The Strawman
It's hard to believe that it is 25 years since Darryl Strawberry broke into the big leagues.
Perhaps one of the best players that the Mets organization ever produced, it still seems as though his career was short lived and marked by his problems off the field.
Some baseball people said he had a sweet swing that was close to Ted Williams.So smooth and fluid.He hit some monster shots at Shea Stadium,which is a huge place but the Strawman hit some balls that went as far if not farther than some of the best hitters the game has seen, such as Willie Stargell,Dave Kigman and Dick Allen.
The 1983 Rookie of the year was thought to have a 50-50 season in him,yet in1987,he only hit 39 homers with 36 stolen bases.The following year he hit 39 and 29 and came in 2nd to Kirk Gibson for the MVP.
Strawberry has hit the most homeruns at Shea with 127.Mike Piazza is next in line with 105.
The two most memorable homeruns came in the 1986 NLCS against Houston.The first was in game 2 off of Bob Knepper,which was overshadowed by Lenny Dykstra's home run in the ninth to win it.
The 2nd came in game 5 against Nolan Ryan who had held the Mets hitless and had a 1-0 lead when Strawberry got the best of him. Ryan may have had no-hit stuff that day and he says that no one has ever hit him that hard.The Strawman was proud that he got to Ryan that day.How many players can say that?
That team of the mid 80's, with Strawberry,Dykstra,Henandez,K night,just to name a few was
an exciting bunch to watch.It was a unique experience to hear Shea stadium echo with the chant of Darrrrrrrrrrrryl!!!! Darrrrrrrrrrryl!!. It is also good to see Darryl on SNY doing some commentating on the Mets.
So 25 years is a long time since Shea had the echos of excitement,at least of the caliber that the Strawman and company brought in.And I am sure if you listen closely,you can still hear those chants bouncing off the walls of the new Citifield.Maybe by the time that park opens,there will be more to chant about in Metland.
Perhaps one of the best players that the Mets organization ever produced, it still seems as though his career was short lived and marked by his problems off the field.
Some baseball people said he had a sweet swing that was close to Ted Williams.So smooth and fluid.He hit some monster shots at Shea Stadium,which is a huge place but the Strawman hit some balls that went as far if not farther than some of the best hitters the game has seen, such as Willie Stargell,Dave Kigman and Dick Allen.
The 1983 Rookie of the year was thought to have a 50-50 season in him,yet in1987,he only hit 39 homers with 36 stolen bases.The following year he hit 39 and 29 and came in 2nd to Kirk Gibson for the MVP.
The two most memorable homeruns came in the 1986 NLCS against Houston.The first was in game 2 off of Bob Knepper,which was overshadowed by Lenny Dykstra's home run in the ninth to win it.
The 2nd came in game 5 against Nolan Ryan who had held the Mets hitless and had a 1-0 lead when Strawberry got the best of him. Ryan may have had no-hit stuff that day and he says that no one has ever hit him that hard.The Strawman was proud that he got to Ryan that day.How many players can say that?
That team of the mid 80's, with Strawberry,Dykstra,Henandez,K night,just to name a few was
So 25 years is a long time since Shea had the echos of excitement,at least of the caliber that the Strawman and company brought in.And I am sure if you listen closely,you can still hear those chants bouncing off the walls of the new Citifield.Maybe by the time that park opens,there will be more to chant about in Metland.
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