Darryl Strawberry rips Mets in radio interview, says George Steinbrenner was 'probably the greatest owner'
By Zachary Ripple
Darryl Strawberry says the Mets turned their backs on the 1986 World Championship team. (Seth Wenig/AP)
Darryl Strawberry says the Mets turned their backs on him, so he's returning the favor.
That was the overarching sentiment from the former Mets and Yankees world champion in an interview with WABC Radio on Tuesday, saying that the Queens organization doesn't respect the players from the '86 World Series team.
"The players on the '86 championship team, we don't even deal with the Mets. It's not Fred Wilpon, it's the new thing," hinting at an issue with the Sandy Alderson-led front office. "I'd never go back, I'd rather stay with the Yankees than ever go back to the Mets."
Strawberry praised the late George Steinbrenner, seemingly appreciative of the second chance he got with the organization after years of off-the-field issues.
"He was a father, he was a father to the hopeless," Strawberry said. "He would go get players that nobody else would touch. He just loved us. He was different than anybody I'd ever experienced.
"He was probably the greatest owner that ever will be in sports because he loved people and loved his players. Everyone that put a Yankee uniform on is family to him. He doesn't turn his back on his players, like the other organization across town."
The former outfielder hinted that it pained him to see the team seemingly sever relationships with some of the championship team's biggest names.
"It hurts us. It hurts what they've done to players," he said. "I've seen what they did to Ray Knight, what they did to Gary Carter. It really hurts. Those were key players that gave so much. They laid their life out for the organization."
Strawberry has also feuded this year with Doc Gooden, before making up with his former friend this summer.
Darryl Strawberry has made up his mind — he's choosing the Yankees over the Mets. (Richard Harbus/for New York Daily News)
It all started at Mets spring training when Gooden said he and Strawberry had not spoken to each other since Strawberry accused him of being back on drugs last summer.
Strawberry made the accusation after Gooden failed to show up for a scheduled appearance together in August.
Strawberry told the Daily News' John Harper that Gooden's "a complete junkie-addict" and that he's "got to get it out there because nobody else is doing anything to help him, and it might be the only way to stop him."
Despite the harsh feelings, Strawberry returned to Citi Field as part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the 1986 championship team last year.
A Mets source pointed out that several members of that championship squad are currently employed by the organization. Beloved broadcasters Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling have been a part of the SNY booth since the network's inception in 2006, and Tim Teufel and Mookie Wilson are both still working in the organization.
That also doesn't include Gooden, who makes select appearances on behalf of the Mets, along with Bobby Ojeda, Howard Johnson, Carter (before he died in 2012) and Wally Backman, who have all worked for the team in various capacities over the years.
However, the organization's relationship with Backman — a fan favorite — quickly soured after he was not retained at the end of last season despite several success runs as manager of the Mets' Triple-A affiliate. Johnson was also let go from his post as hitting coach in 2011, while Teufel was reassigned from his coach's job on the major league ballclub to a minor league position.
But for Mets fans, Strawberry's verbal assault on the organization is just the latest blow in a dismal 2017 season.
With Kristie Ackert
Latest Mets
Mets hiring Luis Rojas as manager after Carlos Beltran mess