Where are they now?

The Mets have been around for 52 years, and will be playing their 53^rd season this summer.  Throughout their history, the Mets have had some big name players, from Tom Seaver in their early years, to David Wright who is currently the face of the franchise.  Many of these big names have remained a part of the game, such as Mike Piazza, Wally Backman, etc.  But some of them have gone on to other things, and closed the chapter on their baseball career.  Who are these big name players?  They consist of names such as Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Lenny Dykstra, and Ron Taylor.

Darryl Strawberry was an elite player throughout his career, and it seemed like he would be a part of the game forever.  That, however, was not the case.  According to an article on religionnews.com, Strawberry has completely buried his baseball career in his past, and has become a pastor for his church.  When asked about his new life, Strawberry told Religion News;

“I used to be a big shot, let’s put it that way, but I want nothing to do with baseball now. I have no desire to be working in baseball. No desire at all.

“I love the game, don’t get me wrong, but I love the Bible more. I want to help people save their lives, and have the responsibility of leading people into following Christ. It’s so hard to describe what that feels like, but I’ve never been happier in my life. It’s so much fun being a pastor.”

Strawberry is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, due to his drug addiction, but he seems not to mind.  As stated, he has moved on to help people and do what is important to him.

Another ballplayer who has moved on from his life in baseball is Dwight “Doc” Gooden.  Just like Strawberry, Gooden was an elite player throughout his career, but is not in the Hall of Fame due to drug addiction.  Since his retirement in 2001, Gooden has been in and out of rehab, and wrote a book about his life and drug addiction.  He is currently in his third year of probation after being arrested in 2011 for endangering the welfare of a child.  However, he is now sober, and he claims to be on the path to a better life.

Lenny Dykstra was one of the greatest leadoff men in the Mets history.  In 1986 alone, he hit .295 with 31 steals, and was always energetic inside the clubhouse.  But since his retirement, Dykstra has had a terrible life… especially in recent years.  In 2009, word came out that Dykstra was broke.  He was living out of hotel lobbies and his car, and he even filed for bankruptcy.  That same year, his wife divorced him, and it was reported that he made slurs against blacks, homosexuals, and women.  In 2011, he was accused of sexually assaulting his housekeeper, caught for bankruptcy fraud, and charged with indecent exposure.  Due to these convictions and others, Dykstra was sentenced to three years in prison, and is currently in the second year of his sentence.

The last name on the “Where are They Now” list is Mets closer from 1967-1971, Ron Taylor.  Taylor had 49 saves and 197 strikeouts while playing for the Mets.  So what is he doing now?  Taylor had gone from saving games to saving people.  He is now a physician!  When asked in a 2008 why he became a physician, Taylor told Anthony McCarron of Daily News, “We visited a lot of hospitals and that did it… I’ve been a doctor for over 30 years.  I’m happy helping people.”

As fans, we tend to forget that baseball players have lives outside of baseball.  When they retire, not all of them stick with the sport, as some move on to do better, or worse, things.  Some go to jail, some become drug/alcohol addicts, and some help others by becoming pastors and doctors.  For all we know, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler, and even David Wright may retire and burry their playing careers under a new hobby and/or job.  There is no telling (nor knowing) what will happen to them or any other player currently in the Majors, but for now we can root for them, and remember the greats that came before them.