New York Mets retire Darryl Strawberry's No. 18

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NEW YORK -- Darryl Strawberry stood on the Citi Field grass as his No. 18 was being retired and addressed the New York Mets fans he had jilted 34 years earlier.

"I mean this from the bottom of my heart, I'm so sorry for ever leaving you guys," Strawberry said, his voice slowing. "I'm truly, deeply sorry that I ever left you guys. I never played baseball in front of fans greater than you guys."

Fans of the long-suffering team, which hasn't won the World Series since Strawberry's 1986 Mets, responded with a loud ovation, the emotional highpoint of his 16-minute speech before Saturday's game against Arizona.

Strawberry's No. 18 was cut into the center field grass…