Ex-Met Dykstra sues Darling for libel, defamation

Lenny Dykstra sued former New York Mets teammate Ron Darling for defamation and libel on Tuesday, following through on his threat to file a lawsuit for claims Darling made about Dykstra in his new book.

In his book, “108 Stitches: Loose Threads, Ripping Yarns, and the Darndest Characters from My Time in the Game,” Darling wrote that Dykstra shouted racial taunts at Boston Red Sox pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd from the on-deck circle before Game 3 of the 1986 World Series.

The suit was filed in New York Supreme Court and lists St. Martin’s Press LLC, Macmillan Publishing Group LLC and Darling as defendants.

• Despite vehement denials by his former Mets teammate, Ron Darling says Lenny Dykstra shouted “foul, racist, hateful, hurtful stuff” at Red Sox pitcher Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd during the 1986 World Series.

“Plaintiff has no choice but to bring this action to defend his name and reputation. Upon information and belief, merely to sell books and indulge in public self-promotion, Darling has sought to capitalize on Plaintiff’s complicated past, and intentionally, falsely and maliciously portrayed Plaintiff as a racist, an irremovable stain and permanent cloud which will forever diminish Mr. Dykstra, stalk him, and preclude him from unknowable professional and personal relationships and benefits,” the lawsuit states.

Dykstra is seeking monetary damages, compensatory damages — “including emotional distress damages for loss of opportunities, for the severe mental anguish, loss of reputation and humiliation, caused by Defendants’ unlawful and malicious conduct” — and punitive damages, plus court costs.

Earlier this month, Darling said he stood by what he wrote about Dykstra, telling ESPN Radio’s Golic & Wingo that “I heard what I heard and I put it in the book for a reason.”

Other members of the 1986 Mets have defended Dykstra, including Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden and Kevin Mitchell.