Straw: Finding My Way

My boyfriend was thrilled with this book! It was a Christmas present and it arrived on time and in excellent condition!

Darryl Strawberry was an eight-time All Star and four-time World Series Champion, yet his years of drug abuse and domestic assault resulted in multiple arrests and made the talented baseball player notorious. In his own words Strawberry charts his rise to baseball fame, his brushes with the law, and his battle over cancer to his religious awakening in a vivid autobiography perfect for any sports collection and many a general interest library.

Not being a baseball fan, I wondered if I could enjoy this book. But not only did I learn a lot about the world of baseball, but also learned a lot about a man who makes no excuses. He gives reasons for doing the things he did, but doesn't make excuses. Well-written, thought-provoking, and in an age where we Christians can sometimes come across as holier-than-thou, a refreshing look at someone who doesn't claim perfection, but is simply trying to take one day at a time by the grace of God. It took him a long time to turn his life around, but at least he did it.

First I'll admit to being a Yankees fan and loved Straw during his time with the Yanks. I also admit to having been extremely frustrated and indignant over his repeated screw-ups that often kept him off the playing field. Now I understand the man behind the image. Straw is brutally honest in this book and takes the blame for his mistakes. He seems to have found his place now and I sincerely hope that he avoids the relapses that plagued him in the past. This is not a book that focuses on his playing career in detail; instead the focus is on his trials off the field. If you enjoyed Josh Hamilton's Beyond Belief, as I did, you would do well to pick up Straw to see how a player a generation older than Hamilton battled similar demons and took much longer to defeat them. Straw, like Hamilton, comes across as a likeable individual who simply was overwhelmed by temptations.

I saw Darryl Strawberry on Sean Hannity and that interview led me to purchase Finding My Way. I was not disappointed and thus the 5 star review for this compelling redemption tale. One other reviewer states the last chapter of this man's life is yet to be written, and that is certainly true. But at this juncture, I believe Mr. Strawberry has gone a long way towards meeting his stated goal in telling his story - that it might inspire others to break out of self destructive lifestyle patterns and turn their lives around.