View source for Dwight Gooden

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Dwight Gooden
|image=Dwight Gooden 1986 by Barry Colla.jpg
|alt = A portrait of Gooden
|caption=Gooden with the New York Mets in 1986
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1964|11|16}}
|birth_place=[[Tampa, Florida]], U.S.
|death_date=
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=April 7
|debutyear=1984
|debutteam=New York Mets
|finalleague=MLB
|finaldate=September 29
|finalyear=2000
|finalteam=New York Yankees
|statleague=MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=194–112
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=3.51
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=2,293
|teams=
*[[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|1984}}–{{mlby|1994}})
*[[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|1996}}–{{mlby|1997}})
*[[Cleveland Guardians|Cleveland Indians]] ({{mlby|1998}}–{{mlby|1999}})
*[[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|2000}})
*[[Tampa Bay Devil Rays]] ({{mlby|2000}})
*[[New York Yankees]] ({{mlby|2000}})
|highlights=
*4× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1984]]–[[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986]], [[1988 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1988]])
*2× [[World Series champion]] ({{wsy|1986}}, {{wsy|2000}})
*[[NL Cy Young Award]] (1985)
*[[Triple Crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]] (1985)
*[[NL Rookie of the Year]] (1984)
*[[Silver Slugger Award]] (1992)
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|MLB wins leader]] (1985)
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|MLB ERA leader]] (1985)
*2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|MLB strikeout leader]] (1984, 1985)
*Pitched a [[no-hitter]] on May 14, 1996
* [[New York Mets#Retired numbers|New York Mets No. 16]] retired
* [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]]
}}

'''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). Gooden pitched from 1984 to 1994 and from 1996 to 2000 for the [[New York Mets]], [[New York Yankees]], [[Cleveland Guardians|Cleveland Indians]], [[Houston Astros]], and [[Tampa Bay Rays|Tampa Bay Devil Rays]]. In a career spanning 430 games, he pitched {{frac|2,800|2|3}} innings and posted a [[Win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]] of 194–112, with a 3.51 [[earned run average]] (ERA), and 2,293 [[strikeout]]s.

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 [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] selections, won the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]], and [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|led the league in strikeouts]]. In 1985, he won the NL [[Cy Young Award]] and achieved the pitching [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]], compiling a 24–4 record and a league-leading 1.53 ERA, 268 strikeouts, and 16 [[complete game]]s. The following season, he helped the Mets win the [[1986 World Series]].

Gooden remained an effective pitcher in subsequent years, but his career was ultimately derailed by [[cocaine]] and alcohol addiction. After posting a losing record in each season from 1992 to 1994, Gooden was suspended for the 1995 season after a positive drug test while serving a prior suspension. As a member of the Yankees in 1996, Gooden pitched a [[no-hitter]] and helped the team on its path to a World Series championship. He pitched four additional years for as many teams, but never approached the success of his peak years with the Mets. In 2010, Gooden was inducted into the [[New York Mets Hall of Fame]] and on April 14, 2024, Gooden's number 16 was retired by the New York Mets. Gooden's troubles with addiction continued after his retirement from baseball and resulted in several arrests. He was incarcerated for seven months in 2006 after violating the terms of his probation.

==Career==
Gooden attended [[Hillsborough High School (Tampa, Florida)|Hillsborough High School]] in Tampa where he was teammates on the school's baseball team with [[Vance Lovelace]].<ref name="arrested1986">{{cite news |title=Mets' ace Gooden arrested |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94440825/mets-ace-gooden-arrested/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=[[The Lincoln Star]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=15 December 1986 |pages=13}}</ref> A native of [[Tampa, Florida]], Dwight Gooden was [[Major League Baseball draft|drafted]] in the first round in 1982, the fifth player taken overall. He spent two seasons in the [[Minor League Baseball|minors]], 1982 in which he went 5-5 combined between Kingsport and Little Falls <ref>https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gooden001dwi</ref> and in 1983 in which he led the Class-A [[Carolina League]] in [[Win (baseball)|wins]], [[strikeout]]s and [[Earned run average|ERA]] while playing for the [[Lynchburg Mets]]. Gooden had 300 strikeouts in 191 innings, a performance which convinced Triple-A [[Tidewater Tides]] manager and future Mets manager [[Davey Johnson]] to bring him up for the Tides' postseason.

===1984–1994: New York Mets===

====1984====
Gooden made the rare jump from [[High-A]] directly to the major leagues in one year, bypassing [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] and [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]]. He made his major-league debut on April 7, 1984, with the [[1984 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] at the age of 19. He quickly developed a reputation with his {{convert|98|mph}} [[fastball]] and sweeping [[curveball]], which was given the superlative nickname of "Lord Charles", in contrast with "Uncle Charlie", a common nickname for a curveball. He was dubbed "Dr. K", in reference to the letter "K" being the standard abbreviation for strikeout, which soon became shortened to "Doc". Gooden soon attracted a rooting section at [[Shea Stadium]] that called itself "The K Korner", and would hang up cards with a red "K" after each of his strikeouts.

When he took the mound in the fifth inning on July 10, 1984, Gooden became the youngest player to appear in an [[1984 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]. He complemented this distinction by striking out the side, AL batters: [[Lance Parrish]], [[Chet Lemon]], and [[Alvin Davis]]. Setting up Gooden, NL Pitcher [[Fernando Valenzuela]] had already struck out the side in the fourth, putting down future Hall of Famers [[Dave Winfield]], [[Reggie Jackson]], and [[George Brett]]. The two pitchers' combined performance broke an All-Star game record, coincidentally on its celebrated 50th anniversary—[[Carl Hubbell]]'s five consecutive strikeouts in 1934.

That season, Gooden won 17 games, the most by a 19-year-old since [[Wally Bunker]] won 19 games in 1964 and the second most for a Mets rookie, after [[Jerry Koosman]]'s 19 wins in 1968. Gooden won eight of his last nine starts; in his final three starts of the 1984 season, he had 41 strikeouts and 1 walk. Gooden led the league in strikeouts, his 276 breaking [[Herb Score]]'s rookie record of 245 in 1955, and also set the record for most strikeouts in three consecutive starts with 43. 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. He was voted the [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]], giving the Mets two consecutive winners of that award ([[Darryl Strawberry]] had been the recipient in 1983). Gooden also became the third Mets pitcher to win the award, joining [[Tom Seaver]] ({{Baseball year|1967}}) and [[Jon Matlack]] ({{Baseball year|1972}}). Gooden finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting, even though he had more wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched as well as a lower ERA than the NL winner, [[Rick Sutcliffe]].<ref name="1984 Cy Young MLB Reference">{{cite web |title=1984 NL Cy Young Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1984.shtml#all_NL_CYA_voting |work=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref>

====1985====
In 1985, Gooden pitched one of the most statistically dominant single seasons in baseball history. Leading [[Major League Baseball]] with 24 wins, 268 strikeouts, and a 1.53 ERA, the second-lowest in the [[live-ball era]], trailing only [[Bob Gibson]]'s 1.12 in 1968. Gooden earned the major leagues' pitching [[Triple Crown (baseball)|Triple Crown]]. He led the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] in [[complete game]]s (16) and innings pitched (276{{fraction|2|3}}). After his first start, his ERA never rose above 2.00.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dwight Gooden 1985 Pitching Gamelogs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=goodedw01&t=p&year=1985 |access-date= |work=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> At age 20, he was the youngest pitcher of the last half-century to have an [[ERA+]] above 200. 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. From August 31 through September 16, Gooden threw 31 consecutive scoreless innings over four games, and through October 2, threw 49 consecutive innings over seven games without allowing an earned run. Gooden had one of the highest [[quality start]] percentages in a season, with 33 quality starts in 35 games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Highest Number Of Quality Starts In A Season With At Least 34 Starts |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/highest-number-of-quality-starts-in-a-season-with-at-least-34-starts |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}</ref>

In September, he pitched back-to-back nine-inning games allowing no runs, but received no-decisions in both games. In his four losses, Gooden allowed 26 hits and five walks in 28 innings, with 28 strikeouts and a 2.89 ERA. The Mets finished second in the 1985 NL East. Teammates jokingly blamed Gooden for having lost 4 games, thereby mathematically costing them the division title. That year, Gooden became one of only 15 black pitchers ever to win 20 games in a season, the most recent of whom was [[David Price (baseball)|David Price]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Aces {{!}} Mudcat Grant |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/black_aces.shtml |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Baseball Almanac}}</ref> Gooden became the youngest-ever recipient of the [[Cy Young Award]] and [[The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award|Pitcher of the Year Award]]. That November, Gooden turned 21.

Travelers descending the steps of the side entrance to Manhattan's [[New York Penn Station|Penn Station]] were greeted by an enormous photograph of Gooden in mid-motion that recorded his season's strikeout totals as the year progressed. Likewise, those strolling the streets of Manhattan's [[West Side (Manhattan)|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?"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2009/11/14/2009-11-14_dwight_gooden_takes_aim.html |title=Twenty-five years after his phenomenal rookie season, Dwight Gooden takes aim at his demons |publisher=NY Daily News |date=November 14, 2009 |access-date=November 23, 2011 |location=New York |first=Wayne |last=Coffey}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/04/nyregion/young-artist-seeks-brush-with-subject.html |title=Young Artist Seeks Brush With Subject – New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 4, 1997 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |first=Andrea |last=Higbie}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n20_v218/ai_15924161/ |title=A fading picture|work=The Sporting News |publisher=Find Articles |date=November 14, 1994 |access-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Salvatore |first=Bryan Di |url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1987/03/23/1987_03_23_029_TNY_CARDS_000346925 |title=The Talk of the Town: Doc |magazine=The New Yorker |date=August 1, 2011 |access-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref> In a span of 50 starts from August 11, 1984, to May 6, 1986, Gooden posted a record of 37–5 with a 1.38 ERA; he had 412 strikeouts and 90 walks in 406 innings.

====1986====
In 1986, he compiled a 17–6 record. Gooden's 200 strikeouts were fifth in the National League, more than a hundred behind the league leader, [[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]] of the [[1986 Houston Astros season|Houston Astros]] and a tremendous decrease from his first two seasons. As the 1986 season progressed, Gooden felt that his fastball became less effective. “That impossible-to-track, impossible-to-time movement deserted me in 1986, and never returned,” he said.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dwight Gooden's Historic 1985 Season |date=April 14, 2015 |url=https://tht.fangraphs.com/dwight-goodens-historic-1985-season/ |publisher=Fangraphs |access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref> Gooden had compiled a [[strikeouts per nine innings pitched]] of 10.05 for his first two seasons. For the rest of his career, he would strike out only 5.91 batters per nine innings.

In another All-Star record, in [[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986]] Gooden became the youngest pitcher to start an All-Star Game at {{age in years and days|1964|11|16|1986|7|15}} of age. Gooden was the Mets ace going into the playoffs, and his postseason started promisingly. He lost a 1–0 duel with Scott in the [[1986 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] opener, then got a no-decision in Game 5, pitching 10 innings of one-run ball. He was substantially worse in the [[1986 World Series|World Series]] against the [[1986 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]], not getting past the 5th inning in either of his two starts. Nevertheless, the Mets won four of the five non-Gooden starts and the championship. In an early red flag, Gooden failed to attend the team's victory parade. In 2011, he said that during the 1986 parade he had been using drugs at his dealer's apartment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/mlb/story/_/id/7122534|title=Gooden missed Mets' 1986 parade doing drugs|access-date=July 14, 2020|website=ESPN.com|date=October 19, 2011 }}</ref>

====1987: Early drug problems and injuries====
Gooden was arrested on December 13, 1986, in Tampa, Florida after being assaulted by police.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/49957656.html?dids=49957656:49957656&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+24%2C+1987&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=5.B&desc=Blacks%2C+officers+have+clashed+before| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201065400/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/49957656.html?dids=49957656:49957656&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+24,+1987&author=&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=5.B&desc=Blacks,+officers+have+clashed+before| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 1, 2013| title=Newspaper Archives| newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]}}</ref> A report clearing police of misconduct in the arrest helped start the [[1987 Tampa riots]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1218480431.html?dids=1218480431:1218480431&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+18%2C+2007&author=JUSTIN+GEORGE&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.A&desc=At+his+death%2C+a+city+erupted| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131150626/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/1218480431.html?dids=1218480431:1218480431&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+18,+2007&author=JUSTIN+GEORGE&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.A&desc=At+his+death,+a+city+erupted| url-status=dead| archive-date=January 31, 2013| title=Newspaper Archives| newspaper=[[St. Petersburg Times]]}}</ref><ref name=":022">{{Cite news |date=April 7, 1987 |title=Violence In Tampa After Death Of Another Black Man In Custody |url=https://apnews.com/article/c0aefc234a093a31b0ac545c07a76785 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508111923/https://apnews.com/article/c0aefc234a093a31b0ac545c07a76785 |archive-date=2021-05-08 |access-date=November 26, 2021 |work=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Leisner |first=Pat |date=February 20, 1987 |title=Uprising Follows Choke Hold Death of Tampa Man |url=https://apnews.com/article/fb4e7723e8cadc6d5720eb9a339e5ab8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414075516/https://apnews.com/article/fb4e7723e8cadc6d5720eb9a339e5ab8 |archive-date=2023-04-14 |access-date=November 26, 2021 |work=AP News}}</ref> Gooden tested positive for [[cocaine]] during [[spring training]] in 1987. He entered a rehabilitation center on April 1 to avoid being suspended. He did not make his first start of the season until June 5. Despite missing a third of the season, Gooden won 15 games for the [[1987 New York Mets season|1987 Mets]]. In 1988, he was profiled in the [[William Goldman]] and [[Mike Lupica]] book ''[[Wait Till Next Year]]'', which looked at the impact Gooden's drug use and enforced missed games had on the Mets over the 1987 season.

====1988====
In 1988, Gooden had an 18–9 record as the [[1988 New York Mets season|Mets]] returned to the postseason. In the first game of the [[1988 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] against the [[1988 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]], Gooden was matched against [[Orel Hershiser]], who had just finished the regular season with a [[Orel Hershiser's scoreless innings streak|59-inning scoreless streak]]. Gooden pitched well, allowing just 4 hits and recording 10 strikeouts, but left after seven innings trailing 2–0. In his next start in Game 4, Gooden entered the ninth inning with a 4–2 lead and the chance to give his Mets a commanding 3–1 advantage in the series. But he allowed a game-tying home run to [[Mike Scioscia]], and the Dodgers eventually went on to win the game in 12 innings, and ultimately the series as well, 4 games to 3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1988 NLCS - Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Mets (4-3) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1988_NLCS.shtml |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====1989–1991====
[[File:DwightGoodenSF 2.jpg|thumb|Gooden with the Mets in 1991]]
Gooden suffered a shoulder injury in 1989, which limited him to just 17 starts, during which he posted a 9–4 record.<ref name="baseballreference.com" /> He rebounded in 1990, posting a 19–7 season with 223 strikeouts, tied for second behind teammate [[David Cone]]'s 233.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 National League Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1990-pitching-leaders.shtml |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> However, after another injury in 1991, Gooden's career declined significantly. Though drug abuse is commonly blamed for Gooden's pitching troubles, some analysts point to his early workload. It has been estimated that Gooden threw over 10,800 pitches from 1983 to 1985, a period in which he was 18 to 20 years old.<ref>{{cite web |last=Studeman |first=Dave |date=September 22, 2005 |title=Ten Things I Didn't Know Last Week |url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/ten-things-i-didnt-know-last-week20/ |access-date=November 23, 2011 |website=The Hardball Times}}</ref> Gooden hurled {{Fraction|276|2|3}} innings in his historic 1985 season; {{As of|2024|pre=the end of the}} season, only two pitchers have since thrown that many innings: [[Charlie Hough]], a knuckleballer, and [[Roger Clemens]], both in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Most Innings Pitched In One Season Since 1985 |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/most-innings-pitched-in-one-season-since-1985 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}</ref> By the time he reached his 21st birthday, Gooden already had 928 strikeouts between the minor and major leagues.

On August 9, 1990, Phillies pitcher [[Pat Combs]] struck Gooden in the knee with the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth inning. Gooden, seeing the pitch as retaliation for him having hit two Phillies batters, [[charging the mound|charged the mound]], setting off a bench-clearing brawl. Gooden was one of six players ejected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/10/sports/baseball-in-a-bruising-outing-the-mets-rally-and-win.html|title=In a Bruising Outing, the Mets Rally and Win |newspaper=The New York Times |date=August 10, 1990 |access-date=May 17, 2017|last1=Sexton |first1=Joe }}</ref>

Gooden was accused of rape along with teammates [[Vince Coleman (baseball)|Vince Coleman]] and [[Daryl Boston]] in 1991; however, authorities questioned the alleged victim and found insufficient evidence to charge anyone.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/02/sports/baseball-mets-rape-case-transferred-to-the-florida-state-attorney.html|title=Baseball; Mets Rape Case Transferred To the Florida State Attorney|author=Claire Smith|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 2, 1992|access-date=September 26, 2011}}</ref>

====1992–1995====
Gooden's first-ever losing season (10–13) was in 1992; it was also the first time he had at least 10 losses. Before the 1993 season, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' ran a cover story on Gooden entitled, "From Phenom to Phantom."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Verducci |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Verducci |title=From Phenom to Phantom |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/03/22/from-phenom-to-phantom-a-ghost-of-his-former-self-dwight-gooden-at-28-tries-to-recapture-the-glory-of-his-youth |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220702030204/https://vault.si.com/vault/1993/03/22/from-phenom-to-phantom-a-ghost-of-his-former-self-dwight-gooden-at-28-tries-to-recapture-the-glory-of-his-youth |archive-date=2022-07-02 |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> The next year was no improvement, as Gooden finished 12–15.

During the strike-shortened 1994 season at age 29, Gooden had a 3–4 record with a 6.31 ERA when he tested positive for cocaine use and was suspended for 60 days. He tested positive again while serving the suspension, and was further suspended for the entire 1995 season. The day after receiving the second suspension, Gooden's wife, Monica, found him in his bedroom with a loaded gun to his head.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1996-06-22 |title=BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-06-22-sp-17446-story.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In July 1995, the famous longstanding Gooden [[Times Square]] mural was replaced with a [[Charles Oakley]] mural. The Dwight Gooden mural was a part of the New York City landscape for more than 10 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/16/style/noticed-gooden-is-benched-again.html |title=NOTICED; Gooden Is Benched Again|work=The New York Times |date=July 16, 1995 |access-date=November 23, 2011 |first=Andrea |last=Higbie}}</ref>

[[Kirk Radomski]], the [[New York Mets]] clubhouse attendant whose allegations are at the base of the [[Mitchell Report]], later claimed that he took two [[urine test]]s for Gooden during the 1990s. Gooden denies the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-27 |title=Justice, Gooden deny Radomski's allegations |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3862988 |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

===1996–1997: New York Yankees===
Gooden signed with the [[1996 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] in 1996 as a [[free agent]]. 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. He [[no-hitter|no-hit]] the [[Seattle Mariners]] 2–0 at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] on May 14;<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/specials/baseball/bba-gooden-nohitter.html | work=The New York Times | title=Gooden Pitches No-Hitter as Yankees Top Mariners, 2–0}}</ref> 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. He ended the 1996 season at 11–7, his first winning record since 1991, and showed flashes of his early form, going 10–2 with a 3.09 ERA from April 27 through August 12. 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.

Gooden was left off the 1996 postseason roster due to injury and fatigue. In 1997, he posted a respectable 9–5 record with a 4.91 ERA. He had one start for the [[1997 New York Yankees season|Yankees]] in the 1997 [[1997 American League Division Series|ALDS]] against the [[1997 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]]; coincidentally, he again faced his 1988 postseason nemesis [[Orel Hershiser]]. Gooden left Game 4 during the sixth inning with a 2–1 lead, but the Yankee bullpen faltered in the 8th, and Gooden was left with the no-decision.

=== 1998–1999: Cleveland Indians ===
Gooden then signed with Cleveland and enjoyed moderate success in 1998, going 8–6 with a 3.76 ERA. He started two games in the [[1998 Major League Baseball postseason|1998 postseason]], getting a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox and a loss to his former team, the Yankees. He remained with the Indians in 1999 but did not match his respectable numbers from the previous year, going 3–4 with a 6.26 ERA.

In 1999, Gooden released an autobiography titled ''Heat'', in which he discussed his struggles with alcohol and [[cocaine]] abuse.

=== 2000–2001: Houston, Tampa Bay, and New York Yankees (second stint) ===
Gooden began the 2000 season with two subpar stints with the Houston Astros and [[Tampa Bay Rays|Tampa Bay Devil Rays]] but found himself back with the Yankees mid-season. He would go on to have a respectable return with the Yankees, going 4–2 with a 3.36 ERA as a spot starter and long reliever, including a win against his former team, the Mets, on July 8 in the regular-season [[Subway Series]]. He made one relief appearance in each of the first two rounds of the playoffs, both times with the Yankees trailing. Gooden did not pitch in the [[2000 World Series]] against the [[2000 New York Mets season|Mets]], though 2000 would be the second time Gooden received a [[World Series ring]] in his career.

===Postseason career===

Gooden failed to win a postseason game, going 0–4 in the course of nine postseason starts over eight series.<ref name="baseballreference.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goodedw01.shtml |title=Dwight Gooden Statistics and History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=January 28, 2013}}</ref> In the [[1986 National League Championship Series]], however, he had an earned run average of only 1.06 after starting two games and allowing just two earned runs in 17 innings pitched.<ref name="baseballreference.com"/>

===Batting and fielding===
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. He recorded a .950 [[fielding percentage]], which was five points lower than the league average at his position.<ref name="baseballreference.com"/>

===Retirement===
[[File:Dwight Gooden 2008-09-28.jpg|thumb|left|Dwight Gooden on September 28, 2008]]
{{MLBBioRet
|Image  = Dwight.png
|Name   = Dwight Gooden
|Number = 16
|Team   = New York Mets
|Year   = 2024
|}}
Gooden retired in March 2001 after he was cut by the Yankees in spring training, ending his career with a record of 194–112.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Romano |first1=John |date=March 31, 2001 |title=With the lead, Gooden retires |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2001/03/31/with-the-lead-gooden-retires/ |access-date=July 25, 2023 |work=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> More than half of those wins came before age 25.

Gooden appeared on the [[2006 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|2006 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot]]. He was named on only 17 ballots, which was 3.3 percent of the 520 writers' ballots. Because he named on fewer than 5 percent of the ballots, he was removed from future writers ballots.

After retiring, Gooden took a job in the Yankees' front office. He acted as the go-between man during free agent contract negotiations between his nephew, [[Gary Sheffield]], and the Yankees prior to the 2004 season. In July 2009, he was hired as a vice president of community relations for [[Atlantic League of Professional Baseball|Atlantic League]]'s [[Newark Bears]]. He left the post in November of the same year.<ref>[http://www.northjersey.com/news/032410_Police_Former_Yankees_and_Mets_pitcher_Dwight_Gooden_arrested_on_alleged_DWI_with_child_in_the_car.html Police: Former Yankees and Mets pitcher Dwight Gooden arrested on alleged DWI with 5-year-old son in the car] NorthJersey.com, March 24, 2010</ref>

Gooden appeared at the Shea Stadium final celebration on September 28, 2008, the first time he had appeared at Shea Stadium since 2000. On April 13, 2009, he made an appearance at the newly opened [[Citi Field]]. Gooden spontaneously signed his name to a wall on the inside of the stadium. 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. On August 1, 2010, he was officially inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame along with [[Darryl Strawberry]], [[Frank Cashen]], and [[Davey Johnson]]. That day, Gooden threw out the ceremonial first pitch to [[Gary Carter]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Thomas |date=2010-08-02 |title=Four New Inductees in Mets Hall of Fame |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sports/baseball/02citifield.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

[[VH1]] announced on June 11, 2011, that Gooden would be a patient on an upcoming season of the reality show ''[[Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kenneally |first=Tim |date=2011-06-07 |title='Celebrity Rehab' Season 5: Michael Lohan, Bai Ling, Sean Young Sign on for Recovery in the Spotlight |url=https://www.thewrap.com/celebrity-rehab-season-5-michael-lohan-bai-ling-sean-young-sign-recovery-spotlight-28030/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref>

Gooden's number 16 was retired by the Mets on April 14, 2024.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dwight Gooden's No. 16 retired before Mets take on Royals |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39942786/dwight-gooden-no-16-retired-mets-take-royals |access-date=April 15, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |date=April 14, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=LIVE: Watch Mets retire Doc Gooden's No. 16 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/dwight-gooden-s-number-retired-by-mets |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Legal troubles==
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]]. Gooden was charged with resisting arrest with violence, battery on a police officer, and disorderly conduct.<ref name="arrested1986" /> He pleaded no contest in January 1987 and was sentenced to three years probation and 160 hours of community service.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gooden Pleads No Contest, Gets Probation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94437015/gooden-pleads-no-contest-gets-probation/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |date=24 January 1987 |pages=47}}</ref>

On February 20, 2002, Gooden was arrested in Tampa and charged with driving while [[Substance intoxication|intoxicated]], having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle, and driving with a suspended license.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Doc Gooden arrested for drunken driving in Tampa |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2002/0220/1337166.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He was arrested again in January 2003 for driving with a suspended license.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Driving with suspended license, Gooden arrested in Tampa |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2003/0104/1487093.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> On March 12, 2005, Gooden was again arrested in Tampa for punching his girlfriend after she threw a telephone at his head.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Curry |first=Jack |date=2005-03-14 |title=Gooden Is Arrested in Tampa and Charged With Punching Girlfriend |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/sports/baseball/gooden-is-arrested-in-tampa-and-charged-with-punching.html |access-date=2025-02-25 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He was released two days later on a [[misdemeanor]] battery charge.

On August 23, 2005, Gooden drove away from a traffic stop in Tampa after being pulled over for driving erratically. He gave the officer his driver's license, twice refused to leave his car, and then drove away. The officer remarked in his report that Gooden's eyes were glassy and bloodshot, his speech was slurred, and a "strong" odor of alcohol was present on him. Three days after the traffic stop, Gooden turned himself in to police.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2143022 |title=Gooden arrested after turning self in on felony charges – MLB – ESPN |work=ESPN.com |date=August 26, 2005 |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref>

Gooden was again arrested in March 2006 for violating his [[probation]], after he arrived high on cocaine at a scheduled meeting with his probation officer.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 14, 2006 |title=Gooden arrested for violating terms of probation |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2368719 |access-date=July 15, 2020 |work=ESPN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zayas |first=Alexandra |date=March 16, 2006 |title=No bail for Gooden after latest arrest |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2006/03/16/no-bail-for-gooden-after-latest-arrest/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> He chose prison over extended probation, perhaps in the hope that incarceration would separate him from the temptations of his addiction.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=2398879 |title=Doc's savior sadly could be time spent behind bars – MLB – ESPN |work=ESPN.com |date=April 6, 2006 |access-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref> He entered prison on April 17, 2006. On May 31, Gooden said in an interview from prison, "I can't come back here ... I'd rather get shot than come back here ... If I don't get the message this time, I never will."<ref>{{cite web |date=May 31, 2006 |title=Gooden says he'd rather be shot than jailed again |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2464115 |access-date=July 14, 2020 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Gooden was released from prison November 9, 2006, after nearly seven months' incarceration and was not placed on further probation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2655090 |title=Cy Young winner Gooden released from Florida prison – MLB – ESPN |work=ESPN.com |date=November 10, 2006 |access-date=July 14, 2020}}</ref>

On the morning of March 24, 2010, Gooden was arrested in [[Franklin Lakes, New Jersey]], near his home , after leaving the scene of a traffic accident, having been located nearby and found to be under the influence of an undisclosed controlled substance.<ref>Wills, Kerry; and McShane, Larry. [http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/03/25/2010-03-25_exmets_star_dwight_gooden_not_ready_to_talk_about_drug_charge_stemming_from_cras.html "Ex-Mets star Dwight Gooden not ready to talk about drug charge stemming from crash with son in car"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329223204/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2010/03/25/2010-03-25_exmets_star_dwight_gooden_not_ready_to_talk_about_drug_charge_stemming_from_cras.html |date=March 29, 2010 }}, ''[[Daily News (New York)]]'', March 25, 2010. Accessed January 28, 2011. "'When the time is right, I will,' Gooden said outside his home in Franklin Lakes, N.J. 'Now is not the time. Sorry.'"</ref> He was charged with DWI with a child passenger, leaving the scene of an accident, and other motor vehicle violations.<ref>{{cite web |last=Daulerio |first=A.J. |author-link=A. J. Daulerio |date=March 24, 2010 |title=Dwight Gooden Charged With DWI (Update) |url=http://deadspin.com/5500978/dwight-gooden-chared-for-dwi-update |access-date=November 23, 2011 |publisher=[[Deadspin]]}}</ref> Gooden was also charged with endangering the welfare of a child because a child was with him at the time of the accident.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zinser |first=Lynn |date=2010-03-24 |title=Gooden Arrested After Traffic Accident |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/gooden-arrested-after-traffic-accident/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Bats |publisher=The New York Times |language=en}}</ref> He later pleaded guilty to child endangerment, received five years' probation, and was ordered to undergo outpatient drug treatment.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2011/04/15/dwight-gooden-gets-probation-nj-dui-case/ | work=Fox News | title=Dwight Gooden gets probation in NJ DUI case | date=April 15, 2011}}</ref>

Gooden was arrested for cocaine possession in [[Holmdel Township, New Jersey]] on June 7, 2019. Gooden had been stopped by police for driving too slowly and having illegally [[Window film#Regulations for automotive use|tinted windows]] when they discovered two baggies suspected of containing cocaine. Gooden was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Draper |first1=Kevin |title=Dwight Gooden Arrested on Drug Charges in New Jersey |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/sports/baseball/dwight-gooden-arrested-.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 12, 2019 |access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref> He pleaded guilty to one charge of possessing cocaine in August and was sentenced to a year probation in November 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gooden gets probation for 2019 drug arrest |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30310051/dwight-gooden-gets-probation-2019-drug-arrest |access-date=30 May 2023 |work=[[ESPN.com]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=13 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

Another arrest for driving while intoxicated occurred on July 22, 2019, this time in [[Newark, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/27244749|title=DWI charges for Gooden; 2nd arrest in 2 months | work=ESPN.com |access-date=July 14, 2020 |date=July 23, 2019}}</ref> Gooden had been due in court to answer for the cocaine possession arrest in June the day after his arrest in July.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Shapiro |first=Michael |date=July 23, 2019 |title=Ex-Mets Pitcher Dwight Gooden Arrested for DUI |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/07/23/dwight-gooden-mets-arrested-driving-under-influence |access-date=July 24, 2019 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
American rock band [[the Mountain Goats]] released a song entitled "Doc Gooden" on their 2019 album ''[[In League with Dragons]]''. Songwriter [[John Darnielle]]'s lyrics reference life as a baseball player.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dan |date=2019-04-27 |title=Doc Gooden was a wizard, at least according to the Mountain Goats |url=https://njbaseball.net/the-mountain-goats-doc-gooden-song/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=NJ Baseball |language=en-US}}</ref>

American rapper [[Action Bronson]] mentioned Gooden in his 2015 song "[[Baby Blue (Action Bronson song)|Baby Blue]]."

American hiphop group [[Da Lench Mob]] referenced Gooden along with [[Babe Ruth]] in the 1992 song "You And Your Heroes."

The baseball video game ''[[MLB Power Pros]]'' uses Gooden's Dr. K nickname as the name for an ability that makes pitchers pitch well with two strikes.

In the seventh season premiere of ''[[Law & Order]]'' "Causa Mortis," aired in 1996, Adam Schiff compares a defense attorney whose career has rebounded after a series of personal and professional setbacks to Gooden, asking, "If Doc Gooden can rise from the dead, why not Abe Mercer?"

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball|Florida}}
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
*[[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]]
*[[Triple Crown (baseball)|Major League Baseball Triple Crown]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Dwight Gooden}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=114947|espn=1424|br=g/goodedw01|fangraphs=1004852|brm=gooden001dwi|retro=G/Pgoodd001}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0328864|name=Dwight Gooden}}
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{{Succession box|title=Youngest Player in the<br/>[[National League (baseball)|National League]]|years=1984|before=[[Gilberto Reyes]]<br/>1983|after=[[José González (baseball)|José González]]<br/>1985}}
{{Succession box| title=[[National League (baseball)|National League]] [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Pitching Triple Crown]] | before= [[Steve Carlton]] | years=1985 | after= [[Randy Johnson]]}}
{{Succession box|title=[[No-hitter]] pitcher |before=[[Al Leiter]]| years= May 14, 1996 |after=[[Hideo Nomo]]}}
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{{New York Mets Hall of Fame}}
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{{Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year navbox}}
{{NL Rookie of the Year}}
{{NL Cy Young}}
{{NL P Silver Slugger Award}}
{{NL wins champions}}
{{NL ERA champions}}
{{NL strikeout champions}}
{{New York Mets Opening Day starting pitchers}}
{{Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year Award}}
{{Sporting News MLB Rookie of the year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gooden, Dwight}}
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