskins) is pretty much it. Thank you vlad. Thank you 18!
I am really really happy Darryl straightened up. To see him so well spoken, calm, cool, collective just told me to never believe the news. The news painted him out to be this bad guy when I grew up and he was my idol. This really hit a soft spot in my heart, and I'm SO FUCKING HAPPY HE IS OKAY!!! Thank you for this one Vlad. Darryl was a King to us in Brooklyn/Queens! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🫡👏👏👏
If he is wise, the world is in big trouble. If you missed it, he absolutely screwed up everything he could possibly screw up, and screwed up some more.
Had the chance to meet Darryl in 1996 when he was playing for the St. Paul Saints when they were in the independent league. He was very nice to everyone before the game, and signed autographs and took photographs with anyone who aksed. I could see that Darryl was very happy personally where he was at that time, maybe it was that he was having fun again doing what he loved doing most, which was playing baseball. I was kind of bummed when the Yankees purchased his contract later that season. But i realized that's where Darryl belonged, on a major league roster. Last year the St. Paul Saints retired Strawberrys No. 17 in a ceremony at their new ballpark in downtown St. Paul. It was a very touching and wonderful experience. Im sure that Darryl enjoyed it very much too.
I greatly enjoyed this interview and am happy for Darryl that he has turned his life around to such an extent. He is looking youthful and healthy at 62 years old after everything he has been through in his life. He doesn't dodge any questions about his past and gives his honest opinion on things without trying to be overly cautious or politically correct. If he hadn't had the drug issues I'm guessing he would be in the HOF but he still had a pretty amazing career as it was. And he is doing more important things off the field in the second half of his life.
Education of the streets , is a great education!! Big Yankees Fan !! Props to Mr Strawberry for overcoming life’s trials and tribulations !! Straw looks great!! God bless him and his family!! Great interview VLAD !!
I'm here living in St.louis, saw Darryl Strawberry & his wife at a mall once,I didn't approach them to bother them in there time of shopping, but other's did asking for autographs, wish I had now he is a legend& a great guy glad to see he got his life back in order& in good health.
I've never seen so many older black sports stars who have benefited from a peaceful protest from those who came before them and made it possible for them to be able to voice their opinions who doesn't understand that players today have the right to protest things that they don't agree with. I use to be a fan.
Was it really? Hah. Vlad'a interviews always seem choppy. Vlad just says ,"ok" to an answer and there's little or no transition or conversation about the answer, he just chops on to the next subject. Feels like he is just following Wikipedia chronologically. 😂
Such a great story. Not only did he have the best swing in the game but his humility is legend. I played ball with him as a kid in Fort Lee, great guy.
My love of baseball and reason im.a mets fan was because I watched Daryl growing up. Pretending to be him at the plate. Amazing player and great person.
Thank you Vlad for these baseball interviews, I played my life and I use to hear about Darryl growing up in south central playing for Crenshaw, I also use to play at Rancho park, this guy is a legend 💯
As far as I'm concerned, the best swing ever. My favorite player of all time. I believe if they were able to measure the homer he hit in Montreal that it would be the longest ever hit
It is wonderful to see a content Darryl Strawberry. Here's wishing him good health and happiness. Wow, could the man hit a baseball, but knowing there is more to life than that makes Mr. Strawberry a champion. A tip of the hat to the interviewer, to two reasons: 1. He LISTENS. Oh, how many interviews I turn off because the host won't shut up and let his or her guest talk. 2. Longtime fans of baseball and, in particular, the Mets, must be happy to see an interviewer who realizes Darryl Strawberry was not married to Dwight Gooden.
Great interview, one of the best ones I’ve seen and man can us guys relate to the things he said with great wisdom. New fan here, much respect Darryl Strawberry 🫡
Man i remmeber straw he was good player thats foreal. Brings back memories when i was a kid playing baseball running the bases crazy just to get a homer good times.
Vlad, You forgot to ask Darryl about his major lead role on The Simpsons episode when Mr Burns had the softball rivalry with the other nuclear power plants hell of an interview still!
Strawberry is right about Bill Buckner. The game was already choked at that point, as the relievers blew it and it was already tied. It is not like if Buckner makes that play the game is over.....the lead had already been blown. Mike Stanley and Calvin Shiraldi got a huge gift by not being labeled the biggest chokers ever. They choked way more than Buckner did. Plus, Boston Manager McNamera left Buckner in the game in the last inning so he would be on the field for the win, when every other game he was taken out. That decision by McNamara altered the history of many human beings, some in a good way (the Mets), and many in a bad way (Buckner and the Red Sox). There was a guy named Dave Henderson (I think) who played for the Red Sox who had one of the great playoffs ever. Was going to be a legend of the highest order, but once Boston lost, everyone just remembers Buckner and the "Amazin'" Mets. This is chaos theory and butterfly effect in full effect.
When I was younger, I had 4 baseball players who I worshiped, my world revolved around them. They all played in different decades, & were very similar players on the field, & OFF the field. Each one was a clone of the other. Here they are: In the 1960ś Richie (Dick) Allen In the 1970ś Reggie Jackson In the 1980ś Darryl Strawberry In the 1990´s Albert Belle I don´t watch baseball anymore, it´s watered down with too many teams, these days itś more entertainment than a competition, the bandbox stadiums are a joke...itś just not the same.....not to mention the cost. To take my family of 5 to see a game, itś about $800-$850, and for that kind of money, we can go on vacation for a few days. Great interview, STILL love Straw!
@@jamesjackson2117 Boston fans still butthurt about 86 that is too funny. fact you say Red Sox have 9 titles and you so wounded by this one loss is credit to Mets.
Strawberry and Griffey Jr. had the best left handed swings of the 80's- 90's I'm a righty, but I would practice Strawberry's style swing when practicing.
Straw, I'm a lonnng time Mets Phan and your phan. I'm so happy to see you healthy and happy. I'll give you the Shea Stadium chant on more time: Daaa-rrrryyyyllll! Love U! 😍🙏🏾🙏🏾
Darryl , you’re not just one of Baseballs greatest players. You’re one of the greatest humans alive. Thank you for being a true champion and leader in Life! Faith is all about being strong and loving and being strong in the Lord!!! God bless you and Thank you for all the great times we enjoyed watching you. I’m a couple years older than you and see a real man you are. Always giving our Heavenly Father all the Glory! Grace and Peace to you and your Family and all here as well. Yes, your Jersey being retired means… yes you are in a Special Role. You’ll always be a True Champion in our eyes! Thank you , my Brotherman!
One of the *sweetest swings EVER* Straw was just a natural, imagine the statistics he would've put up if he wasn't on drugs and getting suspended, he definitely would've been a Hall of Famer, and a guy you had to watch in a baseball fight because he'd knock you smoove out 🤜🏾💥 lol 😂
Strawberry is right about Bill BUCKNER. He should be in the Hall of Fame. The Sportswriters who vote for the HOF are so short sighted and sensitive to criticism. It's a joke. SMH
You mean Pete Rose. And actually, Pete Rose should NOT be in the Hall of Fame. He is a liar, and he also still bets every day. The deterrent factor to others is very valuable. Rule one, never bet on a game where you have any duty to perform. Pete Rose bet when he was a player/manager, and that, by definition, effected his judgment, and tarnished the game and removed the integrity from the game. Pete Rose does not deserve the Hall of Fame.
I always used to wonder as a young man, how athletes could throw away their careers for drugs and alcohol. But I just didn’t understand addiction back then. Very inspirational story and I am glad he is Sober now. D Strawberry is a Legend
Darryl appears to always tell the truth in his interviews, he doesn't hold back. I'm glad it appears he has led a good life since his admitted mistakes. The Mets should give him a job somewhere in the organization if he doesn't have one now.
