When former New York Yankees star Darryl Strawberry spoke candidly about his struggles with addiction during his storied MLB career

Former New York Yankees star Darryl Strawberry was a legendary player known for his remarkable on-field presence and spectacular home runs. Unfortunately, Strawberry's illustrious MLB career was marred by several addictions, including women, drugs and alcohol.

In 2001, Strawberry spoke candidly about the personal struggles that affected his MLB career when he appeared on "60 Minutes."

"Drinking and drugging, that was the big deep hole," Strawberry said. "I was addicted to the women. I was addicted to the drinking. I was addicted to the drugs."

Strawberry helped the New York Mets (1986) and Yankees win World Series titles (1996 and 1999). Nevertheless, his off-field struggles throughout his baseball career were concerning.

Darryl Strawberry tested positive for cocaine

Strawberry's final major league game was in 1999 while he was a member of the Yankees.

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Bud Selig, the former commissioner, suspended Strawberry for the entire season after discovering that he had tested positive for cocaine in February 2000. Strawberry's baseball career essentially ended with the ban.

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Strawberry discussed his hardships and how he turned to booze to block out his emotions a year after serving the punishment:

"Dealing with the effects of childhood abuse and how it affected me in so many [ways]. Drinking became a part where I just escaped from it and stuffed my feelings down. I have done that for years where I stuffed my feelings down and never really expressed how I feel."

The good news is that Strawberry is now leading a stable life. He has abstained from drugs for the past 11 years. Via his Florida-based Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center, he is now committed to assisting people in overcoming their addictions:

"Eleven years ago, I stuck a needle in my arm for the first time and that’s when I realized I was really sick. I used drugs and alcohol for a long time and it started when I was 21 years old. It was about 11 years ago I realized that I could reach for something greater than myself and got well," said Darryl.

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Strawberry persevered through numerous failures in his rehabilitation, and as a result, he is now sober.