Darryl Strawberry To Talk About His Life’s Demons
HUNTSVILLE- Darryl Strawberry was once one of the most exciting and best players in Major League Baseball winning four World Series rings and being named an 8-time All-Star totaling 335 homeruns, 1,000 RBIs and a .259 career batting average over a 17-year span in the majors.
Unfortunately, Strawberry also had demons within.
He struggled with drinking and drug use throughout his career leading to three suspensions from baseball, a divorce, multiple trips to drug-treatment centers, serious financial troubles and even jail time.
Today, Strawberry is an ordained minister and travels the country bringing a message of hope to the thousands who are struggling with the same addictions.
On Thursday, Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m., Strawberry will bring his life story of fame and failure along with his message of survival, peace and redemption by turning his life over to Jesus, as he will be the guest speaker for the Huntsville His Way Recovery Center’s “Dinner With Darryl.” The event will be held in the East Hall of the Von Braun Center and is open to the public.
“We have this annual fundraiser and our guest speaker is usually someone who has or has overcome an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol,” said Michael Varchetta, case manager for His Way Recovery Center. “Those of us from his era certainly know him and his legacy, which included baseball stardom and hitting the skids to a personal low.”
Strawberry, now 56, played for the Mets, Dodgers, Giants and Yankees before his retirement after the 1999 season. Besides numerous battles with drugs, financial problems and relationship issues, he’s also a two-time cancer survivor.
He and his third wife, Tracy, of three years, established the Darryl Strawberry Foundation in 2006 to raise money for autism research and have established Christ-centered recovery centers in the Orlando, Fla. area. His life has traveled many roads since his birth in 1962 in Los Angeles and the surrounding of his childhood, which included a drunken father who has abusive to Strawberry and his five siblings.
His youth was filled with turmoil and baseball, which totally mimics his adulthood of trials and tribulations.
Strawberry has come full-circle in the fact he’s been at rock bottom and risen to be the cream of his profession and advanced to where he can address his own addictions and talk about overcoming the bondage of addiction that is plaguing America today.
“His story is perfect for us as we take those men with drug and alcohol addictions, give them a place to live, provide transportation to work and preach the Gospel,” added Varchetta of His Way Recovery Center. “We teach them to live a new way of life. Our facility is similar to a half-way house, but each resident has 30 days to find a job and must attend church on a regular basis.”
The local facility, located on Shields Road in Huntsville, average 33 residents monthly with a capacity of 40. The location has a staff of four directors, a case manager and drivers. The non-profit receives no funding from the government and accepts corporation and individual donations. In addition, the facility operates three thrift stores in Huntsville and one in Madison.
Seating for Dinner With Darryl is open to 560 attendees and is usually filled to the maximum. Tickets are available for individuals, VIP or group seating of eight per table. To purchase tickets or for more information visit the facility’s website of www.hiswayinc.org, e-mail the facility or by calling 256-859-7377.
