Darryl Strawberry was born on March 12, 1962, in Los Angeles, California to Ruby and Henry Strawberry. He had two older brothers, Michael and Ron, and two younger sisters, Regina and Michelle. The family resided in Compton, a neighborhood in south-central Los Angeles not far from Dodger Stadium. His father was an employee of the U.S. Postal Service and his mother worked for the phone company; the couple divorced in 1974, in part due to Henry Strawberry's heavy drinking, gambling, and sometimes explosive temper. Greatly affected by his father's departure, Darryl Strawberry looked up to his two older brothers as role models. He shared their love of basketball and baseball and immediately became a star player on the Crenshaw High School's baseball team.
Despite his obvious athletic talent, Strawberry ran into difficulties with authority figures from the start. Criticized by his coach for taking his time getting onto the baseball field one day in his sophomore year, Strawberry quit the team for the rest of the season. When he returned to the team as a six-foot, six-inch, 200 pound junior, Strawberry began attracting interest from baseball scouts from around the country. Despite his reputation as an undisciplined player who took his natural athletic abilities for granted, Strawberry ended up as the first pick in the first round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft in 1980. He was selected by the New York Mets, a team perennial dwarfed by their metropolitan rivals, the New York Yankees.
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User Comments Add a comment…
11 months ago
I thank God everyday for my sister Ruby, and my nephew Darryl. My sister Ruby took the time to raise a young man who love the Lord more then life it self; and it was that love of God that has guided his life. Most people think they know Darryl, but they don't; if nice was a person, that would be his name. I wish most people knew Darryl like I do, growing up with him has made us close, and often it would hurt to see him hurt. I'm so very blessed to see him today, God is able to do ANYTHING.
about 1 year ago
Hello: I worked with Ruby Strawberry, Darry's mother at the telephone company in 1971. We were good friends at work and had our breaks together at times. Could you send me some photos of Ruby and her son? I would like to remember her as she was. She was a wonderful person. thank you