Lenny Dykstra - Retirement

Retirement

Injuries plagued Dykstra for the rest of his career. He last played in the 1996 season, and launched one final comeback attempt in Spring Training in 1998 before retiring at the age of 35. After his retirement, Dykstra ran a car wash in Simi Valley, California, but sold this in 2007.

Dykstra was sued in relation to the car wash in 2005. The lawsuit, filed by former business partner Lindsay Jones, alleged that Dykstra used steroids and told Jones to place bets on Phillies games in 1993, when Dykstra was on the team. Dykstra denied the allegations. Dykstra was also identified by others as using steroids during his career.

Dykstra managed a stock portfolio, and served as president of several of his privately held companies, including car washes; a partnership with Castrol in "Team Dykstra" Quick Lube Centers; a ConocoPhillips fueling facility; a real estate development company; and a venture to develop several "I Sold It on eBay" stores throughout high-demographic areas of Southern California. He also appeared on Fox News Channel's The Cost of Freedom business shows and his stock picking skills were even mentioned by Jim Cramer, who had Dykstra write an investing column for TheStreet.

Dykstra purchased Wayne Gretzky's $17 million estate with the hopes of flipping it, but was unsuccessful. At one point, Dykstra owed more than $13 million on the house, and Lake Sherwood security guards were eventually told to keep Dykstra away from the property due to Dykstra stripping the house of over $51,000 worth of items (counter-tops, an oven, and hardwood flooring) and Dykstra allowing the homeowners' insurance to lapse on the property. The home was eventually sold in January 2011 for "an undisclosed amount". Jeff Smith, the second lienholder on the former Gretzky mansion, said the property was listed on the market for $10.5 million. Sources interviewed by CNBC said that Smith "did very well" with the sale.

In 2000, Dykstra and members of the 1986 World Championship team threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 5 of the World Series at Shea Stadium against the New York Yankees. In 2002, Dykstra made a much-anticipated return to New York when he was elected as part of the Mets' 40th Anniversary All-Amazin Team.

In 2006, Dykstra also returned to Shea Stadium as the Mets honored the 20th Anniversary of the 1986 World Championship team. Dykstra has recently voiced a greater desire to get back involved in baseball, and his name has been mentioned as a possible coach or manager for the Mets; and Dykstra has also recently served as a part-time instructor at Mets' spring training at their camp in Port St. Lucie.

Dykstra returned to Flushing on September 28, 2008 for the Farewell to Shea Stadium ceremony held after the final game of the season.

In May 2011, Dykstra was sentenced to house arrest after a bankruptcy fraud indictment. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Dykstra had been allowed to leave the house under the conditions of work, going to church, and mandatory drug-testing. Following his June 10 hearing for drug possession and grand theft auto, Dykstra had been in jail awaiting trial due his inability to post the $500,000 bail. He was also appointed a public defender. On October 19, Dykstra pleaded no contest to three grand theft auto charges and one count of filing a false financial report. Originally set to be sentenced on January 20, 2012, sentencing was delayed on account of his involvement in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Dykstra was sentenced to 3 years in prison on March 5, 2012.