Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Dwight Gooden

Mr. Sparkle
The most disappointing Met of all time. He went from favorite Met to most hated player in baseball in my book. He WAS a great Met for a few years but for some reason despite his troubles was always given a 2nd and 3rd and 4th chance by the NY media. I gave him a pass on doing drugs the 1st time but when he got caught the second time he tested positive about 10 times when he was suspended. He was alleged to have been involved in a gang rape which no one knows if it was consensual or not but if it was then he's at least a degenerate for cheating on his wife and being part of that in the first place. Then after the Mets rightfully dump him, he does the ultimate slap in the face and signs with the Yankees. What a total #%$@*&!! Human garbage is too nice for this guy!

BluesDuke
Forget the drugs. What really put the kibosh on Dwight Gooden's career was Mel Stottlemyre's idiocy in insisting, in spring training 1996, that Gooden knock it off with all the strikeouts and start concentrating on "saving" himself by finessing the hitters a bit more. The result: A crescendo of arm trouble and a pitcher who should have been great having to settle for being merely good, and not for all that long afterward at that. Disgraceful.

Scott O.
I was at the game he pitched the one-hitter in 1984. I was so pissed at Knight for bobbling the ball. I was screaming, "Throw it away, throw it away." I figured the official scorer would give Ray an error and keep the no-hitter going. I really missed Hubie at 3rd base that game. Doc had awesome stuff in the early years. From '82-'86 I went to 25 or 30 Mets games a year, and I always made sure to see Doc pitch whenever possible. He struck out so many batters with that unbelievable curve ball that he would throw for strikes on 3-0 counts. In '87 I worked at the Ground Round on Northern Blvd. in Nassau, and Gooden would come in for Buffalo wings. I talked to him some, but he was so shy. The manager would give him free drinks even though Gooden has a substance problem. What a shame that an injury and drugs kept him from being remembered as the best pitcher of all time.

murphy
The most angry moment of my baseball-watching life came when I watched Gooden throw a no-hitter for the Yankees in '96. I thought I was going to kill someone on that night. That memory stil makes me want to puke. I didn't care that Cone threw a perfect game for the Yanks, but Gooden's no-hitter still makes me crazy. And I TOTALLY agree with BluesDuke that Stottlemeyer destroyed Gooden's arm. It's a good thing Stottlemeyer never coached Nolan Ryan. He probably would have tried to make Ryan a control pitcher.

Won Doney
Okay. I understand that Doc Gooden made some mistakes in his life with drugs, but let's not forget how great of a pitcher he was when the Mets were a hot team in the eighties. He is another player, along with Darryl Strawberry that I feel sorry for. I don't think it is very fair to call him garbage. After all, an argument can be made on whether or not he was the Mets greatest pitcher. Honestly, I think it was Tom Seaver, but Gooden was great, too.

MetWop
It's true that drugs played the major part in ruining Dwight Gooden's career. But I'm very glad to hear BluesDuke mention Mel Stottlemyre's part in destroying "the Doctor". How the hell do you have the arrogance to tamper with a man coming off a 24-4, 1.53 season?!?!? Cocaine was Gooden's worst enemy, bnut Stottlemyre was #2!

Frank Grimes
God bless Ray Knight for bobbling that ball! At the time I would have loved the no-hitter but looking back I wouldn't want a druggy who buddied up with Steinbrenner to have the Mets only no-hitter. I probably wouldn't feel that way if he had never played for the Yankees (since I do have plenty of fond memories) but he did, so screw him! He didn't have to play for them. Steinbrenner just signed him to get at the Mets and it worked! And God bless Mel Stottlemeyer too!

EG
February 14, 2001
Personally, I could care less about players using drugs. They have the right to screw themselves like anyone else. (But he clearly threw away a Hall of Fame career.)

I remember seeing him for the first time early in his career when he struck out 14 or 15 Dodgers, had a 2-0 shoutout going into the 9th when Pedro Guerrero hit the longest home run I had ever seen in person. to that point.

The last play of the game was a ball hit to RF, who relayed the ball to Chapman who relayed it to Mike Fitzgerald to get out the tying run at homeplate.

What was Stottlemyer thinking about when he tried to change Gooden from a strikeout pitcher to a ground ball pitcher?

Coach HoJo 20
March 23, 2001
On one hand I will always have fond memories and a special spot in my heart for the 80's Doc Gooden

But on the Other Hand I will have a Hatred for a man who betrayed his fans, The Mets, the people who gave him and chance after chance to redeem himself and most importantly I hate him for betraying HIMSELF!!. This guy could have been the greatest of all time but he threw it away for some pixie dust in an itty bitty zip lock bag Thanks for The Great 80's Mets Memories Doc but damn you to hell for giving me 90's Yankee drug induced Nightmares.

This is exactly what I posted in the Darryl Strawberry comments forum. The comments hold true for Doc. The only difference is Doc was able to stop doing drugs just in time to enjoy a below mediocre career on the skankees.

Doc, you had the world handed to you!!!! But you slapped yourself, God, family and friends in the face by destroying your career. Mets fans could have had pity on you and forgave you. Perhaps even the Mets organization could have given you another shot on the ball club. But then you had to slap us in the face by going to the Yankees. Why? Doc Why? You were my favorite player. Now I hate your guts

Doc one day please answer all your former Mets fans!! Answer the question on all our minds. WHY? DOC WHY?

Mr. Sparkle
March 27, 2001
Coach Hojo 20 said it the best. Ditto to everything. From favorite player to hated player. Thanks for ruining everything for the Met fan jackoff!

Coney16
March 29, 2001
Hey Idea, I heard the Yankees might not have room for him on their Roster,if they release him why not pick him up and let him retire as MET and then retire his Number!

Coach HoJo 20
March 30, 2001
Thanks Sparkle,

Well, Doc Good-for nothing retired today. He said "This is the uniform I wanted to end my career in." Its hard to believe that this wasn't another jab at the Mets.

During his press conference a reporter asked him does he think he has a shot at the hall of Fame? He said "I may have a shot." He should have said "well I would have definitely been in the hall of fame until I screwed up my life with drugs."

Good for nothing said it best when he said "its a sad day" Your right Good for nothing. Its a sad day. Its sad to look back on your sad life. Look what you had man. You threw it all away for what??

Mr. Sparkle
March 31, 2001
Retired a Yankee. What a disgrace to the Blue and Orange. And what can he possibly do for them in the front office? Score them some smack? Loser!

Me
April 2, 2001
What a sickening waste of talent. If only he had kept his nose clean, that amazing 1985 season could have been just the beginning. Doc says he wanted to end his career with the Yankees. Fine. Fred Wilpon would rather swallow poison than see Doc's number retired at Shea anyway. And I'd like to say that PR man Jay Horwitz ought to be given a gold medal for all he did for Doc in the 80's and 90's; namely, for protecting Doc's ass from the media during times when he deserved to get ripped to shreds.

ANewYorkGUY
May 24, 2001
Whatever Doc did with his life, whatever he became, or didn't become, I will never forget the 1985 Met's Season. The records will never be erased. In the games that he pitched he never allowed more than 4 RUNS and then that happened only once! He had 9 shutouts and most were complete game victories. The '86 Championship season was also due to Gooden. He ruined HIS LIFE, HIS CAREER. Not mine. He provided a couple of thrilling years for me. I saw him pitch at least 20 games in those two seasons. I watched the strikeout K's fly in right field and I felt proud. Whatever he became, I'll never forget those times at Shea and how proud I was to be a Met fan.

Won Doney
June 7, 2001
He could have been a better pitcher than Seaver. His first two seasons were much better than Seaver's.

I really don't care what people say about him and how he's garbage. I'm still a fan of his.

Happy Recap
June 18, 2001
This is just insane. Look what I just read in Tom Verducci's column on Sports Illustrated's web site:

"Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has added a new advisor to his inner circle. It's former Yankees pitcher Dwight Gooden, who has been advising The Boss on player evaluations. Gooden plans to continue his education as a front office executive by enrolling at Eckerd College in Florida this fall to study business administration. And guess who will be paying the tuition for the up-and-coming Yankees executive? None other than the Mets, the team that promised to pay for his education when it drafted him back in 1982."

Me
June 20, 2001
As if being a Yankee in pinstripes wasn't mortifying enough, now he's a Yankee in a suit. And the Mets are going to foot the bill!? Now that's what I call full circle. I also call it a crime against nature. I hope he flunks out.

kinerskorner
July 16, 2001
after 5 seasons in the big leagues, gooden was 91-35, a rookie of the year winner, and his '85 has to be mentioned up there with the most dominating seasons in history. say what you want about cashen ruining the Mets in the late 80s/early 90s, and he definitely did do his part, but if doc and strawberry had kept their noses clean, gooden would own AT LEAST clemens-esque career numbers and strawberry could have between 500 and 600 home runs. unbelievable how quickly the drugs (and stottlemyre) derailed him off the fast track to cooperstown. really pathetic.

Mike
July 29, 2001
I'll never forget those glory years from 84 on. Doc was amazing especially in 85. It was as if he were playing a different game. Many great memories. He once struck out 16 and walked none in consecutive starts. I was at the one hitter-Knightmare game. The play was definitely and error, and I remember the fans chanting "ray knight sucks" after the game. I'm not mad at Doc. Someone else said it: he ruined his life not mine; and you know what, did he really ruin his life? He still had a nice little career and made millions of dollars? I only feel sadness of having missed the opportunity to see, playing in my town, one of the all-time greats. I also feel stung because I remember Gooden saying that he could never wear another uniform, and then he wears a bunch, and the disgusting Yankees no less. It makes me cringe.

Ted
September 7, 2001
Watching Gooden pitch in his prime was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in sports. The windup, explosive fastball, knee-buckling curve and his poise was amazing. When he was on, he was the most dominating pitcher I have ever seen. He'd make hitters look like fools. More natural ability than Clemens for sure.

He will never be a Hall-of-Famer, but the Mets should retire Doc's number. Yes, he could have done more (to deserve the honor), but the fact remains that he did more than enough.

Paul
September 10, 2001
A victim of Mike Tyson-itis. (just peeked at a young age) Even without his off the field problems, I don't think his career stats would be much different. Cocaine doesn't take speed and movement off your fastball or the break from your curveball. Once he filled out physically, his arm didn't have that "whip" motion it had when he was 19-21 years old. That was the reason more than anything else that caused his numbers to fall off drastically.

One memory about Doc: I ran into him on a Flushing, NY street in 1988 and he was gracious enough to shake my hand and talk for a minute or two.

He did alot to resurrect the franchise in the mid 80's and generated more excitement than anyone in team history, if only for short period. He deserves a spot in the Mets Hall of Fame just for that.

Won Doney
October 30, 2001
The stories of Doc and Straw are sad stories of stars who threw their hall-of-fame careers away. Even though they both pretty much broke our hearts with the choices they made, I feel there is a big difference between the two. Darryl Strawberry became nasty. Dwight Gooden wasn't a nasty person. I still like Doc. He took drugs and it ruined his career. That makes me angry, but at least he turned himself around. Look where Darryl is now.

mrkeepitsimple
November 14, 2001
Dwight Gooden didn't only destroy his baseball career with drugs and booze. But I think Davey Johnson and Mel Stottelmyre destroyed in one game against I believe San Diego in 1990. He struck out 15 guys, threw 145 pitches in the pouring rain and those idiots left him in the game. After that he had arm problems. But Dwight has turned out to be and outstanding citizen through all he's faced. I wish him nothing but the best.

Joe Novellino
December 16, 2001
I just saw Gooden on TV last week -- at the Fla-South Florida basketball game. Looks to be in pretty good shape, maybe Phillips can get him to be the 5th starter.

David M.
January 10, 2002
When he was on, he was better than Tom Seaver. Coulda been a Hall of Famer and what Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens are right now. He messed up his baseball career but at least he is clean now and is getting his act together. Too bad he is in the Yankees organization.

L.J. Phipps
January 10, 2002
SO many I cant remember, I just knew Doc, Clemens, and Maddux would win 300 games each, he was really Dr. K with that blazing fastball and awsome curve. It broke my heart when he and the Mets parted ways. It was a privledge to watch him pitch and although it was in a yankee uniform, good to see him finally get that no- hitter. Good luck Doc and God bless!

Jim Snedeker
January 15, 2002
I remember when Dwight was first called up to the bigs, and a New York sportswriter was not painting a rosy picture of the Mets' chances that year. He wrote, "What can you expect from a roster that has names like Ron Gardenhire and Dwight Gooden?" Ya gotta remember, this was before "Dwight Gooden" was synonomous with "automatic win." (Kinda like the names Arnold and Sylvester, before they became associated with bulging muscles.)

I also recall near the end of the 1985 pennant race, when the Mets were about done, and Wally Backman was quoted as saying to Doc, "If you hadn't lost those four games, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Well, what can you say? Doc's a poster boy for what drugs can do to you. Some of these high-priced bums just never learn. It's easy to paint him as a tragic figure, but the fact is he didn't do too shabbily after this revolting incident. And I've heard many stories about the post-86 Mets as being a bunch of late-night carousers, drugs or no. One was even quoted as saying they would have easily beaten the Dodgers in the 1988 NLCS if hadn't been for all the partying and living large that went on between games.

DOCMEXSTRAW
February 20, 2002
In light of today's announcement of Doc being arrested for driving under the influence, I feel it is important that Doc's career is put in proper perspective. Doc Gooden first 10 years are HOF worthy. Even with the drugs and the wasted talent, I feel Doc deserves to be recognized. Many people evaluate Hall of Fame player credentials by judging five year span. From 1984 - 1990 there was np itcher better than him statistically. Matter of fact Gooden for his first 8 years had the highed winning percentage of any pitcher in the history baseball.

Gooden made many mistakes, and apparently is still making mistakes but when he was at his best no one was better.

1985 24-4 1.53 era and only 20 years old

Coach HoJo 20
February 21, 2002
Once again Doc Good for Nothing has messed up big time. This time he not only could have killed himself but innocent people in the process! I think its time for this loser to pay a price in the form of jail time.

On a side note ESPN will be running a special on the rise and fall of Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry this Sunday (2-24-2K2) at 8PM.

Mychael
March 2, 2002
I have to say as a young child I followed Dwight Gooden. Right now I am a well porclaimed highschool pitcher who is looking to play college ball. Everyone that sees me pitch says that I pitch like Gooden. I grew up idolizing this so called "Doc". And now he has upset me, I am now old enough to understand how he ruined his life. He is not much of a role-model now, but I hope to follow in his foot steps, but stay away from drugs. I loved Gooden, and because of this I can't hate him. But what he has done and continues to do hurts, and is very disappointing to me.

robert
December 27, 2002
Interesting to hear reasons for Doc's decline. I always thought there was more to it than just the drugs. Besides Stottlemeyer tampering with him, Paul gave a good explanation about his arm losing the "whip" motion he had - what about the Incredible Shrinking Strike Zone that took place during his career? I remember him blowing a lot of high fastballs by people in those early days - pitches that were never called strikes by the time the '90s rolled around. With the help of the umps, the hitters were a lot smarter when they faced Gooden later in his career - still, what a tragic waste.

Bob R.
January 7, 2003
What a tragedy. Dwight had the best stuff, the best arm that I ever saw. He could have gone into the Hall of Fame. But his personal problems overwhelmed his amazing talent. He did some great things in baseball, but he could have been one of the greatest pitchers ever.

Tom Thornbrenner
February 16, 2003
Dwight Gooden could have gone down as the greatest pitcher in baseball history had he not snorted his career away. With the exception of 94, he never had a season with an ERA 4 or higher despite having his arm messed with by Stottlemyre, despite the injures, despite the coke, and despite a bad team. If a guy came up now as a 19 year old rookie and had the year Dwight had in 84 everyone would be going crazy and he could name his price. Then if he went and had a year like Dwight did in 85, people would be crapping their pants and throwing parades for this guy. The 80's Mets should have gone down as the greatest dynasty of all time. Although Dwight Gooden isn't HOF material, he was certainly one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

Jonah Falcon
March 14, 2003
Dwight Gooden's career wasn't cut short by drugs. The fact is, he was used too hard as a teenager, and every single pitcher who has been worked that hard at an early age has had his arm blow out in their early 30's. (See Don Drysdale, Jose Rijo, Sandy Koufax, etc Nolan Ryan was babied for a few years, so he didn't have those problems.) Gooden's drug problems came DURING his rehabbing of his arm.

The fact is, he was doomed by being brought up way too soon.

Anthony R
April 23, 2003
Remember the old WFAN jingle during his starts? ("Dr K All The Way!") He will always be Dr K. no doubt about it. I remember in high school, when all the Met fans talked about where they were going to watch his start that night. He took over a new young generation of Met fans the way Tom Seaver did in the late 60's. I remember after the first start of his career in Houston, when Ralph Kiner closed his post-game interview by saying that this was the first of many memorable starts for this young Met pitcher. How Ralph was so right.

sTIzZ
June 8, 2003
Despite all that he has done to us, to the team and to the media, Gooden's name is still at the very top of my favorite player list. He introduced me to the greatest game this country has ever seen. I was 6, 1985, when I first saw him on TV I was mesmerized by the "Lord Charles". He broke my heart many times, but just as much, he showed me stuff I will never see again. When I am in my later years, many will have forgotten his name. But when I am talking about baseball to my grandchildren, stories of Doc will surely come up. Although few and far between, there were times when he was purely untouchable, the greatest ever to play the game, but those moments were short and followed by scandal. I put out $300, for a 1986 Gooden Jersey from Mitchell & Ness and it was worth every cent. It's because of Gooden that I have love for this game.

SheaBaby
June 8, 2003
Gooden's fastball started flattening out in 1986, and from that year on, he wasn't close to as unhittable as he was his first two years, '84 and '85. I'm not sure how drug use can take away the hop from a fastball. I can see cocaine interfering perhaps with a player's drive and concentration.... but how could anything but a tired arm cause someone to lose the riser that Gooden had before they won the Series? I don't buy that drugs could do that to a 22-year-old. I do agree that drugs seriously affected his career, but not the most effective aspect of his fastball -- the hop.

bobster1985
June 9, 2003
I've been watching baseball for 35 years and I have to say that the first few years Gooden played, he had the best stuff I've ever seen. Better than Seaver, Gibson, Marichal, Johnson, Ryan, Clemens, anybody. It was a God-given talent that would have carried Gooden to the Hall of Fame, if only...

Joe Figliola
June 25, 2003
The most spiteful move George Steinbrenner ever did to the Mets was pitch Doc against the Amazin's at Shea Stadium. The most spiteful thing Doc Gooden ever did to the Mets was pitch a no-hitter for the Yankees.

I think we'll see Darryl Strawberry get in to the Mets Hall of Fame before Doc does. I also don't want to sound morbid but I don't think Doc will get in until he's passed away. If this is so, is it the most spiteful thing the Mets could do to a player who wore blue and orange, or the most vengeful? You make the call.

Rev Matt
August 6, 2003
Doc is currently the pitching coach for The Yankees rookie league team. Hopefully he can stay sober one day at a time.

He had quite a run with the Mets. I don't know if his arm problems were the result of bad coaching or if his natural mechanics were not conducive to a long, dominating career. His pitching motion was mostly an arm whip. Unlike Nolan Ryan or Tom Seaver, Gooden did not derive his power from his legs. His days as a dominating pitcher, however, were done when he tore his rotator cuff. Still, he did manage to throw a no- hitter at a point in his career when he was relying on change-ups, sliders, and cut fastballs.

Nishna
October 3, 2003
"Doc, don't try to strike everyone out. Conserve your energy. Get them out on a grounder or pop-up and throw 1/3 as many pitches."

Gee, thanks for that great career advice, Mel. "I was a groundball pitcher, so YOU should be a groundball pitcher." Even if coke hadn't done him in, he never would've been the electric performer he should've been because Stottlemyre tried so hard to turn Gooden into, well, Stottlemyre. But, turns out it didn't matter.

Still, his 1-hitter against the Cubs in August of '84 goes down as THE most memorable Met game I'd ever been to. That place was rocking. Never forgive Ray Knight for not at least making a play on Moreland with a 6 run lead or whatever it was - maybe the ball sails into RF and they charge him with an error.

Nishna
October 3, 2003
Gooden signed a photo for me in '84. He had like a zillion kids waiting for him to sign, so he did a rush job that looked like "Dwig God". My sister won an autographed team ball during the off-season after they won the series, and it looked like "Dwight Good". She noted he'd already fallen from "God" to just "Good". Pretty prophetic as it turned out.

M
October 28, 2003
I was never a baseball fan until 1984, when I was a junior in high school. My friends told me about Dwight Gooden back at the beginning of the season. The first time I saw him pitch, on TV, he actually messed up the game. But the next game I watched where he pitched, he had the incredible magic curveball and rising fastball that made him unhittable. And I became hooked.

Many others commented about his 1985 season, but it's really his 1984 season that was incredible. Were it not for a few games where he totally screwed up (which were mostly day games), and the fact that the Mets could never score any runs when he was pitching, his record in 84 would have been as good as his record in 85.

I have to agree that Mel Stottlemyre ruined his arm. Blowing away the hitters with big curves and rising fastballs, Mel said "oh no we have to keep the ball low and get some ground ball outs". The ground ball doc was never as good a pitcher. In 1986 he was still a solid pitcher and helped the Mets get to the World Series, but he wasn't dominating like in 85 or 84.

I blame STRAWBERRY for getting Dwight into the drugs. From the beginning I loved Dwight, but Strawberry always seemed like a good for nothing lowlife. I wish the Mets had traded him away at the beginning. I always would say that I'd take Lenny Dykstra over Strawberry any day. Unfortuantely the idiots running the Mets didn't have a clue.

Barney Beaugareaux
November 10, 2003
Gooden was the most amazing thing to hit Shea stadium in his rookie year since the place opened. Everyone dreamed that he would out do the great Tom Seaver when it was all said and done. His fastball was electric and his curve unhittable. I have not been as excited by a Mets player since. Nor have I been as dissapointed. He had it all but he had to have more. Women, booze, drugs......., what's a kid from Tampa to do? No one knows for sure but if he had stayed off the nose candy he may have pitched his way into the hall of fame instead of the hall of shame. Of course he had to put the dagger in Mets fans hearts by pitching a no hitter with the Yankees. Typical. Too bad.

john
January 5, 2004
I will always be a fan of Doctor K. I remember seeing him pitch in 1985 against the Cubs. I was 12 years old. It was a Saturday afternoon and we had to park near the tennis center; the US Open was going on that day. The Cubs had won the NL East the year before. Shea was probably sold out and every time there was 2 strikes the fans clapped their hands at once. For the 3rd strike the place erupted. Anyway.. Like a dream come true when the Yankees won in 1996 they were all at the ESPY's (sports award show held by ESPN.) I ran past Bernie, Pettite, Torre and shook Doc's hand. I saw a ring on his finger and I asked which one is it? He said the '86 one. He was an extremely nice guy full of smiles. I didn't ask for his autograph just took a picture with him. We shouldn't condemn him because of the illness he had because Ruth and Mantle had the same.

Larry Burns
January 5, 2004
With Roger Clemens retiring, I recall when the debate was who was the best, most dominating young pitcher in baseball. The Beantown jagoffs would scream Clemens and everyone else knew it was the Doctor. Then Roger went on to become a torrid workout fiend, but still a low class jerk. Doc went on to booze, drugs and a possible gang rape (or at least a gang cheating on his wife). Everyone hates to see so much talent wasted that everyone (including myself) gave him numerous chances in the futile hope that he would turn himself around. I guess his addiction along with a weak character screwed him up. Then he had the audacity to become a "true Yankee." I guess that the Mets did not have a bottomless pit of being dumped on made them the cause of his problems. I really hated this guy. That all changed when I read recently that his teenage son was arrested on a drug charge in Florida. I believed that this guy was a less than stellar person who sold his fans short. Now I believe his character is helping to ruin the life of his son. A sad, pathetic story for anyone. I pity him.

1-DaWg
January 16, 2004
I'd like to thank the poster who reminded me of "the old WFAN jingle during his starts? "Dr K All The Way!" - I had forgotten about it until I came across that post. It brought me back to a time where I'd have to listen on the radio to any game that wasn't on Channel 9. Not having Sportschannel really was a pain. To think, people paid for the "privilege" of listening to a broadcast team of Rusty Staub and Fran Healy!

With that being said, you can look at Doc's career in one of two ways: You can be resentful of the fact that he ruined a surefire H.O.F. career because of the white stuff. You can loathe him for signing with the Yanks and pitching the no-hitter in the Bronx that he should've gotten in Flushing.

I prefer to remember the blazing fastball, videogame curveball, and his every 5th day domination of the National League from '84 til about '91. (Not even mentioning the fact he could hit just as good as Rey Ordonez.) Doc messed up, sure....it's obvious to everyone. That doesn't take away the memories he created for anyone who grew up watching the Mets.

Justin
March 28, 2004
Even though Doc had drug problems, let's all remember that his shoulder injuries were what brought him down more than anything. He was my favorite pitcher and I think he has truly cleaned up his act now.

Mark
May 22, 2004
The Mets went out of the way to try to protect this guy and he still screwed them and himself. He's eligible for the Hall of Fame in the 2005 voting. It will be interesting to see if he gets any votes. He wouldn't get mine.

Jonathan Stern
May 26, 2004
What haunts me the most about Doc is the way he looked during the 1986 postseason. Hair long and disheveled, his hard stuff gone... and those long, pearly-white beads of sweat that ran down his face almost from the very first pitch he threw. The announcers kept raving about him, oblivious to how terrible he looked. Then, after it was over, Gooden missed the victory parade. He has yet to offer a good reason why.

With the postseasons of 1999 and 2000 proven to have been illusions, it's safe to say that the Mets have yet recover from Gooden's collapse. As for Gooden, what a pathetic waste of talent. The fans and the media gave him a free pass time and time again, but I see Gooden as being no less disgraceful than Strawberry. The Yankees have the M & M boys, we have Dr. K and Darryl. Let's go Mets!

Gerry
June 15, 2004
Yeah, he messed up. Gave into his demons. He's human. Let's stop the Doc-bashing and remember the look of fear on the faces of people like Ryne Sandberg, Bobby Bo, Willie McGee and countless others as Doc whipped in another 96 mpg high heater. That's the Dwight Eugene Gooden I choose to recall. Good luck, Doc - we still love you!

Steven Gallanter
June 28, 2004
Many of the comments here mention that Gooden lost the "hop" of his fastball and that Mel Stottlemeyer tried to turn him into ...Mel Stottlemeyer.

I recall reading the Boston Globe during the 1986 World Series and Billy Buckner was quoted as saying that Gooden was throwing at "12 o'clock high" rather than at "11:30" and that this minute change in his delivery had caused his fastball to flatten.

Buckner went on to say that he thought Gooden was throwing as hard as ever but that it was "as straight as string."

I believe this appeared in an article by Dan Shaughnessy.

Does anyone else recall this?

Cappy
July 23, 2004
Again, I have to laugh at those who would pass judgement on Doc for his personal problems. I'm sure it was in his plans for life to screw it all up. Next to Seaver he was the best talent ever to put on a Met uniform. And when it comes to the blame for screwing up his career, let us not forget that after a season in which he completely dominated the league, some jackarse in the front office decided he had a problem holding runners at first, so they wanted to alter his delivery! 24-4 won loss and a 1.53 ERA and yet they want him to make improvements!

Rich Weksberg
August 3, 2004
I was at the game when Gooden pitched his no-hitter for the Yanks in 96. I save my stubs from plays and games. I went to Cooperstown the following Spring and there was an exhibit of n- hitters. They had a ball, glove and ticket stub from all the recent no-hitters. There was a cap, ball and glove from Gooden's game but no stub. I contacted the Hall of Fame and wound up donating my ticket stub to the Hall. In return, I received a beautiful certificate of donation, a nice letter and a lifetime pass to the Hall of Fame.

Chris
October 27, 2004
I am an Air Force veteran and I was stationed with a Master Sergeant Dwight Gooden at Misawa Air Base, Japan, from 1990 to 1993 (useless factoid). He was not, as I recall, a ballplayer of any kind.

Doc's 1985 season was the logical carry-thru to his 1984 rookie year. In '84 he was 9-8, then finished 8-1.

Though he started 6-3 in '85, he reeled off 14 in a row and finished the year 18-1, so from August '84 thru '85, he was an incredible 32-5.

But that's not all. He started '86 5-0 so he had an unbelievable 37-5 run.

During that brief period, he was not only "better than Clemens", he was better than damn near anyone that ever took the mound. But it ended after early '86.

His fastball DID flatten out and I never could figure out why. If it's true that someone tinkered with his delivery, then said person(s) should roast for all eternity.

Sure, the rest of his career he was good, but never great. It's ridiculous to compare him to Clemens because Clemens has it where it counts: Between the ears.

Clemens stayed focused and earned his place in the HOF. Doc decided he'd rather get high. Clemens is still adding to his legacy; Gooden's a has-been. How I used to wish it was the other way around.

An interesting but totally ignored statistic is that, at the end of '85, Gooden had a streak of 48 innings without allowing an earned run. During that time, he tossed 2 shutouts, and 2 other games he pitched 9 scoreless but had to leave because our Metsies (never a powerhouse team, folks) couldn't get him a run.

So, for lack of two stinkin' runs, he missed out on 26-4!

The Yankee greats were great despite their foibles and problems; the Mets' so-called greats (other than Seaver) were just flame-outs.

The truth of the matter is the Mets will spend eternity in the Yankees' shadow. There's simply nothing that can change that reality.

Ryan Stillman
December 15, 2004
I have never seen so much raw talent go to waste. I was watching old video footage of this guy. He could have been one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game. That 97 mph fastball combined with that ridiculous 12 to 6 curve that he had would dominate any ballclub. It's a real shame that his addictions got the best of him. I saw him at a card show recently wearing some Armani Suit. Darryl and HOJO were there too. Doc walked right past me. I didn't realize how tall he was.

Jonathan Stern
January 10, 2005
A decade ago, maybe a little more, an urban kid refused to take drugs when a gang attempted to force them on him. The gang responded by setting him on fire. The kid (whose name I do not remember) was badly burned, but fortunately survived.

His favorite player was Dwight Gooden. When Gooden visited him in the hospital, the kid told the Mets' ace that he was his hero. Gooden responded by telling the kid that he (the kid) was HIS hero. After all, he said "no" to drugs. Dr. K didn't.

John
January 14, 2005
Doc is human; he has made many mistakes as a lot of people do. That being said he is to be held accountable. He has been a big phony his entire professional career. I’ll never forget when he took issue with the Mets issuing Derek Bell his number 16 uniform. Doc was ticked about this; losing sight of all the embarrassment he caused the organization. Doc made a statement something like, “no offense to Tom Seaver but after all I have done for this organization and he has his number retired.” What, is he clueless? Tom Seaver was a 3-time Cy Young award winner with the Mets and a Hall of Famer. I am a life long Mets Fan and was a major Gooden fan before he lost focus. I never lose sight of the fact that Doc was and is a total JERK.

bnw
January 19, 2005
Come on guys. This isn't about the Mets or the Yankees but about a guy who had talent. MUCH talent. Who cares about betraying the Mets? Come on! The real story here is that "Doc" wasted much of his life, family, and God-given talent on drugs and alcohol. Yes, it was a complete waste, but I'm sure that stardom at 19 and 20 is hard to handle. I think that Seaver is the all time best Mets pitcher, but only because Doc couldn't stay clean therefore ruining his career.

MetsManiac
January 20, 2005
I'm always shocked/disgusted when he's mentioned in the media as ex-Yankee, Doc Gooden.

And the same way the Yankees are talking about getting money back from Mr. Steroid Giambi, the Mets should ask Gooden to pay them back because he was all coked up.

With all that said, the mid 80's were a glorious time at Shea when Doc took the mound. (I think I once read 10,000 more people would show up to the home games he pitched.)

Goodenplenty
May 22, 2005
Dwight was so dominant in 1985. It was truly one of the greatest single seasons ever put together by a pitcher. His numbers were astounding. Every start it seemed was another 14 K performance. And he hardly ever walked anyone. His "Lord Charles" was unhittable and his eye-high fastball made NL power hitters look like Little Leaguers. I was 11 in '85 and I was obsessed with Gooden. To me, he was a god.

Gooden's decline was becoming evident even in the magical year 1986. He just lost some velocity. He was still great, but I think his lifestyle might have been already catching up with him. It's sad to think what might have been.

Mitch45
July 25, 2005
Some people live their entire lives without ever seeing the kind of pitcher Gooden was in 1984 and 1985. He was simply amazing. If not for the drugs and the arm injuries, Gooden could have won 350 games in his career and be enshrined in Cooperstown. Too bad.

I'm a little surprised that Gooden is still such a popular lookup on this site, considering how he swallowed the Steinbrenner poison late in his career. I guess for the people, like me, who saw him in his early years, he cannot be forgotten.

markcomic1
November 3, 2005
I had the pleasure of watching Doc's entire career as a Met and Yankee and so forth. I followed him and even patterned my own mechanics after him. Mel Stottlemeyer ruined Doc's arm when in the spring of 87 he tried to not only transform him into a groundball pitcher to save his arm. The biggest reason why Doc started to have arm trouble was also during the spring training Mel arm-killer Stottlemeyer had Doc change his arm slot from his natural over-the-top delivery to three quarters (a high three quarters but three quarters none the less) This change was the cause of the first initial tear in Doc's shoulder.

Doc had that natural over the top delivery for a very long time. His muscles were trained to throw that way, and in changing or trying to change it in one spring training Mel the moron he was helped destroy a once magical arm. Besides Doc's Alcohol and drug problems this was a big cause for his career falling apart. That and Doc due to his extra baseball activities never dedicated the time to training like Clemens and Nolan Ryan. Which was a shame! Also in the 80's at Shea weight training by pitchers was shunned by pitching coach Stottlemeyer.

So in the end as far as his arm goes I blame Mel as far as his entire career and life Doc made a lot of mistakes many people make and it is still obvious he has yet to learn his lesson and hasn't reached his final bottom.

Diamond Dave
December 1, 2005
The DOCTOR! Loved to watch him pitch when he came to the Mets in 84. Doc, Straw and Mex bought the excitement back to Shea after 10 years of bad baseball. I planned my trips to Shea to see the Doctor. I remember some great games he threw: 16 k's in a game, his 150th Career win, his first start of the season after coming out of rehab in June 1987 when he struck out a skinny lead off batter for the Pirates by the name of Bonds. (The crowd forgave, and went crazy!) A pitcher's duel in Wrigley. Doc made mistakes, as we all do. But his were on the back page. Human garbage? No. He signed with the Yanks, and threw a no hitter. I cheered him on the whole game. He was the second best pitcher in Mets history, sorry Kooz. Cooperstown? No. A Mets hall of famer? Yes. He ranks second to Seaver in most career stats, but his 8 shutouts and 1.53 era in 1985 are still Met records. Good luck Doc.

Mark Corrao
January 17, 2006
Dwight Gooden was probably the most exciting pitcher ever to wear a New York Mets uniform. I say that completly aware of the stats Tom Seaver has put up over the years as a Met. But for a period of a few years, Doc was the most dominate pitcher in the game. He was BETTER than Roger Clemens. His fastball moved through the strike zone on a rise, and his curve ball which Steve Zabriskie labeled "Lord Charles", used to lock up hitters. Along with Bob Gibson's 1968 season, Doc's 1985 season was incredible! He won the triple crown for pitching that year.

It's a shame he hung out with the wrong crowd he grew up with and got into trouble with the law. Drugs ruined a Hall of Fame career, as well as injuries. He will always be my favorite Mets player of all time, I never missed a game in which he started. I still can remember that giant Nike ad painted on the entire side of a building near Times Square in the late 80's. I hope Dwight gets his life together, he still has thousands of fans who still care for him.

5280MetsFan
January 17, 2006
I can't believe I once rooted for this clown. A total waste of talent. All these people saying woulda, coulda, shoulda about him, you can say that about pretty much anybody that comes along. This guy had the stuff to be the greatest Mets pitcher ever, but chose his own destiny. Every time this clown makes the news on some drunk or drug charges it's a slap in the face for all us Mets fans.

David Roth
February 26, 2006
Many people will probably never remember what Shea Stadium was like the first two years that Dwight Gooden was with the Mets.

Crowds, which probably averaged about 25,000 on average nights, became an event when Dwight pitched. There were always at least 40,000 fans when the Doctor was on the mound. At that time there was no paper K's hung inside a Major League baseball stadium. Dwight Eugene Gooden (Doctor K) changed that forever.

I was lucky enough to see Dwight pitch on numerous occasions, including one night on September 7, 1984. If there was ever a Met no-hitter that was the night.

The one-hitter against the Cubs that night was actually a no-hitter. From the top of section 16 in the upper deck I could see that Doc's stuff was electric.

He breezed through the Cubs lineup through the first 6 innings. If Ray Knight (as he says) was not aware of Doc's impending no hitter, he must have been the one on drugs.

In the top of the seventh with one out Keith Moreland hit a squibber down the 3rd base line. Knight who was playing deep, came in on the ball and double maybe, triple clutched the ball, and never made a throw.

I believe at that time Red Foley was the official score keeper, and he totally blew the call. The entire stadium went bananas when it came up a hit on the score board.

The Mets won the game 10 zip that night, with Dwight himself contributing with a triple.

The public can say whatever they want about Doc's subsequent drug problems, but on September 7, 1984 I witnessed the Mets only no-hitter.

Kevin
March 31, 2006
I don't understand those that have turned on Doc Gooden. He was one of my idols growing up and, even though he kind of flushed his career away, I still can't help but think positively about him and wish him nothing but the very best. Heck, even though I despise the Yankees I was still very happy that he threw a no-hitter. Remember that this is a person - not just an athlete. He has failings like we all do. Doc gave me great sports memories when I was in my teens. The 1984 and 1985 seasons were 2 of my favorite ever even though the Mets didn't win a World Series either year. It was so cool having the best pitcher in baseball on the team I rooted for. I remember Jim Palmer talking about pitchers (I think in an all-star game) and saying "and then there's Dwight Gooden but then you're talking not from this planet". Doc was the pride of the Mets back then. I'll always wish the man well! Thanks for the memories #16!

Jim Snedeker
April 12, 2006
So I heard on the radio the other day that Dwight pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and is in jail for a while.

It's said that he pled guilty because he felt he needed to be in jail in order to stay away from cocaine. If that's true, I find that to be a classy move on his part.

Well, let's all pray that Dwight gets clean once and for all. Is there any better example for us all than his story to convince anyone of the evils of drug use?

Feat Fan
May 1, 2006
Jim Snedeker on April 12 wrote, "It's said that he pled guilty because he felt he needed to be in jail in order to stay away from cocaine. If that's true, I find that to be a classy move on his part."

What is so classy about a relapsing drug addict that has been given multiple chances to get it together and once again is in trouble? Dude, you don't think that there's access to drugs on the inside? Please, wake up, this is life and death, Dwight will die from this disease, he is already half the man that he used to be or could have been.

He has had repeated run ins with the law and bouts of aggression, is this classy? Why, because he went 24-4, 1.53? If we think that this is what entitles him to a pass, think again.

I know about addiction and I enjoy sobriety. The answer goes way beyond anything external.

JFK
May 19, 2006
Shakespeare could not have written a tragedy like the life of Doc. Instead of being in jail he should have been waiting for the call from the Hall of Fame. Very few remember that Doc missed the first month of 1987 because of a drug suspension. I always ask myself if the Mets would have won the division if Doc had pitched that first month. One of the best curveballs ever in baseball.

Besides drugs, Doc must be haunted by the name Tuffy Rhodes.

larry_burns
June 2, 2006
I just read an article on Gooden where he was interviewed in jail. It was sad and tragic, but unfortunately if you read it closely, the seeds for further trouble are already there. This will not be the last time Dwight runs afoul of the law. He was given a choice between 1 year in jail or probation with the condition that if he violated it again it would automatically trigger a 5 year prison term. Since he has had NO success staying away from drugs he took the year. (Smart move.) Now he says that jail is "torture" (hence why people do not want to go there) and that his attorneys did not completely share with him the reality of his actions. Here he is AGAIN blaming other people for the position he has placed himself. Until he accepts responsibility he will always fail in his quest to become clean. He had the world on a string and now he is a washed up junkie, so sad.

Bigdaddy052678
June 30, 2006
Gooden's career can be compared to Iron Mike Tyson. They both came into thier sports and completely dominated the opposition. The glory and fame went to thier heads and they faded out quick with feeble attempts at comebacks here and there. Partying and cocaine seemed the norm for the stars of the 80's. Dwight Gooden is a legend in his own realm. Some fans like athletes who play for many years consistently, and some like those who come in light a flash of lightning. I never liked to miss a game Gooden was pitching. He was explosive and exciting. I hope the Doctor is recovering well from his personal abuses, and I thank him for the great memories from my childhood.

Shickhaus Franks
September 1, 2006
In his rookie year of 1984 when the Mets started to turn the corner after years of horrible play, Bill Gallo (A New York treasure) of the NY Daily News would draw cartoons called "Meet The Mets" and he did a profile of Gooden and how he would call his father after each start and had a love for HAMBURGERS! If only that was his only addiction instead of that rotten Bolivian Marching Powder! SIGH! By the way, I still have that cartoon that I cut out of the paper in '84.

Mike
September 15, 2006
I did not realize until watching a Mets game on SNY from the 80's that he never won a post season game. I was very surprised.

Tommy
October 21, 2006
He was one of the only pitchers I would go out of my way to watch back in the 80's. It was electric when he pitched; always a possible no-hitter, the K Korner, the wave; it was great. I saw live an incredible battle he had with Mario Soto of the Reds, another fireballer. However, I just realized by looking at his stats the guy never won a post-season game.

Chris
December 10, 2006
If you are really honest with yourself you come to see life is often filled with failure. Every single one of us makes graves mistakes, but few of them are in the public eye. I don't personally think highly of all the choices Dwight Gooden made in his life. I do not support drug use, however I am some what understanding of how some one so incredibly talented in one aspect of life, could be so troubled and confused in other area's. Addiction to a substance must be a horrible thing that many of us, including those reading this comment, can't readily understand. Many of us had the love, support, upbringing, power and guidance to overcome addiction. Dwight was never able to see past those things and see the talents he harnessed, and when he could the guilt must have been incredibly overwhelming. Regarless, with all that said Gooden's numbers and his talents speak for themselves. He was one of the greatest pitchers of our time and yes some of that talent was wasted, but for those of us who saw him take the mound at Shea in person I need not write any more.

Steve Green
December 22, 2006
Merely some thoughts, nothing thematic.

Back in their trouble days with the Mets, Gooden somehow managed to say the right thing for the press, you know, young and a little awed like a kid, while Strawberry often jarred you with his quotes. Both were extraordinary fun to watch play, though. What talent.
The rudimentary blemish on Gooden was that he couldn't holds runners on. And someone pointed out the converse : WHAT runners?
I think it was Tim McCarver who drew the first comparison between the form of Gooden and Bob Gibson. (I remember Gibson being more whip-like and sidearm, but imagine getting into a snowball fight with either of them)
Revered Uncle Ed, 90% blind, used to watch the TV from about a foot away from the screen. I remember him saying that the Mets had a chance 'if they had three more like that kid Gooden'
The Web had the news that Dwight was released from Gainesville recently. And he being at a relatively young age now with the promise of a better life, I feel he deserves the BEST wishes hereon in from this forum. I cannot embrace the negatives and the seemingly selfish 'what-if's expressed here. The *encouragement* from fans who enjoyed him while he owned the joint like a kid mayor should lighten his spirits more than the negative sentiments
Come ON! Let's cheer and say hello to the fellow we ALL once cheered for! He fell. It happens. Pro sports and celebrity stature, especially at an early age, can do that to anyone. Who are we to say what someone else's potential is?

Jamey Bumbalo
January 11, 2007
I have long resisted adding a posting for Dwight Gooden, because I didn't feel I had anything to add to what was already said. But after reading Steve Green's posting, which was yet another attempt to overlook or at least negate Gooden's many bad choices, I have to put in my two cents.

It is incontrovertible that Dwight Gooden had amazing ability. No one questions his incredible talent. I loved watching him in his early days, as did everybody else.

The fact remains that he messed up his life through excessive drug use and drinking. Many people have commented that Mel Stottlemyre adversely affected Gooden's pitching. I don't know if that's true, but even if it is, that has nothing to do with Gooden's problems with cocaine, alcohol, driving drunk, and prison.

Along with the idolatry, fame, and millions of dollars that Gooden received comes a responsibility. That responsibility means being a good role model. Sure, everyone (especially a young man so suddenly thrust into the public eye)is entitled to a mistake or two of a minor nature. But when a man like Dwight Gooden squanders his unbelievable talent and makes mistake after mistake after mistake and bad choice after bad choice after bad choice, he deserves contempt. Yes, I feel a tiny bit sorry for him, because I hate to see someone end up like Gooden has, but he and he alone chose his path. And frankly, it disgusts me that so many Mets fans continue to apologize for him and rationalize his fall. Dwight Gooden wasted his talent and, at least so far, his life, and that is sad and contemptible.

BobR
February 4, 2007
I'd like to respond to Jamey's post on Gooden. Try not to be so judgmental, Jamey. Drug and alcohol addiction is a very hard thing to overcome. I think of the actor Robert Downey Jr. who was arrested and jailed numerous times before finally beating his addiction. It is a sad thing that Gooden's career was damaged by his addictions, but the guy is only human. He accomplished some great things in his major league career. His weaknesses hurt him more than they hurt anyone else. Enough already. Leave the guy alone.

StevieB
November 21, 2007
Anyone who was around for 1985 knows that Dwight Gooden carried the city for the year like few athletes ever do or have. He was awesome beyond description. Unhittable.

Doc is sick. Yes, the doctor is now sick, and has been sick for a long time now. Back in '85-86, Newsday used to run a feature called "Doctor's Report", which gave a compilation of his stats from the second half of '84, through '85, and into '86. From the second half of his rookie campaign he went 9-1, then 24-4 with the sparkling ERA, and 5-0 in April of '86.

That was the vintage Gooden. He mowed down everyone and anyone in sight. Future hall of famers swatted feebly. Koufax went on record saying he'd rather have Gooden's future than his own past.

We all know what's happened since, the self-destruction and the incredible fall.

Pray for Doc. He may never get better. Anger isn't the appropriate response or remedy here. Anyone over 30 who hasn't experienced that life is fraught with potholes, disappointment, and broken dreams is a bit lucky. I thank Dwight Gooden for showing us true greatness, and I thank Dwight Gooden for reminding us of great human frailty.

Dr. K's journey has been both great and tragic, and for this he has my respect and compassion.

Stephen Vargo
March 27, 2008
How could one of the great Mets of the 80's ever end up with the Bombers? I'm a Yanks fan and a Doc fan, but I never wanted Boggs either.

Mrs. Spunky
September 6, 2008
What a great guy he was! Please clean up your act. Not only were you the best pitcher to ever set foot in Lynchburg, you were a tremendously kind young man. We will always have great memories of you. If you ever do read this, please know your fans want you to get well.

metfanforlife
October 13, 2008
So great to see Dwight Gooden looking happy and healthy again at the Met farewell. I read some touching interviews with him - he's meditating daily, attends AA daily and finally living a healthy life. All the best to you, Doc. You were part of some of the best years of my life, watching you and the Mets and Shea during the mid 80s. I'll never forget those great memories.

DailySkew
December 20, 2008
Wow..so much hate and judging here...Doc, if you ever read this, my mom sent you a letter when you were in jail with her best wishes. Any true Mets fan would do the same.

The posts should have been about Doc's career. Personally, I think he threw too many pitches at an early age, and the Mets organization tried to tamper with greatness with his delivery and stuff. (Read Mel's book- he was under orders to do that.)

Anyway, Doc was always good, even for the bad Mets teams, where he got no run support.

Mike B
December 22, 2008
I will never forget a spring training game that Bill White was covering for the Yankees. His partner was talking about the new pitching prospect for the Mets and said that he struck out 300 batters in 191 innings. White's reaction? A loud, incredulous "WHAT"?

Henry (metsjets) Indictor
March 3, 2010
Even though he took drugs, he is another one of my favorite Mets of all time, because before he took drugs he was an excellent strikeout pitcher. People often forget he threw a no-no with the Yankees. It's about time that Doc and the straw are in the Mets Hall of Fame.

Culinary Fitness
February 29, 2012
I had the pleasure of spending a whole day with Mr. Gooden. I can tell you that I have never met such a sincere gentleman in my life. I was fortunate enough to be in position to assist Mr. Gooden at an autograph signing. He answered every baseball question and signed many autographs with a big smile. I love the guy and this comes from a Yankee fan. God bless Doc! I'm praying for you !

Team LGM
February 26, 2013
As a kid growing up in Queens I was as big a fan of Doc as anyone. I remember recording his starts on VHS tapes and replaying them over and over to memorize his pitching motion and using it when I pitched. To this day I have not seen any pitcher with as fluid mechanics and that ridiculous curveball. I finally met Doc a few years ago when he was about to be inducted into the Mets HOF and he was as nice a guy as I imagined. Too bad his career was cut short by addiction. His ability early on made him out of this world but in the end he proved to be human like the rest of us. Thanks for the memories Doc!

Team LGM
March 12, 2013
As a kid growing up in Queens I was as big a fan of Doc as anyone. I remember recording his starts on VHS tapes and replaying them over and over to memorize his pitching motion and using it when I pitched. To this day I have not seen any pitcher with as fluid mechanics and that ridiculous curveball. I finally met Doc a few years ago when he was about to be inducted into the Mets HOF and he was as nice a guy as I imagined. Too bad his career was cut short by addiction. His ability early on made him out of this world but in the end he proved to be human like the rest of us. Thanks for the memories Doc!