Darryl Strawberry

Though he was one of the most feared hitters in baseball during the mid- to late-1980s, Darryl Strawberry ultimately fell prey to his uncontrollable cocaine addiction, which resulted in numerous suspensions, arrests and stays in various treatment centers. Born on March 12, 1962 in Los Angeles, CA, Strawberry was raised by his father, Henry, and his mother, Ruby. Showing early promise as a baseball player, he excelled on the diamond for the Crenshaw High School Cougars. In fact, Major League Baseball took notice of the high school star, leading to him being drafted first overall in 1980 by the New York Mets. Strawberry rose rapidly through the minor league ranks, making his major league debut in 1983. After hitting 26 home runs and racking up 74 runs batted in, he was named the National League's Rookie of the Year. The next year, Strawberry posted even bigger numbers and became one of baseball's biggest stars - his image was found on everything from posters to action figures to cereal boxes. But despite near-instant stardom, Strawberry also displayed an early taste for off-the-field trouble, which included minor altercations with fellow teammates Keith Hernandez and Wally Backman. He also frequently showed up late to practice and for team meetings due to oversleeping, a problem later revealed to be a result of constant partying and an addiction to cocaine.