NEW YORK (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump has granted a presidential pardon to former Major League Baseball star Darryl Strawberry, erasing his decades-old tax evasion conviction. The White House announced the decision Friday, citing Strawberry’s transformation and long-standing commitment to helping others through faith and recovery work. Strawberry, 63, is one of the most recognizable figures in baseball history. He was an eight-time MLB All-Star who helped lead both the New York Mets and New York Yankees to World Series championships during his celebrated career.
The White House said Strawberry had “served time and paid back taxes” related to his conviction and emphasized his turnaround since then. “Following his career, Mr. Strawberry found faith in Christianity and has been sober for over a decade – he has become active in ministry and started a recovery center which still operates today,” a White House official told CNBC.
Trump’s pardon restores Strawberry’s civil rights and clears his federal record. It adds him to the growing list of prominent figures who have received presidential clemency from Trump in recent months.
Strawberry’s legal troubles began in the mid-1990s. In 1995, he pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion after failing to report tens of thousands of dollars in income on his federal returns. At the time, he was nearing the end of his baseball career, which had been marked by both triumphs and struggles.
He served time and later repaid what he owed. The case, though relatively minor compared to other tax scandals, drew major media attention due to Strawberry’s fame and reputation as one of baseball’s brightest stars. Strawberry’s problems did not end there. He also faced substance abuse issues that affected his playing days and personal life. In 2000, Major League Baseball suspended him after he failed a drug test, effectively ending his career in professional baseball.
After his retirement, Strawberry went through a long process of recovery. He publicly credited his Christian faith for helping him turn his life around. For more than a decade, he has been sober and focused on ministry work. Strawberry and his wife, Tracy, founded the Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center, which provides addiction treatment and counseling. The center has become a symbol of hope for people struggling with drug and alcohol dependence.
“God restored my life,” Strawberry said in past interviews about his transformation. “I’m not who I used to be. I’m free.”
The former president’s decision to pardon Strawberry follows several other high-profile acts of clemency in recent weeks. Last month, Trump commuted the prison sentence of former Rep. George Santos, a disgraced Republican lawmaker who had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Santos’ case had drawn widespread controversy for months.
Days later, Trump issued a pardon for Changpeng Zhao, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Zhao served four months in prison after admitting to failing to prevent money laundering on the trading platform. These actions reflect Trump’s ongoing use of presidential pardon powers to grant relief to public figures and allies who have faced legal consequences.
Darryl Strawberry’s life has been one of remarkable highs and deep lows. He debuted with the New York Mets in 1983, quickly becoming one of the game’s most dynamic power hitters. His combination of speed, strength, and charisma made him a fan favorite and a cornerstone of the Mets’ 1986 World Series championship team.
He later joined the New York Yankees, where he won three more championships. But behind the scenes, his battles with addiction and legal issues often overshadowed his athletic success. Now, with Trump’s pardon, Strawberry closes a difficult chapter of his life and continues to focus on helping others overcome addiction and rebuild their lives.
