Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. Dwight Gooden is on Twitter at DocGooden16. On May 31, Gooden said in an interview from prison, "I can't come back here. 1/1! Those are tremendous young pitchers, but Gooden wassomehow even better. While his 1986 New York Mets teammates basked in the glory of millions during a ticker-tape parade to celebrate their World Series title, Dwight Gooden sat in a drug dealer's apartment, too high . Dwight Gooden Parents, Ethnicity, Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Children, Career, Net Worth and Dwight Gooden is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Having just turned 30, it seemed like Gooden's baseball career was suddenly all over. He complemented this distinction by striking out the side, AL batters: Lance Parrish, Chet Lemon, and Alvin Davis. He started working the drug into his pitching routine. April 7, 1984 "The He no-hit the Seattle Mariners 20 at Yankee Stadium on May 14;[20] the no-hitter was the first by a Yankee right-hander since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, and the first by a Yankee right-hander during the regular season since Allie Reynolds' second no-hitter in 1951. Gooden's troubles with addiction continued after his retirement from baseball and resulted in several arrests. Doc,Dr. When youre young and you just got to the Majors and even when you feel like youre on top of the world, you dont think about the Hall of Fame. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. In December 1986, Gooden was arrested in Tampa alongside nephew Gary Sheffield and former high school teammate Vance Lovelace after police stopped his Chevrolet Corvette. 1996 Yankees 20th Anniversary Retrospective: DwightGooden. "Here I am in the projects in a drug dealer's apartment with guys I don't even know, with drugs in the house, watching it," he said. Gooden attended Hillsborough High School in Tampa where he was teammates on the school's baseball team with Vance Lovelace. I was so damned concerned with that . Since leaving the game, Gooden helped his nephew, slugger Gary Sheffield, sign with the Yankees in 2004, but he has continued his personal battles, dealing with a couple DWIs and cocaine-related arrests, as well as domestic violence. They. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Stec. The following season, he helped the Mets win the 1986 World Series. In 1994, he was not only the NL Rookie of the Year, but also the MLB wins leader who is a title he earned the following year too. So that game will always be special. He was aprodigy from the get-go, leading the National League with 276 strikeouts, a 1.073 WHIP, and a1.69 FIP, running away with the Rookie of the Year and finishing second in Cy Young Award voting. Dwight Eugene Gooden, who would become one of the most dominant young pitchers of his generation, was born on November 16, 1964, in Tampa, Florida. In retirement he is a sports agent.. For most of his career, Sheffield played right field, though he has also played left field, third base, shortstop, and a handful of games at first base. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Dwight Gooden (l.) and Darryl Strawberry are the subject of ESPN's latest '30 for 30' documentary. Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. (Age 19-143d, So when it was time for Belmont Heights to put together an All-Star team in an attempt to qualify for the Little League World Series, Gooden was on it. If he wanted, Mark Hamilton could show off his World Series ring at work. After pitching poorly in April and nearly getting released, he was sent down to the minors where he worked on his mechanics and soon returned with a shortened wind-up. What position did Dwight Gooden play? In 1986, he compiled a 176 record. In the first game of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gooden was matched against Orel Hershiser, who had just finished the regular season with a 59-inning scoreless streak. Cole was sharp, and the King has returned. Gooden battled his demons in addition to shoulder injuries, likely a result of the roughly 1,200 innings he threw prior to his 24th birthday. And he didn't show up for the World Series parade - because he was high in a drug dealer's apartment. He pitched four additional years for as many teams, but never approached the success of his peak years with the Mets. Talking about his career and life, Gooden told ESPN's E:60 that's how his celebration of the World Series went after the star right-hander became hooked on cocaine during that season. Gooden was the National League's Rookie of the Year in 1984 after going 17-9 with a league-high 276 strikeouts. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Dwight Gooden struggled in the World Series. When ESPN aired its 30 for 30 Documentary " Once Upon a Time in Queens " in September 2021, MLB.com published this look back at the rise of Dwight Gooden for the 1983 Class A Lynchburg Mets. The day after receiving the second suspension, Gooden's wife, Monica, found him in his bedroom with a loaded gun to his head. Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey almost brought a World Series ring to Queens in 2015, but the Kansas City Royals weren't about to lose two Fall Classics in a row. He quickly developed a reputation with his 98 miles per hour (158km/h) fastball and sweeping curveball, which was given the superlative nickname of "Lord Charles", in contrast with "Uncle Charlie", a common nickname for a curveball. You don't have to be a Mets fan to enjoy this bookit's a great read for all baseball enthusiasts." Philadelphia Daily News Award-winning Sports Illustrated baseball writer Jeff Pearlman returns to an innocent time when a city wors Even with the problems Gooden had with substance abuse, ones that caused him to miss all of the 1995 season because of a drug suspension, Gooden ended up with three World Series rings: one with the Mets in 1986 and two more with the Yankees later. [] If I don't get the message this time, I never will. Cole settles in for first "normal" spring; Pitching tech opened up pathway to stardom for Rodn; Reynolds seeking extension over trade talks; Peralta works the pitch clock to perfection. Gooden pitched from 1984 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2000 for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.In a career spanning 430 games, he pitched 2,800 + 2 3 . He continues with the painstaking work of his recovery, one day at a time. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Dwight Gooden Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-2 , 190lb (188cm, 86kg) Born: November 16, 1964 in Tampa, FL us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info Cy Young Rookie of the Year Triple Crown 4x All-Star 2x World Series Silver Slugger ERA Title 16 11 16 16 16 17 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Darryl Strawberry World Series Stats by Baseball Almanac. Strawberry joined the Yankees as well and mashed, adding another layer of '86 Mets glory helping the '96 squad. Find out more. And thats totally on me, and something Ill deal with for the rest of my life.. Kinda got attracted to it where I started liking it, then it went from events to nightclubs and hanging out, with sometimes hanging with the wrong people that thought they had your best interest. vs. BAL 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 SO, 1 BB, 1 ER, Rookie Status: This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. As a 19-year-old rookie, Gooden set the then-major league record for strikeouts per 9 innings, with 11.39, breaking Sam McDowell's record of 10.71 in 1965. Dwight Gooden's Net Worth, parents, and latest updates. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Dwight Eugene "Doc" Gooden had a career as a baseball player littered with incredible accomplishments. As Dwight Gooden closed in on throwing what had to be one of the most improbable no-hitters in baseball history, . Gooden, affectionately known as "Doc," is scheduled to throw out the first pitch before a pool play game to be determined at Snyder Avenue Park in Berkeley Heights, according to Mike Murray Jr.,. Do you have a blog? Teaming with Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, first baseman Keith . Dwight Eugene 'Doc' Gooden (born November 16, 1964), nicknamed 'Dr. K', is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). General manager Frank Cashen embarked on a rebuilding. The Yankees let Gooden go after '97 when he had an opportunity to make their rotation after it became clear that the '98 Yankees wouldn't have room in theirs. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Gooden made his MLB debut in 1984 for the Mets and quickly established himself as one of the league's most talented pitchers; as a 19-year-old rookie, he earned the first of four All-Star selections, won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year Award, and led the league in strikeouts. He was a prodigy from the get-go, leading the National League with 276. He agreed to a plea deal to enter a treatment program to avoid prison. He was charged with resisting arrest with violence, battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct. The Dwight Gooden mural was a part of the NYC landscape for over ten years. Before COVID, he said. With his old Mets rotationmate David Cone on the shelf recovering from his aneurysm, the Yankees badly needed stability; "Doc" provided. He has, unfortunately, also had a life plagued with issues and bleak stretches. So I end up leaving the party with the team, going to these projects, of all places in Long Island. Yankees can improve prospect depth without acquiring players in 2023. Gooden turned 57 in November. That night, Gooden went on a cocaine and booze bender that ended up causing. He proved to be a valuable asset for the Yankees that season as David Cone was out until early September with an aneurysm in his shoulder. While he didn't pitch particularly well, going 0-2 with an 8.00 ERA, Gooden still got a ring as the Mets famously knocked off the Boston Red Sox in seven games. Gooden became the youngest-ever recipient of the Cy Young Award and Pitcher of the Year Award. This season it will somehow be 37 years since his magical season of 1985, when he was the young Tom Seaver, when he was the one as unhittable as deGrom was before he got hurt. View cart for details. "I'd rather let my pitching do my talking. The Yankees scored 871 runs and conceded 787 runs. Of all the cards on the list, this one is by far the easiest to find. "I used to go there for signings on Hall of Fame weekend. Gooden, who told everyone he had just overslept, wasn't too high at the time, though, to realize that he was making a big mistake. Their lineup was menacing with Hall of Fame talents like Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, and up-and-coming superstar Alex Rodriguez. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. The Tigers . $5.51 + $5.00 shipping. NAME DATE SEASON SERIES TM OPP DEC GS CG GF SHO SV IP H TBF R ER HR BB . All rights reserved. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Did you know that in the Darryl Strawberry Miscellaneous World Series Items of Interest section seen above you can click the Stats link under the World Series label and a truly comprehensive history of that World Series will appear on . Despite missing a third of the season, Gooden won 15 games for the 1987 Mets. How tall was Dwight Gooden? Some of Gooden's accomplishments include being a four-time All-Star selection, a three-time World Series champion, and two-time MLB strikeout leader. [33], Yet another arrest for driving while intoxicated occurred on July 22, 2019, this time in Newark, New Jersey. 16 - 1991 Donruss Preview. ", Gooden missed Mets' 1986 parade doing drugs, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk, Jays' Guerrero to miss WBC with inflamed knee, Rangers, LHP Smith agree to 1-year, $1.5M deal, 7 Cubs combine for 1st spring no-no since 2017, Jays 'playing it safe' after Guerrero tweaks knee, PitchCom-tipping: Loud device leaks Twins calls, Eflin's first start after $40M deal impresses Rays. He missed all of 1995 due to a drug suspension but resurfaced with the Yankees in 1996. Though drug abuse is commonly blamed for Gooden's pitching troubles, some analysts point to his early workload. He quickly rose to fame and was named an All-Star in 1984 . But all I can say is that the Hall of Fame announcement, every year, makes me sad. Stats. Davey didn't want to use him much because he was a lefty fly ball pitcher and the balls fly over the wall at Fenway Park. Gooden followed the urging of his friend and adviser, Ray Negron, and attended Narcotics Anonymous in Tampa in an attempt to have one last shot at glory in the big leagues. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. No. [32], Gooden was arrested for cocaine possession in Holmdel Township, New Jersey on June 7, 2019. Gooden appeared at the Shea Stadium final celebration on September 28, 2008, the first time he had appeared at Shea Stadium since 2000. Dwight Gooden is one of several players on the famous Belmont Heights Little League program in Tampa, Florida who play Major League Baseball, a roster that includes the likes of Gary Sheffield and Derek Bell. Contact SABR, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, 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, http://sabr.org/sites/default/files/Gooden-Dwight.png, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, pitch a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. It wasnt just Gooden's fastball you had to see and hear in those days. Gooden appreciated the gesture, but told Torre that his father would want him on the mound against the Mariners at Yankee Stadium. He dog-tired his entire tender age in Tampa, Florida. Gooden appeared on the 2006 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. In 1999, Gooden posted a 6.26 ERA in 22 starts. 2004 Donruss World Series Material Bat #112 Dwight Gooden: $3.06: 2004 Fleer Greats of the Game Forever #18 Dwight Gooden: . Sid Fernandez was our savior. We present them here for purely educational purposes. And the clocks, I mean the rooms are spinning. Gooden had not pitched at Shea Stadium since 1994, and in his only career start against the Mets, he pitched five innings of two-run ball for the victory: Gooden remained on the Yankees for the rest of the year, mostly out of the bullpen in 18 games. The mailbag zeroes in on the infield jam with a particular solution being pitched. from the SABR BioProject, More Dwight Gooden Pages at Baseball Reference. Uncle of Gary Sheffield. Gooden remained in Cleveland for one more season that didn't go nearly as well. Detroit went 104-58 in 1984 and defeated the San Diego Padres in the World Series. Dwight Eugene Gooden (born November 16, 1964), nicknamed "Dr. K" and "Doc", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Predicting when this year's top prospects will make their MLB debuts. Gooden's career had been left for dead, but a second chance gave him both new life and one of the most memorable 1996 Yankees moments. The first call Gooden made after becoming World Series champion was his father. Then when the party started winding down, for myself a lot of times I get to a certain point of using drugs, the paranoia sticks in. Gooden did not pitch in the 2000 World Series against the Mets, though 2000 would be the third time Gooden received a World Series ring in his career. The Mets initially indicated that they would remove the signature, but soon decided instead to move the part of the wall with Gooden's writing to a different area of the stadium and acquire additional signatures from other popular ex-players. Likewise, those strolling the streets of Manhattan's West Side could gaze up at a 102 feet tall Sports Illustrated mural of Gooden painted on the side of a building at 351 West 42nd Street in Times Square, whose caption asked "How does it feel to look down the barrel of a loaded gun? "I think it started affecting my performance," he said. Gooden retired in 2001 after he was cut by the Yankees in spring training, ending his career with a record of 194112. One night while partying, someone offered him cocaine. Description Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. He was decent but nothing spectacular as he finished with a 4.91 ERA in 106 1/3 innings. 1993 was no improvement, as Gooden finished 1215. That set the stage for May 14, 1996. He had one start for the Yankees in the 1997 ALDS against the Cleveland Indians; coincidentally, he again faced his 1988 postseason nemesis Orel Hershiser. Strawberry joined the Yankees as well and mashed, adding another layer of '86 Mets glory helping the '96 squad. He also threw out the ceremonial first pitch on the same day to Gary Carter. While he didnt pitch particularly well, going 0-2 with an 8.00 ERA, Gooden still got a ring as the Mets famously knocked off the Boston Red Sox in seven games. He was dubbed "Dr. K", in reference to the letter "K" being the standard abbreviation for strikeout, which soon became shortened to "Doc". Following Gooden's inspirational run in '96, the Yankees brought him back for another season. [21], For a pitcher, Gooden was an above average hitter, posting a .196 batting average (145-for-741) with 60 runs, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, 67 RBI and 14 bases on balls. No. Only 21 years old in 1986, Gooden also didn't know that he would never pitch as well as he did in 1985. This amount is subject to change until you make payment. As a 19-year-old rookie in 1984, Gooden won 17 games struck out 276 batters, breaking Herb Score's 29-year-old rookie record. [25] He chose prison over extended probation, perhaps in the hope that incarceration would separate him from the temptations of his addiction. Though he had told himself he'd never try the drug, he did. Im not saying I would have had other seasons as good as the one I had in 85, but Ill always feel I could have come close.. It was the way that old ballpark sounded for him, the way baseball made you feel when he was on the mound with the ball in his right hand. Gooden's ERA+ was 229; 23-year-old Dean Chance (200 ERA+ in 1964) was the only other pitcher under the age of 25 to do so.