Lenny Dykstra has followed through on his threat to sue Ron Darling, filing a defamation lawsuit against his former Mets teammate, TMZ reported Tuesday.
In the suit, filed in New York state court, Dykstra is demanding damages for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Dykstra says the false accusations "diminish" and "stalk" him as well as "preclude him from unknowable professional and personal relationships and benefits." He is requesting an injunction that would essentially block sales of the book.
The former Mets center fielder is fuming over a story in Darling's new book, "108 Stitches," in which the ex-pitcher says Dykstra unleashed a foul, hateful and racist rant toward Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd as the Red Sox pitcher warmed up before Game 3 of the 1986 World Series. Dykstra led off the game with a home run, which Darling suggested might have been the result of him rattling Boyd.
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Dykstra has vehemently denied Darling's allegations.
Former Mets Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden and Kevin Mitchell have said publicly they did not hear Dykstra yell racial slurs at Boyd. Keith Hernandez said he remembers Dykstra barking at the Boston pitcher, but he never heard what was being said.
Boyd told WFAN's "Carlin, Maggie and Bart" last week that he also didn't hear the vulgar, racist rant allegedly directed at him but said he believes Darling's account.
In a statement last week, Darling said he stands "by all recollections that were written," but added that his lawyers have advised him not to make any further comments on the topic.