Straw: Finding My Way
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Overview
Former baseball slugger Darryl Strawberry, whose achievements on the field were often overshadowed by his struggles off the field, recounts the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned along the way that allowed him to survive.
The youngest son of Henry and Ruby Strawberry, Darryl grew up in one of Los Angeles's toughest neighborhoods but channeled his energy into basketball and baseball. The New York Mets drafted him in 1980, and he was voted the National League Rookie of the Year in 1983. Strawberry went on to be the first National League player voted to the All-Star Game in each of his first four full seasons.
Throughout the eighties and nineties, however, Strawberry faced many challenges off the field, including tax evasion, drug use, solicitation, and allegations of domestic assault. His seasons with the Dodgers, Giants, and Yankees were interrupted by suspensions, visits to rehab, treatment for colon cancer, and time in prison. But in 2006, Strawberry's life dramatically changed course. He married and devoted himself to his church and his work with children and adults affected by autism and other developmental disorders.
For the first time, in his own words, Darryl Strawberry delivers his inspirational narrative, the extraordinary story of his life.
Synopsis
Former baseball slugger Darryl Strawberry, whose achievements on the field were often overshadowed by his struggles off the field, recounts the highs, the lows, and the lessons of hope and survival he learned along the way.
The youngest son of Henry and Ruby Strawberry, Darryl grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Los Angeles, where he channeled his energy into baseball and basketball. The New York Mets drafted him in 1980, and he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1983. Strawberry became the first National League player voted to the All-Star Game in each of his first four full seasons.
Throughout the eighties and nineties, however, Strawberry faced many personal challenges, including drug use, tax evasion, solicitation, and allegations of domestic violence. His seasons with the Dodgers, Giants, and Yankees were interrupted by suspensions, visits to rehab, and treatment for colon cancer. But in 2006, Strawberry's life changed course dramatically. With his wife, Tracy, he devoted himself to his church and to his work with children and adults affected by autism and other developmental disorders.
For the first time, in his own words, Darryl Strawberry delivers his inspirational narrative-the extraordinary story of his life.
The New York Times - Bruce Handy
Straw [has] the virtue of sincerity and of seeming profoundly felt. Its narrator emerges as a real and complex man: humble in the face of his failures, palpably hungry for redemption, and yet still capable of myopia and self-righteousness. You feel for him in a way you never did—at least I never did—when you were merely cheering and/or booing him at Shea.
Editorials
Buster Olney
"Darryl Strawberry hit more than 300 homers and shared in four championships, but he will be remembered as much for what he didn’t accomplish as for all of the things he accomplished. In STRAW, he tells you why."St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"If you’re looking for an interesting book about a chaotically interesting life, Straw makes for good reading."Reggie Jackson
"STRAW is the story of a guy who had two strikes against him in the middle innings of life and hit one out of the park."David Cone
"Darryl has written a profound book on the meaning of celebrity, sports and manhood. Reading his story, you follow an incredibly talented ballplayer who fell prey to his demons off the field. This is a riveting and memorable account of one man’s pursuit of a meaningful life."Bruce Handy
Straw [has] the virtue of sincerity and of seeming profoundly felt. Its narrator emerges as a real and complex man: humble in the face of his failures, palpably hungry for redemption, and yet still capable of myopia and self-righteousness. You feel for him in a way you never did—at least I never did—when you were merely cheering and/or booing him at Shea.—The New York Times
Publishers Weekly
From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, Strawberry was one of the most feared sluggers in baseball, a perennial All-Star who was dubbed "The Black Ted Williams." Sadly, his effortless production on the field belied his troubles off it. Growing up in South Central L.A. with an abusive, negligent father left Strawberry unsure on "how to become a man," and playing pro baseball provided the foundation and means to become an alcohol and drug addict. Thanks to Strawberry's hard-living lifestyle, his attempts at domestic stability are colossal failures, and his halfhearted attempts at rehab lead to jail time and a damaged reputation. At his lowest point, Strawberry turns to God, leading him to redemption. The sheer turbulence of his life-which also includes two bouts of cancer in his 30s-certainly makes for a readable book, though not a probing one. The clichéd writing and Strawberry's refusal to delve deeper into his past (a troubled older brother; his strained relationship with pro athlete son, DJ) make it hard to bond with Strawberry, and his newfound spirituality provides only another barrier. 16-page photo insert not seen by PW. (May)
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