Strawberry Probation Hearing Postponed

A probation revocation hearing for New York Yankee outfielder Darryl Strawberry was postponed Tuesday in Los Angeles after attorneys met for 15 minutes with U.S. District Judge David Z. Kenyon.

Strawberry sat quietly in the courtroom, chatting with a reporter about baseball and then answering questions as to why the U.S. Attorney’s office is seeking to have his probation revoked with, “It’s nothing serious” and “Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

He is on three years’ probation after having pleaded guilty of evading about $96,000 in income tax on money he received from autograph sessions at card shows in the 1980s.

The probation was assessed in New York but has been transferred to Los Angeles because Strawberry lives in Palm Springs.

Alejandro Mayorkas, an assistant U.S. attorney, would not say why revocation is being sought, “because we were talking in chambers.”

But Bruce Hochman, whose law firm is representing Strawberry, said the probation violation is considered minor, adding, “He won’t be going to the hoosegow.”

Strawberry was in town with the Yankees, who finished a three-game series with the Angels on Tuesday night. He opened the season 0 for 14 and has complained of a leg injury he said he suffered in an intrasquad game in spring training.