The Cautionary tale of Darryl Strawberry’s Battle with the IRS Darryl Strawberry’s tax and financial troubles tell a cautionary tale about how professional athletes can become prime targets for the IRS. Strawberry, whose career ran from 1983 to 1999, is still battling the IRS, according to a Notice of Levy reportedly sent to HarperCollins Publishing for $405,522 in back taxes, penalties and interest. These tax issues came to light when Tracy Strawberry, Darryl’s third wife,