Straw: Finding My Way [Hardcover]

Darryl Strawberry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2009

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, includ-ing 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.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From 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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Review

“If you’re looking for an interesting book about a chaotically interesting life, Straw makes for good reading.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch )

“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.” (David Cone )

“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.” (Reggie Jackson )

“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.” (Buster Olney, Author of THE LAST NIGHT OF THE YANKEE DYNASTY )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ecco; 1 edition (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061704202
• ISBN-13: 978-0061704208
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The final chapter of this book is not yet written, April 29, 2009

By 

Barry Pearl (E Northport, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Straw: Finding My Way (Hardcover)

This is an interesting, sometimes compelling and mostly easy to read book about Darryl Strawberry his life, and that era of baseball although, in many ways though this is a very hard book to review. Darryl is not an unlikable person' In fact you root for him. But he is not a good person and you have to take on faith that he has changed.
The book starts off with a horrific scene with Darryl's father holding a gun on the family and his brother holding a knife trying to get their violent father out of the house. The effects of having a violent rule parent are prominently displayed throughout the book.
Darryl explains how and why that he was drawn to drugs and drinking. How he cheated on his wives, broke the law, found drugs and was very irresponsible.
Darryl does explain the atmosphere of major league baseball on the mid-80s with girls, alcohol and drugs all over the place. Many times he describes coming to the field with a huge hangover and taking handfuls of amphetamines to get through the game. Darryl saw all of baseball like this. I don't know if it was or if that is just how Darryl saw it. It was interesting to read about the attitude of the Mets of that era, especially David Come and Keith Hernandez. Davey Johnson, who seemed to ignore these problems, does not come across well. But the book gives reasons why Frank Cashen decided to break up a successful team. Even now, he seems to finds some self worth because he was a great player, not because he was a decent person, he didn't try to be. Darryl became violent with his own wives, as his father had, and that stops me from liking him but I never stop rotting for him. He went in and out of rehab, more times than you can count, and you wonder how seriously he took it. He turned his back on judges and parole officers who tried to help him and one of his wives! He often sobered up for years, but could not stay sober. These stories were hard to get through sometimes. But you do hoping for a happy ending. Darryl never seeks, voluntarily, professional help and dismisses it when he is compelled to go.
One story, Darryl writes, when he was on probation he was accused of stopping the car and soliciting an undercover police woman. Darryl explains that he was innocent of the solicitation charges. He was married man, why was he stopping his car? Here's also carrying cocaine on him and was arrested for that. He spent a lot of time in jail including charges related to felony tax evasion which he does blame on other people.
Throughout the book Darryl describe relationship with God which he feels has helped them become a better person, a better husband, and sober. But this is only for the last two years, since 2006. Strawberry ends the book with great optimism, a new wife, and an opportunity to help children who really need him.
The final chapter of this book is not yet written.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hat Tip to Straw !!!, May 4, 2009

By 

Carol A. Summerfield (Huntington Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Straw: Finding My Way (Hardcover)

I saw Darryl Strawberry on Sean Hannity and that interview led me to purchase Finding My Way. I was not disappointed and thus the 5 star review for this compelling redemption tale. One other reviewer states the last chapter of this man's life is yet to be written, and that is certainly true. But at this juncture, I believe Mr. Strawberry has gone a long way towards meeting his stated goal in telling his story - that it might inspire others to break out of self destructive lifestyle patterns and turn their lives around.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Baseball Fans and Christians!, July 15, 2009

By 

C. Gray "avid reader" (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Straw: Finding My Way (Hardcover)

Not being a baseball fan, I wondered if I could enjoy this book. But not only did I learn a lot about the world of baseball, but also learned a lot about a man who makes no excuses. He gives reasons for doing the things he did, but doesn't make excuses. Well-written, thought-provoking, and in an age where we Christians can sometimes come across as holier-than-thou, a refreshing look at someone who doesn't claim perfection, but is simply trying to take one day at a time by the grace of God. It took him a long time to turn his life around, but at least he did it.