Darryl Strawberry

Cancer Type – Colon

Bio – The baseball star battled addictions and colon cancer, almost giving up on his life.

Short Story – He played 17 years in the Major League Baseball league. Known for his home runs and intimidating stature, he stood six-foot-six Darryl helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series championship in 1986; and the New York Yankees to three World Series championships in 1996, 1998, and 1999.

In 1998 Strawberry was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent surgery to remove a walnut-sized tumor. Cancer had spread into his lymph nodes, causing him to undergo chemotherapy. By January 1999, tests showed he was cancer-free but, he wasn’t.

Cancer resumed moving through his body during 2000. He had to have another mass from one of his lymph nodes and a kidney removed.

Strawberry’s fame led him to drug addiction and a few run-ins with the law. During his treatment and continued addiction, Strawberry was fighting to stay out of the correction system and lost his will to live, “I have stopped chemo and given up on my will to live.”

He was sentenced to rehab and imprisoned until 2006. He reclaimed his life and is now a Christian Pastor with his wife, Tracy. He now uses his past to help others.

Darryl is still cancer-free today. He still speaks out for the need to do the early screening. He is also speaking out with advice during this covid19 pandemic about reaching out to loved ones who are in recovery from alcohol and drugs. He says, “check on them and let them know they are not alone they do not need to drink or do drugs. This covid19 does not have to beat them or send them backward in their recovery.”