Dwight Gooden New York Mets Publications

Street and Smith's 1985 Official Baseball Yearbook (Dwight Gooden - New York Mets cover)

Dwight Gooden, also known as Doc Gooden or Dr. K, is a former major league baseball player. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s, but his career declined precipitously, primarily due to injuries and drug abuse. A native of Tampa, Florida, Gooden was drafted in the first round in 1982, the fifth player taken overall. Gooden made his major-league debut on April 7, 1984 with the New York Mets at the age of 19. He quickly developed a reputation with his 98 MPH fastball and sweeping curveball. 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. Gooden signed with the New York Yankees in 1996 as a free agent. Gooden retired in 2001 after he was cut by the Yankees in spring training, ending his career with a record of 194-112. More than half of those wins came before age 25. He took a job in the Yankees' front office. Gooden's nephew, Gary Sheffield, was signed to play for the Yankees prior to the 2004 season. Dwight acted as the go-between man during the negotiations. Gooden appeared at the Shea Stadium final celebration on September 28, 2008, making it the first time he has appeared at Shea Stadium since 2000.