President Donald Trump has granted a full pardon to baseball icon Darryl Strawberry, the eight-time MLB All-Star and three-time World Series champion who has spent recent years dedicated to ministry and addiction recovery work. The pardon, confirmed by a White House official, formally clears Strawberry’s record following his conviction for tax evasion in the 1990s.

Strawberry, who played for both the New York Mets and New York Yankees, had pleaded guilty in 1995 to one count of tax evasion and served time while also paying back taxes. The White House noted that his life since then has been marked by redemption and service. “Following his career, Mr. Strawberry found faith in Christianity and has been sober for over a decade,” an official said, adding that he continues to help others through the Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center in Florida.

A Call from the President

Strawberry shared the news of his pardon on Instagram, describing how he received a phone call from Trump while caring for his wife after surgery. “Half asleep, I glanced over and saw a call from Washington, D.C. Curious, I answered, and to my amazement, the lady on the line said, ‘Darryl Strawberry, you have a call from the President of the United States,’” he wrote.

In his post, Strawberry recalled Trump praising his playing days in New York, calling him “one of the greatest players of the 1980s” before informing him of the pardon. “My wife captured the moment on video, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude — thanking God for setting me free from my past and helping me become a better man, husband, and father,” he wrote.

He also emphasized that his appreciation was not political. “This has nothing to do with politics — it’s about a man, President Trump, caring deeply for a friend,” Strawberry said.

From the Diamond to a Life of Ministry

Known in his prime as one of baseball’s most electrifying sluggers, Strawberry rose to fame with the 1986 World Series champion New York Mets before joining the Yankees, where Trump was often seen at games. Despite his on-field success, his career was shadowed by drug abuse, health struggles, and legal issues that eventually led to his tax evasion conviction.

Over the past decade, Strawberry has turned his life around, becoming a pastor, speaker, and advocate for addiction recovery. He and his wife, Tracy, run several programs aimed at helping people rebuild their lives through faith and rehabilitation. His official website describes his mission as “serving the Lord Jesus Christ and helping others transform their lives through the power of the gospel.”

Trump’s pardon brings a formal close to Strawberry’s legal past, something the former baseball star says allows him to “be truly free and clean from all of my past.” For many fans, it marks another chapter in a long story of struggle, redemption, and resilience — a reminder that even fallen heroes can find a way back.