Former New York Mets and Yankees superstar slugger Darryl Strawberry recently discussed the various ways the Devil attacked him on and off the baseball field.

The 52-year-old Los Angeles native offered heartfelt messages to various people in the Midwest regarding the Lord never giving up on him despite his wild and rebellious past.

"Through God in my life is why I stand here today," said Strawberry to the students at Steubenville High School in Ohio, according to a WTOV 9 report. "There were issues in me embedded at a young age -- and they eventually play out. In this generation, I think young kids are challenged with so many things, and you just want to guide them around because of the many challenges they face today."

In addition, Strawberry also revealed his tough childhood with an extremely abusive father who nearly killed him and his entire family, which forced his mother Ruby to file for a divorce when he was 14-years-old.

"My father [Henry] was an alcoholic who would beat the living crap out of me. I hated him with a passion. One night he came home and pulled out a shotgun and said he'd kill all five of us. I would've never put on a (baseball) uniform because I came close to killing my father that night," said Strawberry at the 40th annual Mayor's Leadership Prayer Luncheon in Peioria, Ill, according to the Journal Star.

"I had issues, I started drinking and using marijuana. I had to cover up who I was. I was told I was nothing and I believed it."

Strawberry also talked about his first experience with cocaine during his rookie season in 1983 at the age of 21-years-old.

"Welcome to the big leagues," recalled Strawberry quoting one of his teammates that day during a Mets road trip.

After the 8-time All-Star won his first World Series Champion with the Mets in 1986, he would later win on the grandest stage of baseball in 1996, 1998 and 1999 as a member of the Yankees.

However, the former 17-year MLB veteran's legendary career ended, when his longtime nemesis (cocaine) caused him to get arrested in 1999.

"The great Darryl Strawberry ended up in a Florida state prison (in Gainesville)," said Strawberry. "No. 217169."

The Colon Cancer survivor credits his current wife Tracy for leading him to Christ after they first met at Narcotics Anonymous many years ago.

"She was a godsend in my life. With all the issues I had, she made me take responsibility. That's a big word," said Strawberry.

Despite his successful MLB career which was plagued by his dangerous party life, Pastor Strawberry (of Strawberry Ministries) revealed that no statistics are more important than one's personal relationship with God.

"The legacy I leave today isn't about baseball and [335] home runs," said Strawberry, "It's about Jesus. It's not what I achieved. It's about salvation and leading others to Christ."