Tag: mlb

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Collective Bargaining could spell the 27 season’s demise; Giants not signing Imai could point to cost saving measures

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Imai boldly stated he’d prefer to defeat the Dodgers, who boast some of baseball’s most elite talent from Japan, rather than join them (TV Asahi)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The talk of a MLB lock out is heating up here in the dead of winter. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the players and owners expires Dec 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET when the contract comes up.

#2 The players have made it pretty clear their not going for a salary cap which the owners are dead set on if they don’t get a salary cap the 2027 season could see a work stoppage.

#3 It’s been said that if the cap is the only answer baseball is in trouble. Does that spell the possibility that the 2027 could be wiped out?

#4 The San Francisco Giants speaking on cutting back on spending money the Giants will not sign Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai to which sources say due to financial considerations and a preference for more modestly priced short term deals. The Giants might start going in the direction of other clubs who will use younger players and when a player is established they could go packing.

#5 Turning to the NBA. The Golden State Warriors have united the Curry brothers as the Warriors signed veteran guard Seth Curry for the rest of the 2024-25 season on Monday. Seth was at the Warriors training camp but got waived because of the team’s financial restraints.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: From My Baseball Notebook Strategy You Don’t see Everyday

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Barry Bonds once walked with the bases loaded on May 28, 1998 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here is Bonds in action trying to score at the plate at Candlestick Park. (USA Today file photo)

From My Baseball Notebook Strategy You Don’t see Everyday

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Date and Place: May 28, 1998, at Candlestick Park/3Com Park, San Francisco, as the Giants’ Spanish play-by-play announcer on station KIQI 1010AM, San Francisco. Below is what happened.

At the time, nobody really believed it was happening. I witnessed a very rare play in baseball history during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants, The Game: It was the bottom of the ninth inning when Arizona’s manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to the Giants’ dangerous slugger Barry Bonds with the bases loaded and two outs.

Arizona was leading 8-6, and manager Showalter chose to give the Giants a free run by giving the intentional bases on balls to Bonds. Showalter intentionally walked Bonds and made the game 8-7. The next batter was Diamondbacks catcher Brett Mayne.

The 12,066 crowd were on their feet when Mayne hit a solid line drive to deep right field as Stan Javier caught the last out, and Buck Showalter, and his counterpart Dusty Baker, manager of the Giants, both could breathe again as the game came to a conclusion in 3 hours 26 minutes.

Buck Showalter was a genius with that strategy as his Arizona Diamondbacks won 8-7 over the Giants. For most people, including me, at the Press Box and Broadcast booths, it was the first time we witnessed such a moment in a game.

That season, Barry Bonds won the NL MVP award, hitting .303 with 37 home runs and 122 runs batted in. The Ultimate Respect: A manager gets paid to win games, and uses his baseball knowledge and strategy in every game, but during this game, Diamondback’s manager, Buck Showalter, gave Barry Bonds the ultimate respect, an intentional base on balls to walk in a run (with the game on the line) in the ninth inning and prevailed.

How many times has this happened? Only eight times in history has a player been intentionally walked with the bases loaded in the Major Leagues. Here they are: Abner Dalrymple (1881), Nap Lajoie (1901), Del Bissonette (1928), Mel Ott (1929), Bill Nicholson (1944), BARRY BONDS (1998), Josh Hamilton (2008) and the most recent instance was in 2022, when the LA Angels intentionally walked Corey Seager. Of the eight on this list, two are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame: and Museum Nap Lajoie and Mel Ott.

However, what I called at the mic that night in May at a cold and windy Candlestick Park was done only by two players in history to win the game: Barry Bonds in this game,1998 and Josh Hamilton in 2008, both of whom were walked by their respective managers in the ninth inning of a game. The only time I have seen this in my life as a fan or broadcaster. What they say, “you never know what you’ll see at the ballpark”

Major League Baseball Record for Intentional Bases on Balls. For one season (Barry Bonds), 120 times in 2004, Career Record: Barry Bonds 688.

“I was such a dangerous hitter, I even got intentional walks during batting practice” -Casey Stengel.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Holy Bat

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

That’s Amaury News and Commentary:

Pope Leo XIV receives a baseball bat that once belonged to Hall of Famer Nellie Fox. (Photo via Vatican Media)

Holy Bat

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

Pope Leo XIV, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in Chicago on September 14, 1955. The Pope recently visited Turkey, a positive visit of religious outreach preaching Peace to the world and Christian unity. Along the way, upon his return, he received an unexpected gift.

Chris Livesay, CBS News foreign correspondent, was on assignment traveling with Pope Leo when he gifted a baseball bat to the pontiff. It was a family heirloom from Livesay. This was not any bat, but one used by White Sox legend, second baseman, and Hall of Famer Nellie Fox. “Oh, wow,” The Pope exclaimed as he received the bat featuring Fox’s initials and number. “How did you get this through security?” he then joked. Pope Leo XIV roots for the Chicago White Sox.

The Chicago native has been widely reported as a White Sox fan, even sporting their cap during public appearances at the Vatican and playfully joking about the rival Chicago Cubs. Pope Leo is the first Pope to root for a baseball team in history. The late Pope Francis was a lifelong and avid fan of Futbol (Soccer here in the US).

Growing up in Argentina, Pope Francis probably had no choice since Futbol in Argentina is like a religion. Pope Leo is the first-ever American-born Pope in history and the 266th Pope. The first Pope was Saint Peter. Peter’s real name was Simon.

When he became an apostle of Jesus Christ, the founder of the Christian faith, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, is often cited as the largest Catholic Church in the world, with a greater seating and standing capacity and a greater height than any other.’

Pope Leo XIV was named Pope of the Catholic Church on May 8, 2025, at the Vatican. Here in the United States, soon after he was elected Pope, both teams, the White Sox and the Cubs, claimed he was a fan. However, he wore a White Sox cap earlier this year and rooted from the stands during World Series Game 1 in 2016; his prayers were answered as the club celebrated its first World Series championship since 1917.

But when he gets a chance, he also roots for the crosstown Cubs. I am sure that, as a good man of Chicago, he prays for both teams. “Baseball is the only sport mentioned in the Bible. “In the Big Inning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Will $1.8 billion loss force MLB to shutdown/lockout in 2027?

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

New York Mets Juan Soto (22) slugs a three run home run in the fourth inning as Washington Nationals catcher Jorge Alfaro (left) watches at Citi Field in New York on Fri Sep 19, 2025. Soto is the highest paid player on the Mets. The Mets claim they lost $350 million because of their $342 million payroll in the 2025 season. (AP file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

  1. How much of the $1.8 billion loss is due to player payroll, especially on high-spending teams?
    • For example, the Mets reportedly lost ~$350 million, largely driven by their $342 M payroll.
  2. Did declining or restructuring media revenue contribute significantly to the losses?
    • Around 25% of team revenue comes from media, and teams have reportedly struggled to replace traditional regional sports network (RSN) deals.
    • Also, MLB and ESPN mutually ended their $550M/year deal early, which could have left a big revenue gap.
  3. How much of the loss is “paper accounting” versus real cash-flow problems?
    • Some insiders suggest these losses are accounting losses — not necessarily indicative of a decline in franchise value.
  4. Is there a structural imbalance in MLB’s economics ( lack of salary cap, uneven revenue sharing) that exacerbates these losses?
    • MLB is reportedly considering a salary cap, which could indicate that current spending is unsustainable.
    • Wealth disparities between big-market and small-market teams may be playing a role.
  5. Are there longer-term strategic choices or risks ( media strategy, labor uncertainty) that could be contributing to the losses?
    • With media rights changing and ESPN opting out, MLB’s future broadcast deals may be less lucrative.
    • Also, potential labor issues loom: owners are discussing a salary cap ahead of the collective bargaining agreement expiring in 2026.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: How will MLB control gambling in the sport?; Qualifying offers and reshaping free agency; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz leaves a Brooklyn federal courthouse Wed Nov 12, 2025 who is facing indictment charges for throwing certain pitches and taking bribes. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 What are the biggest implications of the indictment of Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz for MLB’s integrity and its efforts to police gambling?

#2 With the deadline Tuesday to accept or reject qualifying offers, which players (like Kyle Schwarber) are most likely to decline, and how will that reshape the free-agent market?

#3 How significant is Shohei Ohtani’s unanimous NL MVP and Aaron Judge’s AL MVP win this year — particularly because they’re back-to-back, a historic first?

#4 What could be the long-term impact of the Astros’ Minute Maid Park being rebranded to Daikin Park, both from a business/sponsorship standpoint and for fan perception?

#5 What strategies should teams prioritize now as the offseason really ramps up (with owners’ meetings, free agency, non-tender decisions) to position themselves for the 2026 season?

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: From My Baseball Notebook: Bartolo Colón superstitions and retirement at 50

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Former New York Met pitcher Bartolo Colon threw out the first pitch before the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets Sun May 7, 2025 at Citi Field in Flushing NY. Colon had superstitions while playing baseball and retired at 50 years old from baseball. (AP News file photo)

From my Baseball Notebook: Bartolo Colón superstition and retirement at 50

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The 2025 season is history, and the Dodgers won their second consecutive World Series. If you miss baseball already, I have some good news for you from one of my old baseball notebooks.

Bartolo Colón was one of the most superstitious Latino players that I’ve ever met. For this Dominican, his superstition was to mold the chewing gum into different shapes, sometimes into a small ball, and to insert into his glove before going to the mound.

One per game, before each game.. This became well known among his teammates, but there was no violation of any regulations because he inserted the chewing gum ball inside his glove, not outside. It could not be seen by any camera.

Bartolo pitched for 21 years in the Major Leagues until he was 50 years of age. He pitched for a total of 11 different teams, including the Oakland A’s at 39 years old. When he arrived in 2012. I spoke to this quirky and smart baseball player numerous times, before and after games; he was always cordial, insightful, and at times very funny.

In his first season with the A’s, during Spring Training in Arizona, he was in the dugout next to Cuban rookie Yoenis Céspedes; he helped Yoenis communicate because Yoenis spoke very little English. But he was always playing pranks and cranking jokes, sometimes Yoenis would put his hands up in the air and say “Oye chico tú eres comendiante ó pitcher” trans- “Hey man, are you a comedian or a pitcher?”

Bartolo once told me, “Pienso retirarme a los 60 años”. trans- “I am thinking of retiring at 60. He was 10 years short on his prediction, and he said Adiós to the game at 50! He always said he lasted this long because he enjoyed the game very much, loved working hard on his craft, and valued his friendships with other players. With the A’s, he especially enjoyed tutoring the younger pitchers.

At the beginning of his career, Bartolo regularly hit 95+ mph on his fastball. Toward the end of his career, control was his trademark, yet he remained a very efficient pitcher.

He was colorful and had a good reputation, and he won 247 games during his excellent career. In 2005, when he was a pitcher with the Cleveland Indians, he won the Cy Young Award as the American League’s best pitcher. In 2016, as a testament to his character, Bartolo won the “Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town” Award given by the New York Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Hitting: Bartolo Colón hit his one career home run at Petco Park in San Diego on May 7, 2016, as a pitcher for the New York Mets. He hit it off pitcher James Shields, a two-run shot in the top of the second inning, and at 42 years and 349 days old, he became the oldest player to hit his first major league home run.

Career accomplishment. The Latino pitcher with the most wins in Major League Baseball is Bartolo Colón, who retired with 247 wins. The Dominican-born pitcher played for 21 seasons across 11 different teams before retiring at the end of the 2018 season. His 247 wins are two more than Dennis Martímnez (245) and four more than Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (243)

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Best Pitchers in the World

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (left) and the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes (right) winners of the American League and National League Cy Young Award (photo by MLB.com)

MLB Best Pitchers in the World

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Just like the English Premier League is considered the best professional football Soccer league in the world, Major League Baseball is considered the best professional Baseball league in the World. What do these two leagues have in common?

The best paid and most talented in the world in their respective sports play there. The Best Pitchers in the World: -Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers (American League) 28 years old was born in Hayward, California, the 12th pitcher in history to repeat as Cy Young Award winner.

In 2025, led the American League in ERA (2.21) led the league in strikeouts (241) and best strikeout to walk ratio (7.3). New York Yankees captain and slugger Aaron Judge, identified Skubal as the best pitcher in Major League Baseball at the moment and a “young ace”.

Pedro Martínez Hall of Fame pitcher, called the Tigers’ ace a “bully on the mound” 2.212.22.) -Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh Pirates (National League) 23 years old born in Fullerton, California, unanimously won the 2025 CY Young Award winner, he joined Dwight Gooden and Fernando Valenzuela as the only pitchers ever to win the Rookie of the Year and Cy Young in the first two years in the majors.

Despite his 10-10 win/lost record he established the Pittsburgh Pirates strikeout record for a right handed pitcher (216) Skenes stated that the Pirates “owe it to the city” to win and that the team needs to set a higher bar than their “golden era” of recent baseball.

Although Football (Soccer in the US and Fútbol in the Spanish-speaking world) is the most international of Sports, baseball is played in more than 100 countries and has national baseball teams with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) having 211 member national federations in 139 countries and territories. Some countries with popular professional leagues include the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.

I remember when years in the past when my good friend Tony López was Sports Director for Univisión CH 14 San Francisco and I was same for Telemundo CH48 San José, Tony would always asked me why do they called it the World Series, when it was only teams of the US, and I always responded to Tony, it is because Major League Baseball is the premier league for baseball in the world, and every player that plays baseball from China to Australia, and points in-between always dream to play in the Major Leagues, because it is the mecca for the sport.

Quote: “Pitching is the art of instilling fear” – Sandy Koufax

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s Kurtz and Braves Baldwin Rookies of the Year; Guardians Ortiz and Clase up on charges of taking bribes; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Sacramento A’s Nick Kurtz is congratulated in the Sacramento dugout after slugging a two home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento on Sun Sep 14, 2025. Kurtz was voted as the AL Rookie of the Year on Mon Nov 10, 2025. (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Sacramento A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz was selected as the unanimous choice as the American League Rookie of the Year award winner. The National League winner was Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin MLB said on Monday night.

#2 Cleveland Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz showed up in federal court on Monday on charges that said he and teammate Emmanuel Clase were taking bribes set up in their native Dominican Republic in order to win bets based on pitches they threw.

#3 How bad does it have to get in MLB as bookies, sportsbooks and established betting parlors are now restricted to a $200 limit on betting on individual pitches and bets prohibited would be in parlays that will decrease any chances of manipulation according to MLB on Monday.

#4  Chicago Cubs right hand pitcher Kyle Hendricks won the ERA title and a World Series championship during his illustrious 12 year Major League career has announced his retirement. Hendricks, 35 finished his final season with the Los Angeles Angels with a 8-10 and a 4.76 ERA. Hendricks played his first 11 years with the Cubs.

#5 The San Francisco Giants brought back former manager Bruce Bochy as special advisor for both the baseball and business sides. Bochy had managed the Giants for 28 season as a MLB manager. Giants president Buster Posey hoping that Bochy can help get the Giants pointed back in the right direction as Bochy was hired on Monday.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

  

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Indicted for Gambling

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Cleveland Guardian pitcher Luis Ortiz works the count on the Minnesota Twins line up at Progressive Field in Cleveland on April 30, 2025 (AP News photo)

Cleveland Guardians Pitchers Indicted for Gambling

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

When it comes to betting in professional sports, it looks like when it rains, it pours”. Now it’s MLB time. Just a few weeks ago, the FBI revealed its investigation into some NBA players and a coach of gambling during games, resulting in indictments and arrests of the defendants.

Now is Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortíz turn who were indicted on charges of alleged gambling misconduct, manipulating bets on individual pitches. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, announced the indictment on Sunday at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn.

Ortíz was arrested in Boston for alleged gambling misconduct, specifically manipulating bets on individual pitches. Emmanuel Clase, the closer for the Guardians, was not in custody as of Sunday, when the charges were announced and the indictment unsealed.

The Department of Justice has charged the pair with wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery, and money laundering conspiracy.

This is a developing story, and it is just in the top of the first inning…

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Darryl Strawberry – Story of Redemption –

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Darryl Strawberry as a San Francisco Giant in 1994 the only year he played in San Francisco (photo from Photos of Legends)

Darryl Strawberry – Story of Redemption –

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Darryl Strawberry was pardoned by President Trump for his 1995 federal tax evasion conviction. The pardon covers his plea of guilty to tax fraud, though it does not apply to his separate state-level drug-related charges.

The reason being the pardon, according to the White House statement, is that Strawberry served time and paid back the taxes owed after his conviction, and has since become active in ministry and maintained sobriety for over a decade.

Strawberry Ministries, founded by Darryl and Tracy Strawberry, is a ministry in St. Peter, Missouri. It involves speaking at correctional facilities, men’s retreats, plus other events and stories they share of personal transformation and recovery from addiction.

The ministry’s mission is to empower individuals and families through faith in Jesus Christ. Strawberry is a good man, he was a very good player, good with teammates, fans, and media alike.

His career baseball statistics include a .259 batting average,335 home runs, 1,000 RBIs, 221 stolen bases in 17 major league seasons, including the National League 1983 Rookie of the Year, 8-time All Star who played for the Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, and Giants.

He played right field and hit in the fifth position during the 1986 All-Star Game at Astrodome, Houston. A game I had the pleasure of covering. Redemption includes forgiveness of sins, freedom from sin, and reconciliation with God.

Congratulations to Darryl Strawberry on his well-deserved pardon. His career was marked by both great success and personal struggles with addiction and legal issues, but he has since found faith and is now an ordained minister Congratulations to Darryl Strawberry.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com