Lenny Dykstra's Bizarre Story Continues

by Graydon Ebert

Last Wednesday, former New York Met and noted chewing tobacco enthusiast Lenny Dykstra was charged with bankruptcy fraud for illegally selling off portions of his estate after filing for bankruptcy in 2009.

Los Angeles federal prosecutors allege that Dykstra hid, sold or destroyed more than $400,000 worth of items, including sports memorabilia and a $50,000 sink. Dykstra was arrested in California on Thursday on suspicion of trying to buy a stolen car but has not yet been charged in this investigation.

These charges last week represent an even further fall in Dykstra's life from what was a once promising post-baseball career. Dykstra, well known for his gritty style of play on the 1986 World Champion New York Mets and the 1993 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies, built a lucrative business empire upon retirement.

He owned a very successful chain of car washes in California before selling the business to investors and famously bought an $18.5 million mansion previously owned by Wayne Gretzky. Dykstra took up investing in the stock market and even wrote a column for CNBC Jim Cramer's website, TheStreet.com.

Dykstra then developed a magazine called The Players Club, a glossy, luxury magazine targeted to ex-professional athletes. Extensive cost over-runs and Dykstra's extravagent lifestyle lead to the demise of the magazine and Dykstra's net worth culminating in his bankruptcy in 2009.

These new allegations are the latest in a long line of odd behaviour by Dykstra (see GQ profile from April 2009).

If the allegations are true and he is charged for trying to buy a stolen car, Dykstra could be in trouble. If convicted, he could face possible prison time.