Darryl & Tracy Strawberry "Finding their Way" to Jamestown

Sweet-swinging legend, Darryl Strawberry, will go down as one of the most electrifying players to ever play the game of baseball. Drafted straight out of high school by the New York Mets in 1980, Strawberry went on to have an illustrious 17-year career before being ultimately derailed by various substance abuse problems. Over the course of his career, Strawberry managed to secure Rookie of the Year honors in 1983, he made eight consecutive All-Star game appearances and he played on four World Series championship teams.

As potent as he was on the field, what’s even more compelling is his story off the field.

For that reason, the Chautauqua Lake Men of Integrity have announced that they will be bringing Darryl Strawberry, along with his wife, Tracy, to Jamestown to speak on some of the issues that plague the community.

“I think he has a really good story; I feel like he could bring a testimony of the power of overcoming the problem,” said CLMI chairman, Jamie Sposato, as he spoke on the impact Strawberry could have on the community. “Seeing lately in the news, especially in our area, not only heroin but other drugs and addiction… it seems to be coming problematic.”

When the seven individuals who make up the local non-profit organization sat down to consider who the best candidate would be to speak on the issue, one name came to mind: Darryl Strawberry.

“We had recently heard about him and his story on a news show; him and his wife were former drug addicts,” said Sposato, as he reflected on a conversation he had with his peers. “We thought, ‘you know what, this might be a great idea to help everyone who might be having problems with that (addiction).’”

In a sports sense, Darryl Strawberry is the biggest name brought to Jamestown by the CLMI, and quite possibly, by any other organization for that matter. “We’ve brought in a few other sports people, but nothing like his (Strawberry’s) name and magnitude,” said Sposoto.

Since Strawberry has emerged successful in his battle with addiction, the CLMI hopes his presence will have a profound effect on the community.

“If you were to come to me and say ‘I have a problem’, and I can help you, but I have no idea what you’re going through because I never experienced it, you’re more likely to not listen to me,” said Sposato. “You’d probably listen to someone who’s been through it, because they have an idea of what people are going through. He (Strawberry) can really reach people that way.”

The event, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 3, will be broken down into two segments. The first, titled “Freedom from Addiction,” will be held at 9 a.m. at Jamestown Community College, in the gymnasium. The event is free of charge and will be “a town meeting for all people of influence with addicts and potential addicts.” Later that same night, at 7 p.m., Darryl and his wife will be presenting “Love & Respect in Marriage,” “a presentation giving out practical advice that every healthy marriage needs in order to thrive.” Admission to the second event is 15 dollars; it will be held at Jamestown Community College, in the gymnasium, as well.

The CLMI is a non-profit organization that makes a conscious effort to host informative talks on topics that people can relate to. According to their chairman, their primary goal is to offer people hope.

“Really, we all struggle with different things,” said Sposato, as he attempted to put the whole situation into perspective. “We kind of want to just help them and say there’s a God that cares…we’re hoping we can instill that.”

In six weeks time, ordained ministers Darryl and Tracy Strawberry are sure to be of assistance.