New York Mets legend Darryl Strawberry confirmed, through the team official website, that he will be in attendance for this year’s Old Timers’ Day, to be celebrated on August 27 at Citi Field. It will be the first time in 32 years that the former outfielder will step onto a field wearing the Mets colors.
“Shea was always a wonderful place for me,” Strawberry said to MLB.com. “The fans were always great. They supported me in the good and bad times.”
Strawberry was one of the league’s top outfielders in the eighties and won the 1986 World Series with the Mets, against the Boston Red Sox. He said he is looking forward to meeting his friends and former teammates, but he won’t be playing.
“Sorry to say, I don’t think I will be able to play,” Strawberry said. “My knees and shoulder won’t let me swing a bat anymore. It’s the wear and tear and the years catching up with me. I will be there supporting the guys who will be on the field.”
One of the best hitters ever to wear a Mets uniform
The Mets picked Strawberry first in the 1980 Draft. He made his MLB debut in 1983, winning the National League Rookie of the Year award after slashing .257/.336/.512 with 26 home runs and 74 RBI. In 1988. As of today, Strawberry is the Mets’ all-time leader in home runs with 252.
With the Mets, Strawberry hit .263/.359/.520 with the 252 blasts, an .878 OPS and 191 stolen bases in eight years with the franchise.
More than 60 former Mets will join Strawberry at Old Timers’ Day, with names such as Mike Piazza, Johan Santana, Pedro Martínez, Tim Teufel, Josh Thole, John Franco, Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Al Leiter, Ed Kranepool, Frank Thomas, Ron Swoboda, Jon Matlack, Félix Millán, Mookie Wilson, Howard Johnson, Bobby Ojeda, Robin Ventura, Turk Wendell, Endy Chávez, Cliff Floyd, Billy Wagner and Daniel Murphy.