Former President Donald Trump has used his pardon power to grant clemency to Darryl Strawberry, the former New York Mets player who later became a minister. Strawberry’s 1995 federal tax evasion conviction has been officially pardoned, according to The New York Post.
A White House official, as reported by The New York Post, said, "President Trump has approved a pardon for Darryl Strawberry, three-time World Series champion and eight-time MLB All-Star." The pardon does not, however, resolve all of Strawberry’s legal issues; his later state-level charges related to drugs and solicitation are not affected by the federal pardon.
From 1983 to 1999, he hit 335 home runs and earned the National League Rookie of the Year award in his debut season. Off the field, Strawberry faced personal and legal challenges, including an indictment for failing to report income from autographs and memorabilia sales, followed by multiple probation violations. In 1998, he confronted additional hardships when he was diagnosed with colon cancer, requiring surgery and chemotherapy.
Following these turbulent years, Strawberry turned to his Christian faith for guidance and stability, a factor that appears to have influenced Trump’s decision to grant the pardon. According to a post on Strawberry’s Instagram, cited by ABC7 New York, the former president praising him as "one the greatest player of the '80s and celebrating the Mets."
Strawberry expressed gratitude on social media for the pardon. He joins other figures pardoned by Trump, including a former Republican governor of Connecticut and an ex-GOP congressman.
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