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The New York Mets recently announced that they would be retiring the jersey numbers of Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, two of the most exciting players to ever step foot in a ballpark.
But while the Mets currently have Strawberry’s jersey number, 25 years ago Gunn almost held the home run hitter’s jersey number.
At the time, Daryl Strawberry was the star of stars on the 1998 Yankees team. The Yankees were one of the best teams in baseball history, later winning the World Series against the San Diego Padres. But when the Yankees rushed onto the field at Qualcomm Stadium to celebrate, Strawberry wasn’t there. He had returned to New York recovering from surgery to remove a tumor in his colon.
Daryl Strawberry of the New York Mets plays against the Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh in 1987. (George Gojkovic/Getty Images)
“The whole month of September,” Strawberry recalls. “I didn’t feel much pain, but I kept losing weight. Every time I went to the bathroom, there was blood in my stool, so I knew something was wrong.”
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Strawberry waited until the end of the regular season because he was playing well and did not want to be advised to sit by the team’s trainer.
“We had a great team,” Strawberry said. “We were just having a great season. But I knew I had to go to the hospital and get tested, but I didn’t think it would be that serious. Once I got into the hospital, The doctors told me to sit down because I needed to.” It was very serious.
![Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry's smiles](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/08/1200/675/Doc-Gooden-Darrly-Strawberry.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry attend the 1986 Mets 30th Anniversary Reunion Celebration at Citi Field on May 28, 2016 in New York City. (Adrian Edwards/WireImage)
“They told me I had colon cancer, that the tumor could be removed, and that the surgery could take up to six hours. My mother died at age 55 from terminal breast cancer, so I was devastated. And I’m going to end up losing my sister.” Regina, 51, also has cancer.
“I realized that I was in a high-risk category and that something like this could happen to anyone in my family. It was a really tough time for me. It was tough because I was playing baseball. I thought, “I’m an athlete, I’m in great shape, how could this happen?”
Strawberry’s incredible physique may have saved his life. Doctors told him that his abdominal muscles were so strong that they kept the tumor in place. If he didn’t have such strong abdominal muscles, just one swing of his bat or a hard slide could have caused the tumor to burst and spread throughout his body.
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When Strawberry woke up from anesthesia after surgery, she was surprised to find George Steinbrenner, a guest sitting next to her in the hospital room.
Baseball fans remember Boss as a tough guy who led the Yankees with the steadiness of a Marine drill sergeant, making headlines and firing managers. There was another side to Steinbrenner, a softer side, and this was what Strawberry saw when she woke up.
“The boss was sitting there!” Strawberry exclaims, 25 years later, in amazement. “He was sitting right there in my hospital room. It was amazing. When I saw him, I wondered, what is he doing here? ?I was shocked that he wanted to be there.He was worried about what was happening to me.At that time, he was worried about what was happening to me.? “At that moment, the team was on the road for the World Series in San Diego, but instead of celebrating the victory, my boss wanted to be by my side. What a blessing. What a blessing! He must be a wonderful person.”
“My boss had compassion for people,” Strawberry added. “He had a clear understanding of people and their lives and what they go through. He never criticized me about life, about my life, about my struggles. I… was just part of his family, and I’m grateful to him for thinking of me that way.” ”
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Strawberry said Mets owner Steve Cohen has the same determination as Steinbrenner.
“Steve Cohen is the same way,” Strawberry says. “He’s going to get there. It’s going to take time. He’s going to understand where he’s come from in life, how he got to where he is, and what it takes to be successful. He’s smart enough to understand. He got there by being patient and understanding that it’s going to go to work, but he’s definitely going to get there. ”
Although the first surgery was successful, Strawberry’s doctors warned that the cancer could come back, and it did so two years later. Doctors had to surgically remove his left kidney to examine the tumor. Since then, Ichigo has been cancer-free. He says if fans really want to celebrate his accomplishments on the field, he should get a colonoscopy as soon as possible.
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“It’s important to check in with yourself,” says Strawberry. “Many cancers, including colon cancer, are treatable if caught early, and there is no reason to die young, especially if that death is preventable.
“Obviously, I’m excited and honored that the Mets are retiring my jersey number. But talking about avoiding unnecessary deaths is far more important than any game. If you’re an older man, don’t hesitate: “I don’t want you to go through what I went through. If you do, George Steinbrenner won’t be sitting in your hospital room waiting for you to wake up.” yeah!”
Click here to read more from Michael Levin