Darryl Strawberry

In a surprising turn of events, a baseball legend is finding a new lease on life, thanks to an unexpected presidential pardon. It’s quite the story.

David Stearns took over the New York Mets on Monday, as their new president of baseball operations. Besides being force-fed general manager Billy Eppler by owner Steve Cohen, it appears that Stearns will have free rein.

Winners know something about winning. Many of them also know why teams go from winners to losers. There is little doubt that a few members of the 1986 New York Mets know a little something about both subjects.

Darryl Strawberry was one of the most talented baseball players to have played the game in the last 50 years. His smooth powerful swing launched home runs into the atmosphere with ease and even grace. However, his well-documented battles off the field took away any shot at being recognized as a Hall of Famer.

On Saturday, 65 former New York Mets took the field at Citi Field in Queens. For some of them, like Steve Dillon, who pitched 3 games for the Amazin's in 1963-64, it was more than five decades since they put on their uniform for an official event. For others, like friend of The Drive with Charlie & Dan, Daniel Murphy, who retired in two seasons ago, they look like they could play later in the day against the Rockies and contribute. The event was as much fun for the players as it was for the fans to see their heroes of yesteryear.

Old Timer's Day began for the New York Mets in the magical year of 1969. Good things happened that year, including their "Amazin" World Championship, amongst a myriad of major world events. The scrooge-like former Mets owners, Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz killed the beloved event in 1994. They were probably tired of hearing former Mets players mock their ownership's lack of baseball knowledge...but that's a story for another day. Old Timer's Day is back and it's Saturday at Citi Field.

On Thursday afternoon, former New York Mets and New York Yankees all-star Darryl Strawberry jumped on The Drive with Charlie & Dan. Strawberry just wrote a new book, "Turn Your Season Around: How God Transforms Your Life." Darryl is now an ordained minister and has written several best selling books about his struggles with fame and addiction. He has been open and honest about his struggles in the past and he was definitely that way on The Drive.

OK, I am a typical New Yorker when it comes to people talking or producing a documentary about the New York Mets of the 1980's. So, when ESPN announced that they would be doing a "30 for 30" on the 1986 Mets called "Once Upon A Time In Queens" I rolled my eyes. I admit it.