A baseball legend just stood in a Tulsa pulpit and declared that Donald Trump set him free in a way that previous presidents refused to do.
Story Highlights
- Darryl Strawberry publicly thanked Trump for a presidential pardon during a November 23 church sermon in Tulsa
- The pardon cleared Strawberry’s past tax evasion and drug-related charges from his troubled post-baseball years
- Strawberry specifically criticized other presidents for refusing to grant him similar relief when they had opportunities
- The event combined sports celebrity, presidential politics, and faith-based redemption in an unprecedented public display
From Prison Cell to Presidential Grace
Darryl Strawberry’s journey from Mets superstar to federal prisoner reads like a cautionary tale about wasted talent. The four-time World Series champion who once electrified Shea Stadium found himself serving 11 months behind bars in 2002 for violating probation on tax evasion charges. His failure to report $350,000 in income during 1999 became the legal albatross that haunted him for decades, long after his final strikeout.
The November 6 phone call changed everything. Trump personally informed Strawberry that his presidential pardon was coming, erasing the criminal record that had shadowed the former slugger’s attempts at redemption. This wasn’t random political theater – Trump knew Strawberry from his appearance on Celebrity Apprentice in 2010, creating a personal connection that apparently mattered when clemency decisions were made.
The Tulsa Testimony That Turned Heads
Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer’s Sheridan Church became the unlikely stage for one of 2025’s most politically charged religious moments. Lahmeyer, founder of Pastors for Trump and a National Faith Advisory Board member, provided the perfect venue for Strawberry’s public declaration of gratitude. The former outfielder didn’t hold back his feelings about previous administrations who ignored his clemency requests.
Great story. Redemption. Ex-Mets star Darryl Strawberry talks Trump pardon during church sermonhttps://t.co/gTPOBnQVoQ
— [email protected] (@cfpadron23) November 24, 2025
“God just completely set me free when he gave me a pardon from President Donald J. Trump. Other presidents had opportunities, but they didn’t do it,” Strawberry declared from the pulpit. His words carried the weight of someone who had waited over two decades for legal redemption, watching other presidents come and go without relief. The congregation witnessed history – a rare intersection of sports celebrity, presidential power, and religious testimony.
Presidential Pardons Meet Political Reality
Trump’s decision to pardon Strawberry fits a pattern of high-profile clemency grants that generate media attention while reinforcing support among key constituencies. Faith-based communities view such pardons as validation of redemption and second chances, core Christian principles that resonate with conservative voters. Lahmeyer clarified that he and Trump never discussed a potential Strawberry pardon beforehand, countering suggestions of orchestrated political theater.
The timing matters. Presidential pardons for non-political figures remain rare, making Strawberry’s case exceptional. His transformation from troubled athlete to Christian minister provided the compelling narrative that justified Trump’s intervention where other presidents saw only a tax evader. The personal connection from Celebrity Apprentice likely sealed the deal, demonstrating how relationships influence presidential clemency decisions.
