Darryl Strawberry: Another Life

Darryl Strawberry (0:00)

I call it that fake part of living, because we want everybody to praise us. But at the same time, have I ever dealt with the brokenness on the inside, the reality of not having a father in my life?

I think a lot of times, we as African Americans, we don't have father figures in our life, and we have to search for it. And we try to search for it in everything else, women, cars, money, drugs, whatever brings pleasure. But at the end of the day, you still have to go home to you and lay on that couch, and you still empty on the inside and I was no different than anybody else.

Mick Hunt (0:42)

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another exciting episode of Mick Unplugged. And today I'm extremely honored, I'm humbled because I get to talk to my hero.

He is a three time World Series Champion, eight time All Star, one of the most feared hitters in Major League Baseball history. But his life isn't about that. His most remarkable feat is him giving back to communities, helping lead others to Christ, and just making an impact on the world. Ladies and gentlemen, I welcome my hero, Mr. Darryl Strawberry.

Darryl Strawberry (1:16)

Well, thank you so much, Mick Unplugged. I appreciate you having me on your show. Like we were talking before, you said you had reached out to me and I had some health issues. And I said, one day, maybe I have the opportunity to get on your show and sit here and break bread with you. Here we are, brother, Mick and the Strawberry.

Mick Hunt (1:34)

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Mick and the Strawberry, man. This is so surreal for me because when I call you my hero, man, it's on so many levels. It's because of you that as an African American kid, I played baseball growing up.

It's because of you that as a college student, I was okay talking about my faith and not being ashamed to say, I love Jesus out loud. It's because of you, man, that I'm a better human being and so I owe you so much gratitude and I want to give you your flowers while you're here.

Darryl Strawberry (2:06)

Well, again, like I said, it means so much to me to be able to just have an impact for people in general and especially for people of color, African Americans and where we come from because we come from the struggle. We know how hard it is to get out of the struggle, but there is a way out and we must always remind people that you can't get out. Don't stereotype yourself and let people dictate who you are.

You have to find out who you are through your journey more than anything. I think the struggle of the journey that one goes through brings you to a greater place. A lot of times people want to project what you should be. I am what I am. I'm where I'm supposed to be, and I'm grateful for God's grace that He has given me this opportunity.

Mick Hunt (2:58)

Amen to that, brother. Amen to that. When we talk about your life and we talk about another life in the book that we're going to get into, this amazing book that's released, I always ask my guests this first question about what is your because?

That thing that's deeper than your why, right? Like if I were to say what's your why, you might say, you know, my wife, my kids. But when I say but why, that sentence usually begins with well, because. So if I were to ask the straw man, like all the amazing things that you're doing today, what's your because? Why do you continue to do the things that you do?

Darryl Strawberry (3:35)

Because of my mother, because of her raising five of us by herself, not having a male figure in the house, and having to go through your own personal challenges in life.

Because of that, gave me strength, gave me courage. What I mean by that is to never quit, no matter what it may look like. I just remember quitting in high school, my freshman year in baseball, and I realized from that day forward that I would never quit again no matter what came against me, and I had to go through some very difficult challenges through minor league baseball, and people calling me out of my name, and boys, and this and that. I had to deal with some racial things, but I did not quit because if you give up, you never know the miracle that might be on the other side. I wouldn't be sitting here with a successful baseball career, playing 17 years in the major leagues, even with pain, but still at the same time, great because I wanted to achieve, I wanted to prove to my father that he was wrong about us, and that was my goal.