Strawberry’s Journey Back Has Been Strange

Amid reports that his cancer has reportedly returned, this is what it’s come to for Darryl Strawberry: He needs the owner of a Fort Lauderdale, Fla. swingers club to vouch for his whereabouts.

Trapeze II co-owner Dennis Freeland swore to Newsday Thursday that, contrary to reports, Strawberry has made only one appearance at his club, which is described on the answering machine a

“South Florida’s No. 1 on-premise private swingers club.” We are disallowed from printing here what consenting adults do at Trapeze II. But suffice it to say, it does not involve the exchange of batting tips.

Freeland dismissed as “outright lies” the words of his partner, Alan Mostow, who was quoted in the New York Daily News that Strawberry had been to the club multiple times, and that Strawberry had departed with a different woman each time. In fact, Freeland said, “He was in the club one time. He was very well-behaved, a complete gentleman.”

Of course, the standards for civility might be a little lax in Trapeze II, just down the road from Sobrenity, the Fort Lauderdale drug and alcohol rehab clinic Strawberry recently left several days early.

In contradicting his partner, Freeland said that “maintaining the integrity and confidence of our members” is of utmost importance. Not that Straw is a member, wink, wink. It’s also possible the only reason Freeland copped to Strawberry’s appearance is that the slugger was dumb enough to have his picture taken there with a woman wearing almost nothing but a wedding ring and a grin. That photo, with breasts fuzzed out, appears in this week’s Sports Illustrated.

According to the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, which originally reported Strawberry’s wanderings, he was sipping drinks of vodka and cranberry juice there. Freeland said that Strawberry was seen holding a glass but that it could have been Shirley Temples for all he knows. Members can bring alcohol if they wish, but none is served.

Asked by reporters in Tampa on Friday if his cancer had returned, the eight-time All-Star replied: “Yes,” and walked away. And the 38-year-old outfielder would not comment on the possibility that he violated terms of probation on April 1999 charges of possessing cocaine and soliciting a prostitute.

Strawberry was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1998 and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. In January, he said a test showed his colon was free of cancer.

Off the field, Strawberry’s timing is always all wrong. Ray Negron, a confidant of Strawberry’s, told Newsday’s David Lennon that Strawberry was preparing to apply to be reinstated to play for the Yankees Aug. 31--no coincidence, that’s the last date a player can join a team and still be eligible for the playoffs. Negron also said that Strawberry and his people had the blessing of George Steinbrenner and were confident that baseball’s powers would let him back early.

But there were still tough questions to resolve. Does Straw call the Trapeze II proprietors to testify about his fine behavior? And do they bring a harem with them when they do? When Straw pleaded with Bud Selig to go light on him in February, he dragged his pregnant wife Charisse to Milwaukee in hopes of showing what a family man he is.

Everyone operating in the real world knows Strawberry has a greater chance to be inducted into the Swingers Hall of Fame than to play major-league baseball this season. Selig’s ban was for one year, and baseball spokesman Rich Levin said, “There were no provisions for reinstatement when the commissioner released his decision.”

If Strawberry had a case, which he does not, he could not have helped himself by leaving Sobrenity several days early. “There’s no indication or suggestion there was anything inappropriate. He was getting antsy and he wanted to get on with his life,” said Marvin Goldklang, co-owner of the independent minor-league St. Paul Saints, who is considering hiring Strawberry for the team’s community outreach program.

Strawberry’s friends will say he was anxious to earn a living for his family. It’s true, he has catching up to do. He has six kids and no money, not a winning combination for financial solvency. The only chance he has to help them is to stay clean. Goldklang has hired former big leaguer Sam McDowell, a recovering alcoholic and a drug counselor, to determine whether Strawberry could benefit from working for the Saints.

“We feel for the guy. He was very good to us, and we don’t forget that,” Goldklang said. “In the past two years, the guy’s had cancer and serious financial difficulties and he’s gone through a couple bouts of depression. When you superimpose the cocaine addiction, well, the guy’s struggled. To whatever extent we can help him we would. But we’re not going to do anything foolish for us, or foolish for Darryl.”

It’s a nice plan, if Strawberry intends to follow it. But Strawberry has made a life out of disappointing people.

Strawberry could advise kids, instruct the Saints’ young players and take a few cuts in the cage. But is that what Straw has in mind? If Strawberry really is hoping to get back on a big-league field by Aug. 31, that leaves little time for the Saints’ outreach program. Negron made clear the goal is to play by then, but Goldklang said he believes Strawberry understands he wouldn’t be coming north to play, or even to ready himself to play. Goldklang’s idea is a noble one. But he just might be setting himself to have done to him what’s done to the people who frequent Trapeze II.