My favorite player growing up. I had Darryl Strawberry everything. I even sent him a letter when I was 9 years old and he sent me an autographed photo and a Mets team photo. And when he got traded to the Dodgers, I sent him another letter and he sent me a Dodgers photo and a Dodgers team photo
What! Dude I’ve sent stuff off to players as a young kid and never get anything back. That’s way cool. I had his rookie card along with Dwight rookie card but a kid in school stole them. Jealous you were responded to. Love it.
Before I was drafted. I was able to pitch against Darryl before he left for Spring Training at a rare pro prep / college game. I threw him 2 pitches. A first pitch change up that embarrassingly floated high and outside, and then a fastball down and in. He hit it so hard to our 2nd baseman that it ate him up so badly Darryl was easily able to get to first base. He then took the biggest lead at first I'd ever seen. I used my best move and picked him off. He was pissed. Went to the dugout, packed his stuff up, and left. Two weeks later, it was reported that he had beaten his wife up and was on drugs.
@@CoutureThug What amazes me is Darryl wanted to go to the Dodgers and Mets Fans knew that but when he got there Lasorda did not like him at all. And you know Lasorda! He didn't hold back how he felt either!
I worked the opening at his restaurant in Queens in 2010. His wife Tracy was a sweetheart. Darryl was definitely a guy who found it hard to say no, a bad habit in 1980s NYC. His brothers are great. Ronny is hilarious and his older brother, Michael, was LAPD and actually shot in the leg during the Rodney King riots. He managed the restaurant for a while and was a stand up dude. Most of the 2010 Yankees showed up during the private opening, along with Doc, Tino, Bernie, Dykstra (pre-indictment), Salt-n-Pepa, John Starks, and I got to meet Gary Carter that night - about 8 months prior to his death from brain cancer. Needless to say, its still one of the most surreal nights of my life as a NY sports fan.
that's the crazy thing about New York. On any given night you can be in the same room with someone you just saw on tv or heard on the radio. Dykstra dn Strawberry were my two favorite Mets, followed by Keef!
That's an awesome story. Salt n Peppa went to my high school after I graduated. My favorite pitcher was Dwight Gooden. I tried to copy him but wasn't athletic enough.
@@TheFrenchPug Nice! I'm from Seattle and don't know anyone on Goodness level but Spencer Hawes was on my AAU bball team for 5 yrs. He eventually went to UW and the NBA. Craziest tho is Dave Snell was my little league coach and taught me how to pitch. His eldest son Dru was on my team as well. his little brother Is Blake Snell who is now on the Padres and a former Cy Young winner with the Rays. Still surreal asf everytime I see him on TV
1:35 - Thank you so much for posting this. I had a huge respect for Mr. Strawberry before I saw this because of Daryl's God-given gift of playing baseball but even more so now that I found out about the abuse he had to deal with at the hands of his father. God bless his mother for protecting her sons so that they didn't go to prison for the rest of their lives.
Statistically, his first eight seasons in the league were comparable to Reggie Jackson's. Not only his numbers, but he carried the Mets' offense in the 80s. Without the off-field issues, he would have eclipsed 500 home runs and would have made the HOF easily.
I remember him as a kid. He was a scary hitter from 1983-1991, and a quality outfielder. If only he could have kept it clean. I have always thought of him as being baseball's answer to William "The Refrigerator" Perry. Both of them had such great talent and both of them just let it slip away because of carelessness and ego.
Strawberry is still one of my all-time favorite players. Not only because of his game, but also because of his faults. His life is a great story. As a person who has struggled with addiction and trauma, I'm able to relate to him in a way. Love Darryl!
Do a video on Eric Davis. Another guy who had a tremendous stretch in the prime of his career that didnt quite live to his full potential. And also a childhood friend of Strawberry.
@@ludvigborga3676e was 3 hr short of 40/50 club in 1987. If he woulda got that, all the Canseco hype in 1988 about first ever 40/40 club would have been non existent. Also Davis was 20/80 club in 1986 which is insane Edit: and Davis always had his head on straight. He just got hurt a lot diving on astroturf. Then he got cancer
I was lucky enough to be able to pitch against Strawberry, Dykstra, and Davis in a pre spring training college practice game in L.A.. Randy Johnson pitched against us. That was the best night of my life. I'm 57 now.
I feel like these individual legends on the 86 Mets team get forgotten by because of the “ya gotta believe” aspect of the team. Amazin’ to see a video that highlights one of the franchises best. Thank you Cam
Thank you for the kind words, that means a lot to hear. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, and I agree there’s a lot of players you could make a full video on from that era of Mets baseball!
I respect your opinion and all but I think the 86 Mets way overshadows the 69 team..Everyone knows the Buckner play and there have been plenty of documentaries on the team.Especially Darryl and Gooden..The 86 Mets are one of the most remembered champions in MLB history..But that’s just my opinion
I faced him as a pitcher in college when he came to practice against us before he left for spring training. He came with Lenny Dykstra. I had never faced anyone who was able to swing as hard and fast as Strawberry. Plus, his speed on the basepath was next level.
@jonklein7130 Idk. He had a bunch of car washes for a long time. He had played shortstop against us that night left-handed and was better than our right-handed shortstop. I got him to pop up twice that night. But Randy Johnson pitched against us, throwing 97 to 103 mph. I had never seen that kind of heat close up like that. None of our players even came close to getting a hit off him.
Those 86 Mets were a colorful cast of characters! I've done my fair share of experimentation over the years, but those dudes were truly dedicated to science!
As a younger teen when Strawberry and Gooden exploded and seeing both loose a bit to drugs it really helped to keep me away from the hard stuff..As a kid it seemed if you did drugs(especially coke) your talent disappears
Strawberry was as gifted as they came I loved him both with the Yankees and the Mets the Mets team underachieved terribly considering all the talent they had and that pitching staff which was unbeatable with Doc Gooden at the top Despite all the accolades I'm quite certain Darryl Strawberry would tell you that the greatest thing in his life is the Lord and as the Lord basically tells us all we are to make a Miracle of our own personal messes so that others who eventually walked the same path we did can be counseled and see what it takes to heal. Sports is just a game a life and the soul is eternity
Beautifully said. I think the most surprising thing about making this video was how much they underachieved. I truly didn’t know much about that era of Mets baseball, and after researching for this video I can honestly say it’s inspirational seeing Strawberry turning his life around considering the rough childhood he had.
The Mets under performed because they had a player's coach that let them do anything they wanted and did not ask questions. The team was stacked with players that reached the mountain's peak at 19-20 years old. They had fame and fortune but no one to really mentor them and keep them out of trouble. Not to mention, they were stars in the biggest city in the world. They really did not stand a chance much like child actors.
Met fan here Darryl was my favorite player growing up and you have done an curate and fantastic job of Laying out his life and career for the younger baseball fans who may not know who he was. Definitely unmatched talent but unfulfilled potential. When the Yankees were winning WS in the 90s I looked at how Jeter was the talk of the town -I always couldn't help to think -what if Doc and Darryl would've stayed off those drugs. They would've had their numbers retired already and been in the BB hall of fame!
My fam moved from NY to Cali in 1986 , I was 4 years old and my Dad would alllllways talk about this Strawberry guy in baseball, I had no idea who he was talking about, and then as I got older and more I to sports I was like ooooooh this is the cat my pops was always talking about! Dude is high as a kite and blasting Homer's all over the place lol Glad to hear he was finally able to get it together after baseball. Great vid mang! 👌 👍
In the 10 seasons, he played over 100 games each, he hit over 300 HRs. He played 100 games in his first 9 seasons and then 7 years later he played 101 games one last time before he retired and hit 24 homeruns and 57 RBIs. That's crazy. He averaged over 30 homeruns anytime he played over 100 games.
The prettiest and most powerful swing in the history of baseball.. He was definitely my idol and the reason I still love the game today, although no one since has quite done it with the bravado and swag like he did ⚾.."On the 7th day, God created earth, on the 8th day, he chiseled out Darryl Strawberry" ~Gary Carter
The only MLB game I ever attended (so far) was in April 1990 when I saw the Mets play the Expos in Montreal. I was 13 and couldn't wait to see Darryl Starwberry in person. He didn't play that day. 33 years later and I'm still irritated by that.
I watched Strawberry for the short time he was at the single A Mets team back in the early 80s. I was only about 5-6 years old at the time and the single A team that tiny town had trouble filling stands even with the likes of future greats like Dykstra, Gooden, and Strawberry making stops along the way. I would stand beside the dugout and watch the players before and during the game. Strawberry had to have been about 17 years old but I distinctly remember both he and particularly Gooden being very kind even though they were teens. Many of the players would give me practice balls and cracked bats and Strawberry and Gooden did too. In my 40s now, I still have those bats and balls but no one probably believes me that a few of them were given to me by two of the best players of their generation. I was lucky to see those guys play before they hit the big league and I still have a soft spot for them, even through all of the ups and downs with legal trouble they both had.
I saw Darryl playing for “Tiburones de La Guaira” La Guaira’s Sharks in Venezuela 🇻🇪, he was a rookie 1982-1983 and with only 20 yrs old he crushed a HR out of “Parque Universitario” which has only been done by players like Andres Galarraga with monstrous power….
Perhaps the greatest swing in Baseball history..so sad how he became undone. But, the respect I have for him now that he has aged and saged- it is one beautiful human story!
You should do a tier list of players with rec specs. When I was a kid and had to wear glasses for the first time, my mom would always try to make me feel better by saying "Chris Sabo wears glasses, and look at how cool he is." 1990 was a great year for Cincinnati.
I remember seeing strawberry at spring training when he played for the Yankees he hit a line drive off the center field wall for a double and I thought it was going through the center field wall when he hit it. Strawberry 🍓 is one of my favorite players and I think he still had 337 career hrs it sucks what happened to him I hope he's good and I wish him well.🗽🗽🗽🍓
Recently looked at his numbers and here's some perspective. Major Leaguers all time with 500 homeruns and 300 stolen bases? Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Willie Mays. Before the age of 30, Strawberry had 280 homeruns and 201 stolen bases. He likely would gave gotten there had it not been for drugs.
Absolutely. After '91 with the Dodgers, the average number of games he played a year was 42. In that time frame, the maximum amount of games he played in a season was 101 with the '98 Yankees to which he was way past his prime.
@@Cam23 Btw, I don't know if there WAS a "Golden Age of Submarine Pitchers!" I just know your video would be more mysterious & intriguing if there WAS a "Golden Age of Submarine Pitchers!" Well, take some liberties, my boy, that's what I always say! I mean, what IS a "Golden Age" anyway? Sounds like a term with a very "loose," uncertain meaning. How long are Golden Ages? How many are there!? Oh, and where's the line between a submarine pitcher and a 4:00 - 5:30 pitcher? It's all about who looks cool! Find em, @Cam 23; find the most impressive bunch of "4:00 to 5:30 to 6:00-submariners within any ten-year-span and then call that the "The Golden Age of Submarine Pitchers!" It'll be a great video! Don't forget to put Gene Garber in it! Ok, I'm out.
@@davidjohnson6611 definitely, 6 gold gloves and probably more if he wasn’t hurt so often. And when healthy, a very good hitter too. 2001 he batted .288 with 34 homers and had a 6.1 WAR. Dude doesn’t get nearly enough love
Imagine the career of Strawberry if he’d have mixed his incredible natural talent with a high level of self discipline and application for the whole time. 500 homers at least I reckon, just as one example.
You forgot to mention his defense. He did have a canon of an arm. He was one of the few outfielders. Could you do one on Eric Davis which him and Darryl strawberry I believe were teammates in high school at Crenshaw. Awesome video and I do miss the Darryl chant's
I think a highlight of that year of 86 or even a solo introspective on Mookie, Hernandez, Dykstra, or even Carter would be great! That team was legendary! Or maybe Ho Jo or Piazza from another time?!
My favorite player ever!! Growing up in the NYC metro area I would watch the games on WWOR Channel 9! I got a poster when I was 9 years old in 1988…I still have it hanging in my parents house.
Strawberry has described himself as having struggled with a sex addiction. After retirement he admitted to having routinely had sex between innings of MLB games in which he played.
I loved watching Daryl play with the Mets when I was a little kid and with the Yankees as a teenager. I met him in a gas station in NY in 2007 or 2008 and he was super chill. He talked with me for about 15 minutes, took pics with me and my girlfriend, then bought his snacks and hopped in his sweet Audi A10 or whatever it was. I’m very glad to learn he is doing well! Gods favorites have a hard time.
Unfortunately there isn’t a whole ton of footage of him out there, but Johnny Mize is probably one of the most forgotten players in baseball history. From his age 23-35 seasons (missing 3 years to WW2) he put up 64.7 rWAR in just 5,954 PA. His 7 year peak war of 48.4 ranks only behind Foxx, Pujols, and Gehrig all time amongst first baseman. It’s an enormous shame this his name is relatively unknown
He would be a great player to make a video on. But you’re absolutely right, footage is so hard to come by, and sometimes with these old time legends there’s nothing unless it’s Babe Ruth. I’d love to find a creative way to make videos on guys like that eventually!
And in keeping with the theme of guys ruined by substance abuse, Chuck Klein would be a fantastic case study. His first 6 years in the league are better than most anyone else’s in the history of the game. Good luck finding any footage on him though.
You've gotta talk about Wilbur Wood. His numbers are baffling and awe inspiring. And if nobody makes a video about this guy soon, I'm gonna have to start my own channel cuz this guy demands a deep dive.
The very first thing I thought in the first minute of the video when you mentioned the drug and alcohol problems was "What was he so unhappy about?" Then you mentioned the childhood abuse thing, and it all made perfect sense. People dont develop addictions without something driving it. Healthy people will try drugs or alcohol or use them recreationally- at times, when appropriate, to enjoy company of others using them, etc. Then they'll sit them down. The only reason someone develops an addiction is because the substance is able to produce the endorphins they no longer can on their own. When you see someone struggling with drug or alcohol use, dont look down on them. Try to figure out what's wrong, and get them help for that first. Then the need to stop using will make itself apparent to them naturally- nobody likes to hurt people around them unless its completely necessary to not kill themselves. Without that, they're a relapse waiting to happen.
I have seen recent interviews with Darryl Strawberry and he has totally turned his life around and has been clean for a good 15 plus years. He does a lot of interviews and gives motivational speeches on turning your life around and has embraced Christianity. A lot of people thought he was a lost cause at one point. He is articulate, wise, humble, and down to earth. I could totally see how somebody with his upbringing or even with a normal upbringing could fall into that lifestyle being a young, hotshot stud athlete in New York in the 1980's when drinking after games and drug use was much more regular for most players. It's a shame his stats fell off so far in his 30's if he had hit between 450-500 homers he'd be HOF. During his era teams hit way fewer homers and guys would often lead the league with 35 to 40 in the 1980's or sometimes even less. Being a big slugger was 25-35 homers per year consistently.
Do the prime of Keith Hernandez please. He’s got an MVP and was a 60 bWAR career player. Thats a lot for a 1st baseman with an embarrassment of accolades which includes 5+ AS, MVP, batting title, numerous GG and SS. How did he miss the boat to the HOF and 40 WAR 105 ERA+ Jack Morris got in?
It’s inspiring to see him right the ship and live a happy life free of the things that plagued him all those years! And thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video
I have no words to describe how it was for Met fans in 83 and beyond, but that 86 season, on the heels of a very good 84 and 85 seasons, was unbelievably insane. I had a mini night plan at the time and attended 26 regular season games, as well as post season play. It ruined me and I’ve since divorced myself from baseball. No other team since held my heart the way the 86 team did. All teams since play in the shadow of 86. It was the same way with teams that followed the 69 Mets, but the 86 Mets bursted out of the shadow that plagued them for so many seasons. It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 38 years and counting for a team to come out of the 86 shadow. There hasn’t been leaders like a Carter or Hernandez. No Mookie. No table setters like Blackman and Dykstra. No closers like McDowell or Orasko. No starters like Doc, Sid, Ron and Bobby O. It was a once in a lifetime team.
Dude great video Straw was 1 of my favorite players as a kid. Any chance you can do a video on Doc? Doc was another favorite player of mine growing up. Great job!
The first team I got into baseball with was the 1986 Mets. I became a Phillies fan in 1989 due to Krukker and Dykstra going there, but started as a Mets fan due to Strawberry. I was a HUGE fan of his and Doc. It was sad to see them destroy themselves. Loved his Yankees comeback though. Still one of my all-time favorite athletes.
I would love to see a video about Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker. How they came up together, both played for the same team their whole career, and should BOTH be in the HOF.
A friend from elementary through high school, until even now, Doug started life as a Detroit Tigers fan. But during Spring Training, his dad met a few of the Mets and brought Doug home some autographed items. This was the year prior to Strawberry being called up. He had stuff signed by Dykstra and some others, mostly guys dying to be asked for a signature. So Doug became a huge Mets fan for about ten years. When the scandals concerning Strawberry and Doc hit the press, Doug was devastated. He went back to his Tigers, like Thomas Magnum, and never returned. Kind of sad. He still has all the autographed items in his safe, but his Detroit stuff is on his walls, Willie Hernandez, Trammell, Tanana and some others ( no Kirk Gibson yet ). He’s also a Dallas Cowboys fan, Georgetown Hoyas fan and a Pistons fan. Me…Phillies, Flyers, 76rs, Steelers and Tar Heels. Hey, we’re living in Montana so it’s allowed. Yeah, we hate each others teams, especially the Mets and Cowboys. But Doug would be one of the best guys a person could ever meet, if not for his teams. I love that dude.
My favorite player growing up. I had Darryl Strawberry everything. I even sent him a letter when I was 9 years old and he sent me an autographed photo and a Mets team photo. And when he got traded to the Dodgers, I sent him another letter and he sent me a Dodgers photo and a Dodgers team photo
That’s awesome! Very cool of him to do that.
Ya he was my childhood favorite as well. Strawberry and Griffey are my 2 all-time favorites followed by Manny and Barry Larkin
I was a huge Stawberry and Mattingly fan as a kid
What! Dude I’ve sent stuff off to players as a young kid and never get anything back. That’s way cool. I had his rookie card along with Dwight rookie card but a kid in school stole them. Jealous you were responded to. Love it.
Before I was drafted. I was able to pitch against Darryl before he left for Spring Training at a rare pro prep / college game. I threw him 2 pitches. A first pitch change up that embarrassingly floated high and outside, and then a fastball down and in. He hit it so hard to our 2nd baseman that it ate him up so badly Darryl was easily able to get to first base. He then took the biggest lead at first I'd ever seen. I used my best move and picked him off. He was pissed. Went to the dugout, packed his stuff up, and left. Two weeks later, it was reported that he had beaten his wife up and was on drugs.
Mr. Burns removing him for a pinch-hitter probably didn't help.
"Shave them sideburns Mattingly"
Lol he started crying when they taunted him
“Its like theres a party in my mouth, and everyones invited!”
@@poindextertunes ⏸️
Sax actually had a condition that sounds fake
Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden. As a Mets fan I Will never forget them. They were incredible.
As a dodgers fan and a big fan of baseball neither will I, that was my childhood
@@CoutureThug What amazes me is Darryl wanted to go to the Dodgers and Mets Fans knew that but when he got there Lasorda did not like him at all. And you know Lasorda! He didn't hold back how he felt either!
The sweetest swing. Home runs looked like he hit a single
like george foreman in his 40's when he wreckt that dude with a punch so slow it looked like was wiping crumbs off his face
I agree with you 💯.
@@robertoso8796Amazing comparison 😂
His 1988 and 1990 seasons were the examples of the heights he could have reached. 250 home runs left on the table for sure.
Crack sucks.
I worked the opening at his restaurant in Queens in 2010. His wife Tracy was a sweetheart. Darryl was definitely a guy who found it hard to say no, a bad habit in 1980s NYC. His brothers are great. Ronny is hilarious and his older brother, Michael, was LAPD and actually shot in the leg during the Rodney King riots. He managed the restaurant for a while and was a stand up dude. Most of the 2010 Yankees showed up during the private opening, along with Doc, Tino, Bernie, Dykstra (pre-indictment), Salt-n-Pepa, John Starks, and I got to meet Gary Carter that night - about 8 months prior to his death from brain cancer. Needless to say, its still one of the most surreal nights of my life as a NY sports fan.
That’s an incredible story! Thank you for sharing. That’s something you’ll never forget!
Man that sounds like one hell of a night! I'm sure you will never forget it too
that's the crazy thing about New York. On any given night you can be in the same room with someone you just saw on tv or heard on the radio. Dykstra dn Strawberry were my two favorite Mets, followed by Keef!
That's an awesome story. Salt n Peppa went to my high school after I graduated. My favorite pitcher was Dwight Gooden. I tried to copy him but wasn't athletic enough.
@@TheFrenchPug Nice! I'm from Seattle and don't know anyone on Goodness level but Spencer Hawes was on my AAU bball team for 5 yrs. He eventually went to UW and the NBA. Craziest tho is Dave Snell was my little league coach and taught me how to pitch. His eldest son Dru was on my team as well. his little brother Is Blake Snell who is now on the Padres and a former Cy Young winner with the Rays. Still surreal asf everytime I see him on TV
1:35 - Thank you so much for posting this. I had a huge respect for Mr. Strawberry before I saw this because of Daryl's God-given gift of playing baseball but even more so now that I found out about the abuse he had to deal with at the hands of his father. God bless his mother for protecting her sons so that they didn't go to prison for the rest of their lives.
Yay, thank you for listening to me on the video request... you are the best!!!
Thank you for suggesting it! Truly remarkable story and I had a blast putting this video together
Statistically, his first eight seasons in the league were comparable to Reggie Jackson's. Not only his numbers, but he carried the Mets' offense in the 80s. Without the off-field issues, he would have eclipsed 500 home runs and would have made the HOF easily.
Interesting comparison!
I'm not much of a fan of these newer stats but I believe that he had accumulated a WAR of just above 40 by the age of 29 or 30
His swing was one of the most beautiful and was similar to Ken Griffey Jr. and Ted Williams.
I remember him as a kid. He was a scary hitter from 1983-1991, and a quality outfielder.
If only he could have kept it clean.
I have always thought of him as being baseball's answer to William "The Refrigerator" Perry. Both of them had such great talent and both of them just let it slip away because of carelessness and ego.
I was surprised he was as productive as he was Especially the steals plus power
A fringe Veterans committee HOF inductee
Strawberry is still one of my all-time favorite players. Not only because of his game, but also because of his faults. His life is a great story. As a person who has struggled with addiction and trauma, I'm able to relate to him in a way. Love Darryl!
Do a video on Eric Davis. Another guy who had a tremendous stretch in the prime of his career that didnt quite live to his full potential. And also a childhood friend of Strawberry.
his batting stance was the best
He definitely could've been 40/40 if he kept his head on straight.
Yeah please make an Eric Davis vid!
@@ludvigborga3676e was 3 hr short of 40/50 club in 1987. If he woulda got that, all the Canseco hype in 1988 about first ever 40/40 club would have been non existent.
Also Davis was 20/80 club in 1986 which is insane
Edit: and Davis always had his head on straight. He just got hurt a lot diving on astroturf. Then he got cancer
I was lucky enough to be able to pitch against Strawberry, Dykstra, and Davis in a pre spring training college practice game in L.A.. Randy Johnson pitched against us. That was the best night of my life. I'm 57 now.
I feel like these individual legends on the 86 Mets team get forgotten by because of the “ya gotta believe” aspect of the team. Amazin’ to see a video that highlights one of the franchises best. Thank you Cam
Thank you for the kind words, that means a lot to hear. I’m glad you enjoyed the video, and I agree there’s a lot of players you could make a full video on from that era of Mets baseball!
I respect your opinion and all but I think the 86 Mets way overshadows the 69 team..Everyone knows the Buckner play and there have been plenty of documentaries on the team.Especially Darryl and Gooden..The 86 Mets are one of the most remembered champions in MLB history..But that’s just my opinion
I know Griffey is unanimously known for his sweet swing. I always thought straws was sweeter. Such insanely quick hands
I faced him as a pitcher, and it was the quickest swing I had ever seen.
His first game was against Cincinnati. I saw him hit a home run at Riverfront. He had so much power
I faced him as a pitcher in college when he came to practice against us before he left for spring training. He came with Lenny Dykstra. I had never faced anyone who was able to swing as hard and fast as Strawberry. Plus, his speed on the basepath was next level.
@@TheFrenchPug what happen to Lenny
@jonklein7130 Idk. He had a bunch of car washes for a long time. He had played shortstop against us that night left-handed and was better than our right-handed shortstop. I got him to pop up twice that night. But Randy Johnson pitched against us, throwing 97 to 103 mph. I had never seen that kind of heat close up like that. None of our players even came close to getting a hit off him.
Those 86 Mets were a colorful cast of characters! I've done my fair share of experimentation over the years, but those dudes were truly dedicated to science!
As a baseball fan, I hated the 1986 Mets. But they are one of the very best I have ever seen in my life. They could do it all.
The 86 Mets were smoking crack and winning ball games😂
14:51 The subtle 'wow' from Owen Wilson was superb 😂😂
Nothing like going to shea stadium when Darryl strawberry came up to the plate “ DARRYL”
As a younger teen when Strawberry and Gooden exploded and seeing both loose a bit to drugs it really helped to keep me away from the hard stuff..As a kid it seemed if you did drugs(especially coke) your talent disappears
They functioned for a long time before their drug use caught up to them.
*lose
One of my coolest memories as a kid is seeing Strawberry play AAA for the Norfolk/Tidewater Tides. I wanna say he played SS/3rd
Strawberry was as gifted as they came I loved him both with the Yankees and the Mets the Mets team underachieved terribly considering all the talent they had and that pitching staff which was unbeatable with Doc Gooden at the top Despite all the accolades I'm quite certain Darryl Strawberry would tell you that the greatest thing in his life is the Lord and as the Lord basically tells us all we are to make a Miracle of our own personal messes so that others who eventually walked the same path we did can be counseled and see what it takes to heal. Sports is just a game a life and the soul is eternity
Beautifully said. I think the most surprising thing about making this video was how much they underachieved. I truly didn’t know much about that era of Mets baseball, and after researching for this video I can honestly say it’s inspirational seeing Strawberry turning his life around considering the rough childhood he had.
The Mets under performed because they had a player's coach that let them do anything they wanted and did not ask questions. The team was stacked with players that reached the mountain's peak at 19-20 years old. They had fame and fortune but no one to really mentor them and keep them out of trouble. Not to mention, they were stars in the biggest city in the world. They really did not stand a chance much like child actors.
@@mattb.4333 Davey Johnson was the reason they underperformed. Blew that series against the Dodgers
Met fan here Darryl was my favorite player growing up and you have done an curate and fantastic job of Laying out his life and career for the younger baseball fans who may not know who he was. Definitely unmatched talent but unfulfilled potential. When the Yankees were winning WS in the 90s I looked at how Jeter was the talk of the town -I always couldn't help to think -what if Doc and Darryl would've stayed off those drugs. They would've had their numbers retired already and been in the BB hall of fame!
Thank you! and you’re absolutely right, I’m sure Darryl and Doc could’ve been HOFers, they certainly had the talent!
My fam moved from NY to Cali in 1986 , I was 4 years old and my Dad would alllllways talk about this Strawberry guy in baseball, I had no idea who he was talking about, and then as I got older and more I to sports I was like ooooooh this is the cat my pops was always talking about! Dude is high as a kite and blasting Homer's all over the place lol Glad to hear he was finally able to get it together after baseball. Great vid mang! 👌 👍
In the 10 seasons, he played over 100 games each, he hit over 300 HRs. He played 100 games in his first 9 seasons and then 7 years later he played 101 games one last time before he retired and hit 24 homeruns and 57 RBIs. That's crazy. He averaged over 30 homeruns anytime he played over 100 games.
The prettiest and most powerful swing in the history of baseball.. He was definitely my idol and the reason I still love the game today, although no one since has quite done it with the bravado and swag like he did ⚾.."On the 7th day, God created earth, on the 8th day, he chiseled out Darryl Strawberry" ~Gary Carter
The only MLB game I ever attended (so far) was in April 1990 when I saw the Mets play the Expos in Montreal. I was 13 and couldn't wait to see Darryl Starwberry in person. He didn't play that day. 33 years later and I'm still irritated by that.
I watched Strawberry for the short time he was at the single A Mets team back in the early 80s. I was only about 5-6 years old at the time and the single A team that tiny town had trouble filling stands even with the likes of future greats like Dykstra, Gooden, and Strawberry making stops along the way. I would stand beside the dugout and watch the players before and during the game. Strawberry had to have been about 17 years old but I distinctly remember both he and particularly Gooden being very kind even though they were teens. Many of the players would give me practice balls and cracked bats and Strawberry and Gooden did too. In my 40s now, I still have those bats and balls but no one probably believes me that a few of them were given to me by two of the best players of their generation. I was lucky to see those guys play before they hit the big league and I still have a soft spot for them, even through all of the ups and downs with legal trouble they both had.
That’s an incredible story! Very cool you got to see two baseball icons together before the baseball world knew them
I saw Darryl playing for “Tiburones de La Guaira” La Guaira’s Sharks in Venezuela 🇻🇪, he was a rookie 1982-1983 and with only 20 yrs old he crushed a HR out of “Parque Universitario” which has only been done by players like Andres Galarraga with monstrous power….
Perhaps the greatest swing in Baseball history..so sad how he became undone. But, the respect I have for him now that he has aged and saged- it is one beautiful human story!
You should do a tier list of players with rec specs. When I was a kid and had to wear glasses for the first time, my mom would always try to make me feel better by saying "Chris Sabo wears glasses, and look at how cool he is." 1990 was a great year for Cincinnati.
Strawberry and Gooden, the 2 biggest what if in baseball. Both were my favorit3s when I was a little kid
SUPER STARDOME HAD DARRYL STAYED CLEAN. THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORIES DARRYL.
I remember seeing strawberry at spring training when he played for the Yankees he hit a line drive off the center field wall for a double and I thought it was going through the center field wall when he hit it.
Strawberry 🍓 is one of my favorite players and I think he still had 337 career hrs it sucks what happened to him I hope he's good and I wish him well.🗽🗽🗽🍓
Please do a video on Eddie Murray, and another on Jesse Orosco!
Yankees fan. I was in absolute awe of him when he was with the Mets. Staggering power.
Kirby Puckett or Rickey Henderson. Eric Davis would be nice too, poor guy had too many injuries but had an amzing prime.
Kirby Puckett is coming this Friday!
He is 100% the reason im a Mets fan since 87. Great video.
As a kid Strawberey was my idol. His swing was the coolest thing ever. Still to this day i collect his cards. He woulda been in the 500 homerun club
Recently looked at his numbers and here's some perspective.
Major Leaguers all time with 500 homeruns and 300 stolen bases? Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Willie Mays.
Before the age of 30, Strawberry had 280 homeruns and 201 stolen bases. He likely would gave gotten there had it not been for drugs.
Absolutely. After '91 with the Dodgers, the average number of games he played a year was 42. In that time frame, the maximum amount of games he played in a season was 101 with the '98 Yankees to which he was way past his prime.
Thank goodness it's Friday... another C23 masterpiece on a legend.
You the man Hatbilly. Thank you for the kind words
@@Cam23 Btw, I don't know if there WAS a "Golden Age of Submarine Pitchers!" I just know your video would be more mysterious & intriguing if there WAS a "Golden Age of Submarine Pitchers!" Well, take some liberties, my boy, that's what I always say! I mean, what IS a "Golden Age" anyway? Sounds like a term with a very "loose," uncertain meaning. How long are Golden Ages? How many are there!? Oh, and where's the line between a submarine pitcher and a 4:00 - 5:30 pitcher? It's all about who looks cool! Find em, @Cam 23; find the most impressive bunch of "4:00 to 5:30 to 6:00-submariners within any ten-year-span and then call that the "The Golden Age of Submarine Pitchers!" It'll be a great video! Don't forget to put Gene Garber in it! Ok, I'm out.
You are skyrocketing, keep it up.
Darryl Strawberry had one of the smoothest and prettiest swings.
I'm a diehard mets fan and Daryl is still my all time favorite baseball player..he could've been one of the all time greats it's such a shame..
Strawberry had a beautiful swing and played the game with grace and elegance.
I’d love to see a video on Eric Chavez’s career, which was marred by injuries. Dude could have had such an incredible statistical career
He was a great Fielder
@@davidjohnson6611 definitely, 6 gold gloves and probably more if he wasn’t hurt so often. And when healthy, a very good hitter too. 2001 he batted .288 with 34 homers and had a 6.1 WAR. Dude doesn’t get nearly enough love
Mannnnn, used to trade for him every franchise i did on mlb 05 just cuz he was the cover athlete😭😭
Please do a video on Roy Halladay.
He was a real throw back. 8-10 complete games during his peak which was from 2002 to 2011.
Huge Doc fan! However, had he not died, don’t think he would have been a first ballot hall of famer. Would have taken a few years.
@Volodymyr Zablotsky I think he would have gotten in if he was alive. The inductee class was weak, plus he had the stats and memorable moments
I played against his son AAU basketball
Was that DJ Strawberry who played for Maryland? Or was that his nephew or something
This channel is fantastic how does it only have 6,000 subs!
That’s very kind of you!
...Eric Davis next please!!! Another amazing athlete with a once in a lifetime swing like Darryl's. These young kids need to know! ⚾
Pirates fan, but Strawberry was always my favorite player. Tried to emulate his iconic wrist whip swing.
Great video, Cam. Thanks for sharing about his spiritual transformation. Encouraging to see a new chapter in his life!
Thank you! And you’re absolutely right, inspiring to see such a change in direction for one’s life!
Imagine the career of Strawberry if he’d have mixed his incredible natural talent with a high level of self discipline and application for the whole time. 500 homers at least I reckon, just as one example.
i remember him hitting this monster homerun in which he hit the roof of the stadium in montreal
You forgot to mention his defense. He did have a canon of an arm. He was one of the few outfielders. Could you do one on Eric Davis which him and Darryl strawberry I believe were teammates in high school at Crenshaw. Awesome video and I do miss the Darryl chant's
eric davis was the man
Eric Davis played at Fremont HS, which was down the road from Crenshaw.
I think a highlight of that year of 86 or even a solo introspective on Mookie, Hernandez, Dykstra, or even Carter would be great! That team was legendary!
Or maybe Ho Jo or Piazza from another time?!
I think Ted Williams would be a good player to look. Crazy history while also being one of the best to ever play
Fuzzy has good taste glad to find your channel. Best of luck!
Thank you!
As a lifelong Pirates fan, I loved and hated this man. He was clutch. Not sure I have seen another guy that skinny hit the ball so hard.
Loved it, thank you!
He's the reason why I started watching baseball! His style of swing along with Griffey was perfect!
One of my favorite players of all time! Thanks for making this video!
Thank you for watching! Glad you enjoyed the video 😎
@@Cam23 always. Love your vids bro plz keep em coming
@@Cam23 if I could throw in my player suggestion for a video it would be Barry Larkin. Haven't seen many vids on him.
@@one7deep7savage7 yeah the field is pretty open for Larkin on YT!
appreciate the great content. i grew up in the 80's and my favortite players were Mattingly, Strawberry, Gooden, and Rickey Henderson
Amazing video Cam ❤️
My favorite player ever!! Growing up in the NYC metro area I would watch the games on WWOR Channel 9! I got a poster when I was 9 years old in 1988…I still have it hanging in my parents house.
How bout a video on his Cousin Eric Davis. Staying healthy.
Dude was 20/80 js
Strawberry has described himself as having struggled with a sex addiction. After retirement he admitted to having routinely had sex between innings of MLB games in which he played.
I loved watching Daryl play with the Mets when I was a little kid and with the Yankees as a teenager. I met him in a gas station in NY in 2007 or 2008 and he was super chill. He talked with me for about 15 minutes, took pics with me and my girlfriend, then bought his snacks and hopped in his sweet Audi A10 or whatever it was. I’m very glad to learn he is doing well! Gods favorites have a hard time.
I loved watching Straw play. Great video!
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the video 😎
@@Cam23 I would like you to do one on Doc Gooden as well.
Unfortunately there isn’t a whole ton of footage of him out there, but Johnny Mize is probably one of the most forgotten players in baseball history. From his age 23-35 seasons (missing 3 years to WW2) he put up 64.7 rWAR in just 5,954 PA. His 7 year peak war of 48.4 ranks only behind Foxx, Pujols, and Gehrig all time amongst first baseman. It’s an enormous shame this his name is relatively unknown
He would be a great player to make a video on. But you’re absolutely right, footage is so hard to come by, and sometimes with these old time legends there’s nothing unless it’s Babe Ruth. I’d love to find a creative way to make videos on guys like that eventually!
@@Cam23 Bobby Grich would also be a reall good player who’s been pretty much forgotten that has a lot more footage
And in keeping with the theme of guys ruined by substance abuse, Chuck Klein would be a fantastic case study. His first 6 years in the league are better than most anyone else’s in the history of the game. Good luck finding any footage on him though.
I love your insane documentaries!😄👍 I love this one, and Mattingly and Boggs as well!! Thanks for these!! Much appreciated!
Thank you! I’m glad you’re enjoying the series. I love making these videos. So interesting to learn about baseball legends ⚾️
Excellent uplifting vid positive message at the end and his mom is looking down fondly 🙏⚾️
You do great vids man. You’ve got a good speaking cadence which goes a long way with this type of content
Thank you for the kind words. That means a lot to hear! It’s something that I’ve had to work on over the years because originally, not so much 😂
Was thinking the same thing. Very articulate as well. Well done my man
@@trealville23 Thank you!
Strawberry had the first swing that I admired and tried to mimic growing up despite being a Braves fan.
Such a sweet lefty swing, hard to ignore even as a fan of a rival team!
You've gotta talk about Wilbur Wood. His numbers are baffling and awe inspiring. And if nobody makes a video about this guy soon, I'm gonna have to start my own channel cuz this guy demands a deep dive.
He should be in the HoF just for starting both games of a double-header.
Strawberry was incredible, I'm not American but i attended a couple Mets games in 86 as a kid that I'll never forget, its a great game. Cheers
One of the sweetest swings of all time!
The very first thing I thought in the first minute of the video when you mentioned the drug and alcohol problems was "What was he so unhappy about?" Then you mentioned the childhood abuse thing, and it all made perfect sense.
People dont develop addictions without something driving it. Healthy people will try drugs or alcohol or use them recreationally- at times, when appropriate, to enjoy company of others using them, etc. Then they'll sit them down. The only reason someone develops an addiction is because the substance is able to produce the endorphins they no longer can on their own.
When you see someone struggling with drug or alcohol use, dont look down on them. Try to figure out what's wrong, and get them help for that first. Then the need to stop using will make itself apparent to them naturally- nobody likes to hurt people around them unless its completely necessary to not kill themselves. Without that, they're a relapse waiting to happen.
Had his and Eric Davis autographed rookie cards. Favorite player ever on RBI baseball.
Straw could be hung over, have no clothes on, just been in a car accident and still walk up to the plate and hit a HR. He was a natural.
I have seen recent interviews with Darryl Strawberry and he has totally turned his life around and has been clean for a good 15 plus years. He does a lot of interviews and gives motivational speeches on turning your life around and has embraced Christianity. A lot of people thought he was a lost cause at one point. He is articulate, wise, humble, and down to earth.
I could totally see how somebody with his upbringing or even with a normal upbringing could fall into that lifestyle being a young, hotshot stud athlete in New York in the 1980's when drinking after games and drug use was much more regular for most players.
It's a shame his stats fell off so far in his 30's if he had hit between 450-500 homers he'd be HOF. During his era teams hit way fewer homers and guys would often lead the league with 35 to 40 in the 1980's or sometimes even less. Being a big slugger was 25-35 homers per year consistently.
Do the prime of Keith Hernandez please. He’s got an MVP and was a 60 bWAR career player. Thats a lot for a 1st baseman with an embarrassment of accolades which includes 5+ AS, MVP, batting title, numerous GG and SS. How did he miss the boat to the HOF and 40 WAR 105 ERA+ Jack Morris got in?
But he only got to 2nd base with Elaine.
Great video about my favorite player.
He's had a troubled life and I'm so happy he got his life back on a good path.
Keep up the great videos! 😍😍
It’s inspiring to see him right the ship and live a happy life free of the things that plagued him all those years!
And thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video
A cautionary tale indeed, as a met fan I'm really happy straw has turned it around .
New sub, great content!
Thanks!
Great Video.. Keep em coming.
I have no words to describe how it was for Met fans in 83 and beyond, but that 86 season, on the heels of a very good 84 and 85 seasons, was unbelievably insane. I had a mini night plan at the time and attended 26 regular season games, as well as post season play. It ruined me and I’ve since divorced myself from baseball. No other team since held my heart the way the 86 team did. All teams since play in the shadow of 86. It was the same way with teams that followed the 69 Mets, but the 86 Mets bursted out of the shadow that plagued them for so many seasons. It’s hard to believe, but it’s been 38 years and counting for a team to come out of the 86 shadow. There hasn’t been leaders like a Carter or Hernandez. No Mookie. No table setters like Blackman and Dykstra. No closers like McDowell or Orasko. No starters like Doc, Sid, Ron and Bobby O. It was a once in a lifetime team.
Dude great video Straw was 1 of my favorite players as a kid. Any chance you can do a video on Doc? Doc was another favorite player of mine growing up. Great job!
Thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the video! I’ll make sure to put Doc on my radar 🤙
Love Darryl
Please do one of these awesome videos
On Rickey, Ron Gant, Tim Raines, Ray Lankford, Mookie Wilson and Lee Mazzilli
The first team I got into baseball with was the 1986 Mets. I became a Phillies fan in 1989 due to Krukker and Dykstra going there, but started as a Mets fan due to Strawberry. I was a HUGE fan of his and Doc. It was sad to see them destroy themselves. Loved his Yankees comeback though. Still one of my all-time favorite athletes.
I think if he could have stayed focused and off drugs he would most likely have hit 500 or more home runs
Man these videos are awsome
Thank you kind sir! Glad you’re enjoying the content 😎
I'd love to see one on Ozzie Smith, who doesn't get nearly enough attention these days
In '92 he led the Power Plant to the Springfield City Championship game where he went 9 for 9 with 9 home runs.
Do a Vald the "Impaler" Guerrero👍
Just found your channel and subscribed. Keep up the great content
Thank you!
He had the sweetest swing i have ever seen when i was a kid i used to try to copy his batting stance
I would love to see a video about Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker. How they came up together, both played for the same team their whole career, and should BOTH be in the HOF.
They definitely seem like a great duo to make a video on. Interesting how they came up the same year and both had HOF careers!
perhaps the most beautiful swing ever
A friend from elementary through high school, until even now, Doug started life as a Detroit Tigers fan. But during Spring Training, his dad met a few of the Mets and brought Doug home some autographed items. This was the year prior to Strawberry being called up. He had stuff signed by Dykstra and some others, mostly guys dying to be asked for a signature.
So Doug became a huge Mets fan for about ten years. When the scandals concerning Strawberry and Doc hit the press, Doug was devastated. He went back to his Tigers, like Thomas Magnum, and never returned. Kind of sad. He still has all the autographed items in his safe, but his Detroit stuff is on his walls, Willie Hernandez, Trammell, Tanana and some others ( no Kirk Gibson yet ). He’s also a Dallas Cowboys fan, Georgetown Hoyas fan and a Pistons fan. Me…Phillies, Flyers, 76rs, Steelers and Tar Heels. Hey, we’re living in Montana so it’s allowed. Yeah, we hate each others teams, especially the Mets and Cowboys.
But Doug would be one of the best guys a person could ever meet, if not for his teams. I love that dude.
Also, why do people never speak of the defense Strawberry played?
Glad Fozzy brought me to your channel bro
Welcome to the channel!
You Strawberry, hit a home run!
Ok Skipp.