This Day In Baseball History: February 10th
Digging Deep on this one
Happy Birthday, Lenny Dykstra? Not much to pick from today, so here we go.
Lenny Dykstra is a former center fielder who played for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies. He is widely regarded as one of the craziest players of the 80s and 90s in terms of play style and personality.
Dykstra was born in Santa Ana, California, on February 10, 1963. He grew up playing baseball and quickly became one of the best players in his high school. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 1981 MLB draft and made his major league debut in 1985.
Dykstra was a crucial player on the 1986 New York Mets team that won the World Series. He was known for his aggressive style of play and his ability to get on base, which made him a valuable leadoff hitter. He was also a strong outfielder with a great arm, which helped him contribute defensively as well.
In his time with the Mets, Dykstra was a three-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner. He played for the team from 1985 to 1989 and had some of the best seasons of his career with the Mets, including a .295 batting average and a .418 on-base percentage in 1986, which helped him lead the team to the World Series championship.
In 1989 Dykstra was traded from the Mets to the Phillies. His personality more than likely played a role in this decision. With the Phillies, Dykstra continued to build on his reputation as a talented and aggressive player. He was a leadoff hitter and center fielder, and he continued to provide a spark for the team with his ability to get on base and create runs. He was also a strong outfielder with a great arm, which helped him contribute defensively.
Dykstra's best season with the Phillies came in 1993, when he was named to the National League All-Star team and finished second in the MVP voting. He had a career-high .305 batting average and a .410 on-base percentage, and he led the league in runs scored. This season would be an anomaly as for the rest of his career, and he returned to his typical numbers.
Unfortunately, Lenny Dykstra has faced several legal issues and arrests throughout his life. In 2011, he was charged with multiple crimes, including grand theft auto, bankruptcy fraud, and money laundering. He was accused of stealing and selling luxury cars that he had leased in the names of his former business associates without their permission.
Dykstra was also charged with bankruptcy fraud for allegedly hiding, selling, and destroying assets that should have been included in his bankruptcy estate. He was accused of removing $400,000 worth of items from his mansion, including chandeliers, mirrors, and sports memorabilia before it was due to be sold by the bankruptcy court. As a result of these charges, Dykstra spent six and a half months in prison.
In addition to these legal problems, Dykstra has also faced financial difficulties, including multiple bankruptcy filings and a long history of debts and unpaid bills. Despite these setbacks, Dykstra has continued to maintain a public presence, appearing as a guest on talk shows and writing articles for various publications.