Dwight Gooden, affectionately known as "Doc,"today held a heartfelt press conference prior to his jersey retirement ceremony. Gooden, a Mets legend, reflected on his career, the highs and lows, and the significance of this momentous occasion.
"Growing up in Tampa, playing baseball in the backyard with my nephew Gary (Sheffield) you never dream about having your number retired," Gooden began, reminiscing about his early days in baseball. "You talk about maybe playing in the big leagues one day, maybe winning a World Series. But you never talk about having your number retired."
Reflecting on his journey from being drafted by the Mets in 1982 to this moment, Gooden shared, "So for this day to happen, and it happened with the team that I was drafted by, I look back at where I started in '82, and Joe McIlvaine, who drafted me. It's definitely a dream come true, something that I never thought would possibly happen."
Dwight Gooden's journey to wearing the iconic number 16 jersey is a tale filled with determination and negotiation. Gooden initially had his eyes set on numbers 5 and 10 in the minors, as he had worn those numbers during his high school days. However, his aspirations were met with resistance from Russ Orrick, a seasoned player in rookie ball, who firmly declared, "I don't care who the F you are. You're not getting my number." Not to be deterred, Gooden settled on the number 16 after asking his trainer for something close to 10 but not 13.
As Gooden progressed to Lynchburg, he stuck with the number 16. When he made the Mets team in '84, he found himself wearing number 64 during spring training. But fate had other plans. Spotting an unclaimed number 16, Gooden saw an opportunity. Frank Cashen, the general manager, stepped in to resolve the number dispute between Gooden and equipment manager Charlie Samuels. Cashen's intervention secured Gooden's desired number, but the backstory revealed that Charlie's reluctance stemmed from his friendship with Lee Mazzilli, who had previously worn 16.
When Mazzilli returned to the team in '86, Gooden graciously offered him the number back, but Mazzilli insisted, "No, it's your number. You can have it now." Thus, number 16 became synonymous with Dwight "Doc" Gooden, a symbol of his resilience and identity both on and off the field.
Reflecting on his Major League debut Dwight recalled "Oh man, that first game was something else. I'd say it's one of the top five moments of nervousness, excitement, and anxiety I've ever experienced. Making your first start, you're thrilled but uncertain if you're truly ready. Just a year and a half earlier, I was in high school, and before that, playing in the backyard with Gary.
The Mets were flying my parents in for the game. I remember having lunch with them at the hotel at one o'clock. I'd never been to the Astrodome before, so I asked the front desk how far it was. They said about three miles. Believe it or not, I walked to the ballpark that day. When I arrived, I didn't even know how to get in; I ended up climbing an eight-foot gate to enter. True story.
Security guards approached, questioning what I was doing. I told them, 'I'm Dwight Gooden, I'm pitching today.' They didn't believe me at first. Thankfully, our trainers, Steve Garland and Bob Sykes, vouched for me and got me in after I showed my ID. Then, as I stepped out to pitch, I saw my dad and mom sitting there in the stands." Gooden's voice quivered as he spoke, clearly holding back tears. "I'll never forget that first game," he said. "Seeing my dad up there in the stands, it was overwhelming. I was so focused on the game, but when I saw him, it hit me. All those years of hard work, all those backyard games, it was all for this moment. That's when it became real for me, seeing my dad's proud face up there."Seeing them, it wasn't just my dream of playing professional baseball—it was my dad's dream that had become mine. "
"I remember Bill Doran grounding out to second, followed by Terry Puhl doing the same. Then, I struck out Dickie Thon. Walking off the field after that first strikeout, I felt my confidence soar. Seeing the joy, especially on my dad's face, meant everything to me. Unfortunately, my next start in Chicago didn't go as planned; I was knocked out in the third inning. So, one moment you feel ready, and the next, you're questioning yourself all over again."
When asked about the mural of him in New York, Gooden recalled
"Oh, wow. I tell you, you want the truth? I was just 20 years old when that mural went up. Riding into the city, I'd intentionally drive by it, often pretending to my passengers it was my first time seeing it. But the first time I actually saw that mural, I was overwhelmed. Being so young and seeing myself painted on that wall, it felt surreal. Bringing my family to see it and share in that moment was special. As my career progressed and faced its challenges, looking back at that mural became a source of joy and reflection. Now, when I show pictures of it to my grandkids, it holds even more meaning. That first time, though, it truly took my breath away."
Gooden also spoke about the overwhelming support from Mets fans throughout his career. "They've definitely been very supportive. I look at it as, like, '84, '85, the support they gave me. And the way the fans have stuck with me through everything. Today, I get to thank them for that," he expressed.
Reflecting on his unexpected call from Steve Cohen about his jersey retirement, Gooden said, "Last year, when I got the call from Steve Cohen, I was definitely surprised a little bit. But then I had to take a deep breath back and just suck it in. Obviously, you get teared up a little bit, a situation where you want to share it with your dad."
Seeing Darryl Strawberry at the retirement ceremony was deeply meaningful for Dwight Gooden. Reflecting on their enduring bond, Gooden remarked, "It's good to see Darryl. It'll always be Darryl and Doc, and Doc and Darryl will always be connected." Their relationship transcended the baseball diamond, evolving into a lifelong connection filled with mutual respect and shared experiences.
Gooden expressed his pride in Strawberry's personal growth and accomplishments, particularly his ministry work. "I'm just as happy for him, the things he's accomplished in his life first as a man," Gooden said. Despite the challenges they've faced over the years, their closeness has only strengthened. "We've always been working things out over the years, I think we're closer now," Gooden shared. The presence of Strawberry on this special day brought immense joy to Gooden. "When I saw him, I was very happy to see him," he said. Their shared journey in baseball and life has created a bond that remains unbreakable. Gooden concluded, "And when he has his day on June 1, I'll be just as excited for him as I am for myself today."
Mike Torrez, who attended today's retirement ceremony, played an instrumental role in Dwight Gooden's early career. Gooden fondly recalled their bond that began during spring training in 1984. "Mike's my man. We just connected," Gooden said. Torrez's guidance and support were pivotal during Gooden's transition to the major leagues. "He said to me that, when I made the team, he said, 'Once you start pitching .. as long as I'm here, I'm going to help you,' which meant a lot," Gooden shared.
During the challenging times, Torrez stood by Gooden, offering encouragement and advice. "After every start I had, Mike said we had a lot of B games at Huggins-Stengel Field. After every start, I'd go in, the media would say... the front office wants you to go to AA or AAA. And Mike and I had built a relationship. I'd say, 'Mike, they're thinking about sending me down.' He would say, 'Go in there and tell them you're not going down. You're going to make the majors.'"
Their relationship extended beyond the field, with the two sharing meals on the road and engaging in in-depth discussions about pitching strategies. "If he wasn't pitching, and I wasn't pitching, we would just talk about setting up hitters, reading bat speed, what you're looking for in hitters," Gooden remembered. "Sometimes he would quiz me, 'What would you throw here? Why did you throw this here?'"
Despite Torrez's eventual release from the team in June, their friendship endured. "We always stayed in contact. And we're still in contact today," Gooden emphasized. As Torrez attended the retirement ceremony, Gooden expressed his gratitude, saying, "I have a lot of respect for Mike. I'm glad you're here. It's good to see Mike."
Mike Torrez's mentorship and unwavering support played a crucial role in Dwight Gooden's development as a pitcher and his success with the Mets. Their enduring friendship is a testament to the bonds formed in baseball and the impact a veteran player can have on a young talent's career.
Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed heartfelt admiration and excitement for Dwight Gooden, or "Doc," during the retirement press conference. He began by saying, "What a special day this is for all of us in here. What an honor and what a privilege, especially for all of us Mets fans and the franchise and the team to get to celebrate the retirement of number 16, Doc Gooden. Congratulations, what an honor. You earned it, you deserve it."
Reflecting on his childhood memories from Venezuela, Mendoza shared, "For me, you know, I was growing up in Venezuela when we didn't get much of TV back in the day. But I remember my dad telling me, you know, the days that you were pitching. And it was a show, you know, it was going to be special. We all knew that, the fans knew it. And, you know, what an honor, what a privilege."
Mendoza further emphasized the importance of the day, stating, "I told them (the players) yesterday, you know, how special this day was going to be. You know, to make sure that everybody was out there to enjoy and, you know, to experience what it's like, you know, when your number gets retired in a place like New York. You know, what a better place. And to have, you know, not only Doc, but so many great players that have so much success in this town is something that nobody can take for granted. And for all of them, it's a special day and, you know, we want to make sure we enjoy that."
Many of Dwight Gooden's teammates were present at the retirement ceremony, including Barry Lyons, who fondly recalled catching Doc for the first time on April 19, 1986. Lyons expressed the thrill of catching the premier pitcher in baseball, saying, "It was a thrill that I was able to do several times over the next few years. But that was my first start in the big leagues, catching the premier pitcher in all of baseball, I cherish that. I'll always remember that." Reflecting on Gooden's pitching style, Lyons remarked on the quality of his fastball and curveball, stating, "We didn't do spin rates and all that, but his fastball and his curveball would probably be at the top of the charts today. His long fingers, he had the ball like a pill in his hands, but his four-seam fastball just had a ride on it. It stayed true, but it obviously didn't ride, but it gave that illusion. It gave that sense. But it was pure. It was just electric."
Lyons further highlighted the uniqueness of Gooden's pitches, emphasizing, "His curveball was at the top of the charts. A lot of times curveballs are referred to as Uncle Charlie, but Doc's was called Lord Charles." Lyons spoke glowingly of Gooden's character, noting that he was not just a great competitor, but also a great teammate and friend.
On a more personal note, Barry Lyons opened up about his own struggles and how his teammate Darryl Strawberry played a pivotal role in helping him recognize the need for change. Lyons expressed gratitude towards Strawberry and acknowledged their efforts in counseling and encouraging Dwight Gooden over the years. Lyons expressed his joy in seeing Gooden at peace and filled with joy, believing that this celebration and honor would propel him forward in a positive direction, enhancing his life and bringing about great things for him.
Reflecting on the retirement ceremony for Dwight Gooden, Mets Hall of Famer and 1986 Champion teammate Howard Johnson shared his insights and memories of their time together on the field. Johnson began by drawing parallels between this day and his own Hall of Fame induction, emphasizing the importance of family and the joy of interacting directly with the fans. He spoke warmly of Gooden, saying, "We can always talk about how great he was on the mound, the electricity when he was pitching that ran through Shea Stadium.
But as a brother, as a person, there's not many guys better. I mean, he's special."
Johnson vividly recalled the experience of playing behind Gooden, noting the dominant presence he had on the mound. He described how Gooden's momentum would build as the game progressed, making his teammates' jobs easier. Johnson reminisced about the awe-inspiring moments when even the most formidable hitters in baseball seemed overwhelmed by Gooden's pitching prowess, stating, "Some of the scariest hitters in baseball just melt and jelly-leg and not want to be a part of it."
Speaking about the unique fan experience Gooden provided, Johnson highlighted the excitement and anticipation that surrounded each of Gooden's starts. He remembered the prominence of the "K corner" at various ballparks, symbolizing Gooden's ability to rack up strikeouts with ease. Johnson reflected on the confidence the team felt with Gooden on the mound, emphasizing, "If you have that pitcher, right, that you know is going to go out there and close the door on the other team, you feel a lot better by yourself as a team."
Johnson also touched upon Gooden's desire to achieve a no-hitter with the Mets, acknowledging the disappointment when it didn't happen but expressing happiness for Gooden when he achieved it with the Yankees. He reflected on the numerous close calls Gooden had with the Mets and the relief and joy he felt for his former teammate when Gooden finally achieved his no-hitter elsewhere.
In conclusion, Howard Johnson's reflections on Dwight Gooden's retirement serve as a testament to the impact Gooden had both on and off the field. Johnson's memories underscore the special bond between teammates and the lasting legacy of a pitcher who captured the hearts of fans and teammates alike with his exceptional talent and charisma.
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