A wide-spread rumor that former MLB All-Star Kevin Mitchell decapitated his girlfriend's cat has been substantiated after ex-Mets teammate Darryl Strawberry confirmed the incident during an interview.
The disturbing urban legend goes back to1999, when Strawberry and Mitchell's fellow teammate Dwight 'Doc' Gooden detailed the horrifying incident in his autobiography "Heat."
While Mitchell has denied the story for years, in an interview with Huffington Post Live on Tuesday, Strawberry said it was all true:
"That's a pretty good story. I think that's pretty accurate," Strawberry told host Marc Lamont Hill. "Kevin Mitchell did do that. Kevin Mitchell, he's a different type of guy. Great guy, super teammate...I guess he figured that the girlfriend was acting a little crazy, so I'll kill her cat.
"That's a normal day in the Mets' locker room back in those days, in the eighties," he added.
Gooden recalled both he and Mitchell's girlfriend tried to clam him down but he couldn't be persuaded.
"Mitch turned to her and raised his anger to yet another level. Still holding the knife in his right hand, he grabbed his girlfriend's little cat, who had the misfortune to be walking near his feet at that very moment.
"In one awful sweep of his hand, Mitch pulled the cat's head back, exposing its throat.
'"You think I'm kidding when I say don't ever fuck with me?" he shouted. Before the girl could answer, Mitch took the knife to the cat, and cut its head off. Clean."
In 2002, Mitchell — who retired in 1998 after 13 years in the majors —spoke about the incident with author Jeff Pearlman, who was writing a book about the 1986 Mets.
All three players were stars on the 1986 Mets World Series championship team.
The 86 Mets. As an Astros fan, I still say that is one of the greatest National League Championship Series I have ever seen.
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