President Donald J. Trump once again reminded America what true leadership and forgiveness look like—by granting a full presidential pardon to baseball legend Darryl Strawberry for his 1995 federal tax evasion conviction.

The eight-time All-Star, four-time World Series champion, and former New York Mets superstar had pleaded guilty nearly three decades ago to failing to report around $350,000 in autograph and appearance income. He later repaid the taxes and completed his sentence. But on Friday, Trump wiped the slate clean, finalizing a story of redemption that’s been years in the making.

“Thank you, President @realdonaldtrump for my full pardon and for finalizing this part of my life, allowing me to be truly free and clean from all of my past,” Strawberry wrote on Instagram.

According to the White House, Trump’s decision was based on Strawberry’s powerful personal transformation—his conversion to Christianity, years of sobriety, and ongoing work in ministry. It’s a perfect reflection of Trump’s belief that people deserve second chances when they turn their lives around and give back to their communities.

Let’s not forget who Darryl Strawberry was: a sports icon of the 1980s and ’90s, Rookie of the Year in 1983, and one of the most feared hitters of his generation. His fall from grace was well-publicized, but his rise since then has been nothing short of inspiring. For years, he’s used his platform to speak openly about addiction, faith, and redemption—helping countless others find hope and healing.

Of course, the usual critics were quick to nitpick, some even suggesting the pardon covered “drug charges.” They conveniently ignored the Constitution’s clear language that presidential clemency applies only to federal offenses, not state-level cases like Strawberry’s later Florida convictions. But facts have never stopped the media from twisting a good story into a bad headline.

In truth, Trump’s pardon wasn’t just about a baseball player—it was about grace, redemption, and the American belief that your past doesn’t have to define your future.

Darryl Strawberry’s journey from superstar to broken man to redeemed minister is the kind of comeback story that embodies what makes America great. And it’s fitting that it was President Trump—someone who believes in loyalty, second chances, and faith—who gave him the final piece of closure he deserved.

Once again, Trump shows that leadership isn’t about politics—it’s about people, forgiveness, and the power to help someone truly start fresh.