Darryl Strawberry grateful to reach Mets icon status with number retirement after near-fatal heart attack

Darryl Strawberry wasn’t sure if this day would come. 

Recently, he wasn’t sure if any more days would come. 

But he entered immortality Saturday as the Mets retired his No.18 before their 10-5 loss to the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. 

“It means more than ever to be able to be here and to represent this organization for retiring my number,” Strawberry said. “… I came close to losing my life. I’m sitting here today, it’s a gift from the Lord. I don’t take it for granted. I came very close. I almost was dead.” 

Strawberry suffered a “massive” heart attack in mid-March, right before his 62nd birthday. 

“I can just remember rolling into surgery and thinking to myself, ‘God, this is in your hands,’ ” Strawberry said. “There’s nothing I can do. If you want me here, you’ll keep me alive. If you don’t want me here, you’ll take me to you.”