Leonard (Lenny) Dykstra born February 10, 1963 in Santa Ana, California, and also known as Nails. A name given to him during his professional baseball career, in which Lenny was a Major League Baseball outfielder. Dykstra played for the New York Mets during the late 1980s before playing for the Philadelphia Phillies during the early 1990s. He threw and batted left-handed and served primarily as a leadoff hitter.New York Mets
Dykstra was signed by the Mets as a 13th round draft pick in 1981. A star in the minors, in 1983 he led the Carolina League in at-bats, runs, hits, triples, batting average, and stolen bases with 105, which was a league record for 17 years. That season, he batted .358 with 8 HR, 81 RBI, and 105 stolen bases while recording 107 walks against just 35 strikeouts. He was consequently named the Carolina League's MVP. Dykstra soon emerged as one of the Mets prized prospects, and while playing in AA in 1984, he befriended fellow outfielder and teammate Billy Beane. Beane would later say that Dykstra was "perfectly designed, emotionally" to play baseball and that he had "no concept of failure."In 1985, Dykstra was deemed ready for the Major Leagues, and he was promoted to the Mets when the team's starting center fielder, Mookie Wilson, was forced to the disabled list. Dykstra's stellar play and high energy was a big boost to a Mets team that surged to a 98-win season and narrowly missed out on the NL East crown. The following season, Dykstra was slated to serve as part of a center field platoon with Wilson, but when Wilson suffered a bad eye injury during spring training, Dykstra began the season as the outright starter and leadoff hitter. Later that season, the Mets would release left fielder George Foster, with Wilson moving over to play left. Mets fans soon nicknamed Dykstra "Nails" for his tough-as-nails personality and fearless play. In 1986, he even took off his shirt to pose for a "beefcake" poster under the "Nails" nickname.
With Dykstra batting in the lead-off spot, the 1986 Mets cruised to the division crown, burying the second-place Philadelphia Phillies by an overwhelming 21.5 games, en route to a 108–54 season. The Mets would eventually head to the World Series after a hard-fought victory over the NL West Champion Houston Astros in the 1986 NLCS. Dykstra will forever be remembered for his walk off home run in Game 3, which is considered one of the biggest hits in Mets franchise history and the definitive moment of Dykstra's career. Dykstra would bat .304 in the 1986 NLCS and later hit .296 in the World Series against the Boston Red Sox. However, it was Dykstra's lead off home run in Game 3 of the World Series at Fenway Park that served as the spark for a Mets team that had fallen behind 2 games to none. The home run made him the 3rd Met in team history (along with Tommie Agee and Wayne Garrett, both of whose home runs also came in a Game 3, in the 1969 and 1973 World Series respectively) to hit a leadoff home run in the World Series. Following Dykstra's home run, the Mets rallied to defeat the Red Sox in seven games in one of the most memorable World Series of all-time.
Following the Mets' World Championship, Dykstra would continue to serve as the team's sparkplug for several seasons. In the 1988 NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dykstra continued his post season success by hitting .429 in a losing effort. However, Dykstra was traded to the Phillies on June 18, 1989. Many Mets fans continue to point to the trade of Dykstra when the Mets' dominance of the mid-to-late 1980s began to collapse.
Philadelphia Phillies
Dykstra was initially upset over the trade as he enjoyed playing in New York; nevertheless, he was well liked in Philadelphia and soon became a fan favorite there as well. He was known for his trademark cheek full of tobacco and hard play. With the Phillies, Dykstra's career was marked by incredible highs and lows. In 1990 he started in the All Star Game, led the league in hits, and finished fourth in batting average. He was batting over .400 into June.Dykstra's next two seasons were marred by injury. From a car crash to his broken collarbone again playing in Cincinnati after running into an outfield wall and ended up missing the remainder of the season.
On Opening Day 1992, Dykstra was hit by a pitch that broke his hand. In all he played in just 145 of 324 possible games in the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
In 1993, it all seemed to come together for Dykstra and the Phillies. The team, which had been rebuilding since its last playoff appearance ten years previous, returned to the top of the National League East. He played in 161 games, setting a Major League record with 773 plate appearances. Despite being overlooked for the 1993 All-Star team, Dykstra led the league in runs, hits, walks, and at-bats, and was runner-up to Barry Bonds in voting for the Most Valuable Player of the National League. Dykstra's spark led the Phillies to the World Series where they faced the Toronto Blue Jays. In the series, Dykstra batted .348 and hit four home runs, including two in a 15-14 Phillies loss in Game 4. The Phillies ultimately lost the series in six games.
Pro-Ball Retirement
Dykstra last played in the 1996 season, and launched one final comeback attempt in Spring Training in 1998 before retiring at the age of 35.
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 received among the evening's loudest ovations, and it is clear that to this day, he remains one of the city's biggest fan favorites. 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.
Post Pro-Ball Playing Businessman 
Dykstra opened a string of up-scaled car was businesses in Southern California after finding his investment broker lost most of his $2 million dollar investment. Using the same effor that earned him the nickname "Nails," Dykstra later sold the car wash businesses for a total of approximately $50 million.
Dystra then decided to again put the Nails to the grind-stone and learn all he could about investing. After several years, Dystra established a now well-known investment newsletter Nails on the Numbers, was a writer for the top investment guru's, Jim Cramer, website, TheStreet.com, and established Nails Investments. Dykstra has helped bring to the forefront an investment strategy called "Deep in the Money Calls."
Nails Investments applies the Dykstra's Deep-in-the-money option trading strategies for investors. Although Dykstra is NOT a registered financial advisor, stock broker or the like, his proven track record has caught the attention of many, including the professional investors.
