Dykstra, Strawberry share bond of faith
Decades ago, they were the rowdy engines behind the 1986 New York Mets, fueled by the neon adrenaline of New York City and lives that would eventually spiral into substance abuse. On Friday at “Office”-themed Cooper’s Seafood in Scranton, the only thing “on tap” for former World Series champions Lenny Dykstra and Darryl Strawberry was a pair of root beers and a conversation centered on the faith that pulled them back from the brink. Strawberry said he believes every human being is broken, with a God-shaped void that only faith can fill.
But he went on to say that, when you’re in the spotlight as he and Dykstra are, that brokenness makes news, and they were often harshly judged by the media and the public. But that public forum also provided him with the opportunity to share his journey of recovery and to inspire others to move forward in spite of their mistakes. He has a message for those struggling: “You’ve made mistakes.
But you’re not a mistake. ” Strawberry became a Christian in 1991, but it wasn’t until 2003 that he surrendered his life to his faith, overcame his addiction and transformed his life, he said. After a life filled with addiction, abuse, divorce, cancer and jail time, Strawberry not only turned around his life, but went on to start “Strawberry Ministries,” aimed at helping others change their life through faith.
Dykstra was still struggling with addiction and legal problems, but Strawberry kept in touch with his former teammate, encouraging him to keep trying and sharing his faith. “I am my brother’s keeper,” Strawberry said of Dykstra. When Dykstra moved to Scranton about two years ago after having a stroke, he began attending Steamtown Church, where Pastor Dennis D’Augostine helped him get to medical appointments and welcomed him to the church.
During an interview with The Times-Tribune in October 2024, Dykstra said he very much appreciated D’Augostine’s help and enjoyed church services but stopped short of describing himself as a believer. On New Year’s Day, Dykstra was charged with possession of a controlled substance and of drug paraphernalia after state police stopped a vehicle in which he was the front-seat passenger in Pike County. Shortly afterward he entered a drug rehabilitation center and took his treatment very seriously.