He had a career total of 89 stolen bases, second best in state history at the time, and recorded a hit in all 27 games of his senior season.

A star in the minors, in 1983 he led the Carolina League in at-bats, runs, hits, triples, batting average and stolen bases.

"[11] In 1985, Dykstra was promoted to the Mets when the team's starting center fielder, Mookie Wilson, was placed on the disabled list.

The rookie's play and energy was a big boost to a Mets team that surged to a 98-win season and narrowly missed out on the NL East crown.

As the season progressed, Wilson began to get more playing time in left field, as the incumbent leftfielder, George Foster, was struggling, eventually getting released.

Dykstra and #2 hitter Wally Backman were tagged as "The Partners in Grime" for their scrappy play as spark plugs for the star-studded Met lineup.

[12] With Dykstra as leadoff hitter, the 1986 Mets coasted to the division crown, beating the second-place Philadelphia Phillies by 21.5 games en route to a 108–54 season.

The Mets ended up in the World Series after a victory over the NL West champion Houston Astros in the 1986 NLCS, 4 games to 2.

On June 18, 1989, the Mets traded Dykstra to the Phillies along with pitcher Roger McDowell and minor-leaguer Tom Edens in exchange for second baseman Juan Samuel.

Despite being overlooked for the 1993 All-Star team he led the league in runs, hits, walks and at-bats, and was runner-up to the Giants' Barry Bonds in voting for NL Most Valuable Player.

In October 2015, Dykstra told Colin Cowherd that beginning in 1993, he paid a team of private investigators $500,000 to dig up dirt on MLB umpires.

[21] Dykstra purchased NHL superstar Wayne Gretzky's $17 million estate (built at a cost of $14,999,999[22]) hoping to flip it; however, this endeavor was unsuccessful.

[24] In September 2008, Dykstra began a high-end jet charter company and magazine marketed to professional athletes known as the Player's Club,[25] LLC.

Coughlin detailed incidents and accused Dykstra of credit card fraud, failure to pay rent on the magazine's Park Avenue offices or for bounced checks, lawsuits, and printing costs.

According to a press release published by Rebound Finance, the main goal of the partnership is to "provide hard working Americans with the credit they deserve.

[34][35] On June 28, 2016, Dykstra appeared on The Howard Stern Show for the first stop on his promotional tour for his bestselling book House of Nails: A Memoir of Life on the Edge and to discuss his sexual conquests.

[37] On July 27, 2016, Dykstra appeared on Larry King Now to discuss his book, his MLB career, his use of steroids, and his close friendship with Charlie Sheen.

[38][better source needed] On November 28, 2016, Dykstra returned to The Howard Stern Show, bringing with him two women to verify the claims he made during his first visit in June.

[40][better source needed] In 1991, Dykstra crashed his red Mercedes-Benz SL 500[41] into a tree on Darby-Paoli Road in Radnor Township, Pennsylvania, after attending the bachelor party of Phillies teammate John Kruk.

Darren Daulton, also a teammate, was a passenger in the car at the time; his injuries included an injured eye and a broken facial bone.

According to Radnor Township Police, Dykstra's blood alcohol content was measured at 0.179% shortly after the crash, over double the legal limit of 0.08% in the state.

[47][48] Fireman's Fund Insurance Company provided Dykstra and his wife with a temporary residence pending resolution of the outstanding claim.

[49] According to papers filed in court, one of Dykstra's houses was in "unshowable" condition as "the home was littered throughout with empty beer bottles, trash, dog feces and urine, and other unmentionables."

[50][51] On October 6, 2009, the Wall Street Journal reported that Dykstra's World Series ring had been auctioned off for $56,762 "to help pay the former major-leaguer's $31 million debt.

[57] In April 2011, the Los Angeles Police Department Commercial Crimes Division arrested Dykstra on separate grand theft charges related to the purchase of vehicles.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, he was allowed to leave the house only to go to work, attend church, or undergo mandatory drug testing.

The Los Angeles City Attorney accused him of placing ads on Craigslist requesting a personal assistant or housekeeping services.

[68] On July 13, 2012, Dykstra pleaded guilty in federal court to three felonies: one count each of bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, and money laundering.

The report cited multiple sources, including Kirk Radomski, as stating that Dykstra had used anabolic steroids during his MLB career.

On December 20, 2007, Dykstra was also named in former MLB pitcher Jason Grimsley's unsealed affidavit as an alleged user of steroids.