Trump pardons Mets legend, ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ alum Darryl Strawberry over tax evasion conviction

WASHINGTON — President Trump has pardoned former Mets legend Darryl Strawberry, expunging his guilty plea to a federal tax fraud charge in 1995.

The pardon comes more than 15 years after Trump and Strawberry shared the small screen on “The Celebrity Apprentice.”

“President Trump has approved a pardon for Darryl Strawberry, three-time World Series champion and eight-time MLB All-Star,” a White House official told The Post Friday.

“Mr. Strawberry served time and paid back taxes after pleading guilty to one count of tax evasion.

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“Following his career, Mr. Strawberry found faith in Christianity and has been sober for over a decade – he has become active in ministry and started a recovery center which still operates today.”

Strawberry, now 63, is the second member of the “Celebrity Apprentice” season 3 cast to receive presidential clemency, joining former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich — whom Trump pardoned in February, five years after commuting Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence on federal corruption charges, most notably soliciting bribes in exchange for an appointment to the Senate seat held by then-President-elect Barack Obama.

The former slugger was sentenced to three years’ probation and repaid $350,000 in back taxes and penalties following his guilty plea, in addition to serving six months of home confinement. 

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The 1983 National League Rookie of the Year — who hit 335 home runs and drove in exactly 1,000 runs during a 17-year career with the Mets, Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants — was one of the biggest baseball stars of the 1980s and pegged by many as a surefire Hall of Famer.

Prior to the 1985 season, Strawberry signed a six-year contract extension with the Mets that paid him $7.1 million — $700,000 of which was set aside as an interest-bearing annuity, and was auctioned off by the IRS following his tax case.

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In 1990, Strawberry signed a five-year, $20.25 million contract with the Dodgers, who released him during the 1994 season after he failed to show up for a game.

The rival Giants signed Strawberry a few weeks later for the remainder of the strike-shortened season, then released him in February 1995 after he tested positive for cocaine.

Strawberry ended his career with the New York Yankees in 1999 — effectively retiring after testing positive for cocaine again in 2000.

Trump’s pardon does not wipe Strawberry’s slate completely clean.

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In April 1999, before his final season with the Yankees, Strawberry was arrested in Florida for soliciting sex from an undercover cop and possession of cocaine. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 21 months probation and community service.

In March 2002, Strawberry was busted for rule violations at the drug treatment center where he was serving his probation and ordered to prison for the remainder of his suspended sentence. He was released in April 2003 after 11 months behind bars.

Those convictions remain on Strawberry’s record because they were on state charges rather than federal counts.