The INSANE Prime of Dwight "Doc" Gooden

Dwight Gooden, affectionately known as Doc, mirrors the fleeting brilliance of a shooting star. As a teenager, he and teammate Darryl Strawberry simultaneously took the Major Leagues by storm, helping to transform the New York Mets organization into a perennial contender. As a 20 year old, Doc assembled one of the finest pitching seasons in baseball history. His overpowering fastball and devastating curveball were a lethal combo. At the pinnacle of his career, fans and teammates alike felt they were watching a player destined for Cooperstown. However, behind all the success, Gooden battled personal demons, struggling with substance abuse and legal issues. His rapid ascent to superstardom was followed by a swift downturn. After hitting rock bottom, Doc made an improbable comeback to achieve a remarkable pitching feat.
PinkTie:
www.pinktie.org
Pawns of War:
pawsofwar.org
Players (and others) relevant to the video: Darryl Strawberry, Dan Gooden, John Cumberland, Herb Score, Rick Sutcliffe, Bob Gibson, Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Babe Ruth, Pedro Guerrero, Dave Parker, Willie McGee, Noodles Hahn, Bob Feller, Gary Sheffield, Ron Dock
0:00 Intro
1:10 Biography
2:48 Teenage Phenom (1984)
5:14 The Next Level (1985)
8:00 Doctor K (1986)
9:12 World Series title run (1986)
10:03 Rehabilitation (1987)
10:37 Rebound (1988)
11:25 Doc and Noodles (1989-1990)
12:26 Darryl Departs/Doc’s Arm Troubles (1991)
13:03 Uncle Doc (1992-1993)
13:38 Losing a Whole Year (1994-1995)
14:35 Pitching for Dad (1996)
15:24 Milestone/October Baseball (1996-1997)
16:03 Leaving New York (1998-1999)
16:22 Final Act (2000)
16:52 Career Overview/Post Retirement
17:31 Philanthropy
18:10 Number 16 (Conclusion)
#mlb #mets #1980s
Additional tags: Dwight Gooden biography, Doc Gooden biography, Dwight Gooden childhood, Dwight Gooden family, Dwight Gooden father, Dwight Gooden high school, Dwight Gooden drafted, Dwight Gooden prospect, Dwight Gooden Triple A, Dwight Gooden minor leagues, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Houston Astros, Dwight Gooden Mets, Doc Gooden Mets, Dwight Gooden prime, Dwight Gooden career, Doc Gooden prime, Doc Gooden career, Dwight Gooden pitching highlights, Dwight Gooden highlights, Dwight Gooden Shea Stadium, Dwight Gooden story, Dwight Gooden career stats, Hall of Fame, Mets Hall of Fame, Dwight Gooden number retirement, Doc Gooden number retirement, Number 16, Mets jersey retirement dates for Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden Rookie of the Year, Dwight Gooden Cy Young, Dwight Gooden MVP, Dwight Gooden Triple Crown, Dwight Gooden ERA, Dwight Gooden dominant, 20-game winner, ERA title, Dwight Gooden strikeouts, Doc Gooden strikeouts, Dwight Gooden nicknames, Dwight Gooden nickname origin, Dwight Gooden complete games, Dwight Gooden shutouts, Dwight Gooden 1984 season, Dwight Gooden 1985 season, Dwight Gooden Silver Slugger, Dwight Gooden All-Star, Dwight Gooden postseason, Dwight Gooden playoffs, Dwight Gooden World Series, 1986 World Series, 1996 World Series, 2000 World Series, Dwight Gooden philanthropy, Dwight Gooden charity work, Dwight Gooden interview, Dwight Gooden drug test, Dwight Gooden suspension, Dwight Gooden injuries, Dwight Gooden missed time, Dwight Gooden overcoming addiction, off-the field issues, Dwight Gooden pitching motion, Dwight Gooden leg kick, Dwight Gooden retirement, 1980s baseball, 1990s baseball, historic level, Cam 23
Sources:
sabr.org/bioproj/person/dwigh...
• Dwight Gooden on how h...
www.baseball-reference.com/
stathead.com/baseball/
www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/sp...
longisland.news12.com/dwight-...
www.pinktie.org/
www.mlb.com/news/mets-set-dat...
This Day in Baseball
www.nytimes.com/1994/06/29/us...
www.deseret.com/1989/6/20/188...
www.mlb.com/news/doc-gooden-1...
www.mlb.com/awards/pitcher-of...
vault.si.com/vault/1993/03/22...
www.nytimes.com/1996/09/29/sp...

[@Fireinthestubble]

He was the reason I became a Mets fan back when in 1985. Been with the Mets since through all the bad seasons. He is getting his jersey retired on April 14th wish I could be there.

[@aaacomp1]

maybe you guys can meet up and do an 8 ball together.

[@jayrodriguez9211]

At his apex he was as good as any pitcher that ever lived

[@omarbahrour]

No doubt, what he did at 19 is so fucking cool

[@sawyerbates2032]

Doc was so good. I didn't know Gary Sheffield was his nephew, they are only four years apart! Learn something new everyday, I suppose. Don't know if he's too old to cover, but Johnny Mize would be a good one to cover.

[@craigbrelsford]

In 1985 I was sure Gooden was going to win 400 games in his career.

[@omarbahrour]

Well based on what he’d done to that point, who could blame you? Incredible.

[@jamesesterline]

Gooden should be in the Hall IMO, his prime was so dominant and long enough and he put up enough counting stats to deserve induction.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

16 seasons, Sandy Koufax pitched for 12. A lot of people may call that a blasphemous comparison, but it's really not that absurd if you compare the numbers. I think Doc's off-field conduct is the main reason he's not in.

[@k.s.nichols4060]

This is not a bad argument. I disagree, I think. Koufax retired because of pain and he was otherworldly dominant for longer, I believe. Gooden deserved (and has) a place in the Hall, but I don't know if he should be enshrined. (Though I am happy to have an auto card of his.)

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

​@@k.s.nichols4060Koufax had a better career overall, I just mean the longevity argument against Gooden doesn't really hold up since there are HOFers with shorter careers than him.

[@carlpacquing2575]

Doc & Darryl are such fascinating stories. Glad to hear that they've turned things around in the past decade, and I hope that they can stay sober till the end.

[@jeffn9952]

I think the Mets will be on the right side of history for honoring these two.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

His most impressive feat may have been his no-hitter with the Yankees, he was electric and untouchable in his early years with the Mets, but I've always been impressed by older pitchers that can use their brain to dominate even after their velocity has dropped.

[@mattmullins7369]

Finally got around to watching. Well worth the wait. Gooden represents the promise of what "could've been" as he himself acknowledged. Some sources credit him with that 2000 championship. Others don't. Black, white, it doesn't matter. Addiction is still addiction and he has tried to fight it everyday. The best line attributed to him goes like this, "19-21; greatest pitcher in the World. 21-23; above average. 23 on...just another guy" which is bad because he was certainly a great pitcher. Again, thank you for this. Go O's!

[@Cam23]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! And you're right, just because he wasn't posting a 1.50 ERA or striking out more than 200 consistently doesn't mean he wasn't a generational talent. Go O's!

[@SmoothCriminal12]

Nobody: Cam23: TO THE NEXT LEVEL

[@Cam23]

Climax of the vid 😎

[@josephyodiceyodice5990]

If during the 1986 World Series anyone would have said that Gooden and Clemens weren't going to the Hall of Fame, I would have said that they were nuts❗ 😲

[@mattmullins7369]

Showtime boys!!! Doc had all the tools.

[@big8dog887]

Interestingly, going into spring training 1985, Doc wasn't the Mets best pitcher. That would have been a fellow by the name of Sidd Finch.

[@Cam23]

I believe SRS did a fantastic video on that legend!

[@grace1975kauf]

Gooden, so dominant. I remember his Topps '85 card. I was glad he was able to bounce back to pitch well in the mid 90s for Cleveland and NYY.

[@northstarjakobs]

I've commented this before on a baseball video, not sure if it was on this channel, but my favorite band (The Mountain Goats) actually have a song about Doc Gooden called, well, "Doc Gooden". It focuses on his no-hitter with the Yankees, and just generally captures the feeling of watching an aging veteran who's nearing the end of the line but still has a few good tricks left up his sleeve.

[@Cam23]

I don't recall hearing about this before that's really cool! I'll make sure to check that out

[@danimalplanet7931]

You might be interested: I saw Mountain Goats summer '98 at some tiny club in downtown NYC with about 17 people in the crowd, and he played brand new song he'd written about Sosa & McGwire. This was when whole world was obsessively following the HR chase and I think MOST of us did not yet realize those guys were walking science experiments- so his song was rhapsodic & romantic, which in retrospect seems naive... But I've never seen or heard any mention of it, I feel like I'm the only person in the world who is aware it exists- or at least existed for that one night. I don't know if he ever performed it again. I only remember these lines, not quite verbatim but close: I've lost my youth and I've lost my looks All I've got is this goddam date With the goddam history books

[@RetroBaseball]

This is one of your best videos yet, keep up the great work!

[@Cam23]

Thank you Retro! 🙌🏼

[@ronniek201]

God bless Dwight Gooden. Brings many happy memories for me w my father as a kid. He was so dominant at a young age. Never seen a better pitcher in his prime til this day.

[@Improudofyou37]

Insane Prime of Billy Wagner would be cool. Future Hall of Famer.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

Unfortunately, probably not. His window is closing. I think he should be in, there isn't another closer with his kind of numbers that's eligible and not in.

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

We had friends that had season tickets in the front row, right by the Astros bullpen, this is back in the Dome days when the bullpen was on the field along the RF line. My brother and I used to stick our hands through the railing when he was warming up, and you could feel the wind break when his fastball went by, and hear the fizzzzzzzzzle POP! I'll never forget that.

[@jeffreybomba]

His curve was humiliating! So many jelly legs and flat out crash landings.

[@fluoriteheals]

The curveball, the ORIGINAL ankle breaker! 🤣

[@jeffreybomba]

@@fluoriteheals You watch pitching contempt today, and a curve that gets a jelly leg is a top pitch of the day, while DG did that multiple times a game.

[@fluoriteheals]

@@jeffreybomba I bet some of those dudes see it in their nightmares! LMAO

[@jeffreybomba]

@@fluoriteheals Nightmares about being on the wrong end of the highlight reel!

[@fluoriteheals]

@@jeffreybomba YUP! THAT TOO LMAO!!

[@spacelion4763]

People have no idea how good he was. Before age 25, Gooden was already 100-39 with 1067 strikeouts. He had already won Rookie of the Year, a Cy Young, was a four time All-Star and a World Series champion

[@flame-sky7148]

Great memories of the Doc, and another great choice as well as nicely done. My father took me to a Mets game at Shea in 1987, when they were champs the previous year. One thing about that 1987 year, Gooden was suspended for the first couple of months and the Mets finished in 2nd place with three games back. Had he been able to play in the beginning of the season, the Mets probably win the division and Doc most likely wins the CY Young award, as it went to closer that season. There is the "what if" with Doc Gooden. He probably had the best start you could possibly have as a pitcher considering his age.

[@chrisholden615]

Your content is always great buddy! Keep it up 🎉🎉

[@Cam23]

Thank you so much Chris!

[@chemBTW]

just stopping by to say i cant wait for "The INSANE Prime of Will Clark" video :) ❤

[@TantrumFTW]

TO THE NEXT LEVEL needs it's own lil graphic bit! Love your work, dude!! Keep it up!!

[@Cam23]

Haha 😂 Thank you, I really appreciate that! 🙌🏼

[@risboturbide9396]

First time on this channel; this is a very good video about one of my favorite pitchers, the great Doc Gooden. I'm now subscribed 🍻🍻

[@Cam23]

Thank you, and welcome to the channel! 😎

[@horchataguy91]

Crazy how those 80s Mets weren’t a dynasty with all that crazy ish they did and still smoked foos on the baseball field..read stories and watching the history makes this all too amazing to appreciate baseball more

[@mattmullins7369]

The best Gooden "comparison" was prime Pedro as I grew up on him. Even then, still not close.

[@sbhbkdj]

Awesome video as usual Cam! Great stuff! Still hoping you'll do a Timmy Lincecum video! Keep up the good work!

[@Cam23]

Thank you! Great suggestion he's on the list for a video soon. Lincecum fits the mold of an insane prime as good as anyone I can think of

[@michaelgrant7530]

I'm crying right now

[@grace1975kauf]

Great video. Loved 80s/90s and early to mid 2000s baseball. Doc's talent would hold it's own against any pitcher.

[@Cam23]

Thank you!

[@andrewvaldez8689]

Can you do Fernando Valenzuela?

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

Breathe through your eyelids!🤣

[@zoeledwards6617]

I agree ☝️

[@Improudofyou37]

Sad what the Dodgers did to him. His screwball was alien levels of disgusting. Had he not have been worked the way he was, I could see him having longer career similar to Carl Hubbell.

[@stevejanowiak1982]

I remember an article back in ‘85 about how Doc threw 95 mph fastballs. Call me crazy but his pitches look WAY faster than dudes 97-99 mph pitches today.

[@monkeymagee2008]

Awesome vid 👍👍👍👍🔥🔥

[@Cam23]

Thank you Sergio!

[@CountrySingerWannabe]

Doc had 544 strikeouts in his first 2 seasons. Had he actually stayed away from drugs and alcohol and focused on his health, he might have torn is up in his prime. Dare I say that he could have played till he was 40 and rolled right along with Nolan Ryan in strikeout totals.

[@bryanklein6428]

These days we are lucky if a starting pitcher goes past the 6th inning

[@Entronicsable]

Everyone should watch the 30 for 30 called 'Once Upon a Time in Queens'. Every team in the 80's was taking amphetamine (Adderall) Dexedrine (dexamphetamine) and Ritalin (Methylphenidate). They kept a jar of em in the Mets clubhouse out in the open. I hope Doc is clean. Daryl got clean and runs a couple of treatment clinics now.

[@omarbahrour]

Hahahaha I don’t know why it’s so funny, but I love the little bit about his debut and showing up early. I feel like it’s such a nervous 19 year old thing to do haha

[@PickledEggs4]

Any chance we could get a Daryl Boston video? He was my favorite player when i was a kid.

[@leonzaduncan2438]

Baseball is weird about this, Doc was on the 96 roster, even though he didn't play in the playoffs, he still should get a ring.

[@janellemaynait]

Juan Gonzalez hopefully

[@Rockhound6165]

Gooden and Strawberry should have had iconic careers and set records that might still be around today but drugs are a cruel, cruel mistress. Steve Howe is another one.

[@fluoriteheals]

HE FREAKING OWNED EVERYONE AT THE PLATE!

[@IRuiz805]

Can you do a vid on Eric Gagne? He won a Cy Young as a Reliever in 2003 and no other relief pitcher has won the award since.

[@chadholt1171]

A Mark Grace video would be cool

[@GeordieGunner96]

I'm easy always a good video.i know you'll not be able to find coverage but I'd love to see some on older players or dynasties.

[@Cam23]

Thank you! Old-timey baseball is a realm I'd like to tap into at some point, just have to figure out the best way to do it with virtually no footage

[@GeordieGunner96]

@@Cam23 I totally understand man sports was more of a radio thing way back when,whatever you decide to do I'm sure it'll be top notch!

[@samright4661]

We’re witnessing Spencer Strider break all Docs records! Doc loved him some Coke

[@chuckjammy9251]

Sutcliffe unanimously winning Cy Young over him in ‘84 is one of the most egregious instances of award voting in MLB history that there’s no way it couldn’t have been racially motivated

[@jimlaregina]

Doc Gooden took a no-decision in the Yankees-Indians 1997 playoff game because Mariano Rivera blew the lead. Gooden surrendered one earned run through 5-2/3 innings; the Yankees were up, 2-1. Had Rivera not allowed Cleveland to tie the score in the eighth inning, Doc might have had his only post-season win. The Indians went on to take the game and, ultimately, the series.

[@ibrahimkhalif83]

What’s the name of the instrumental at 16:06?

[@Cam23]

The Næckbræker by Matt Large 🎵

[@carlozz8670]

Can you make about Robin Yount's prime,he's my best player of all time

[@fluoriteheals]

He should definitely be in the MLB Hall of Fame. WTH?

[@jahdeam220]

Nomar !!!

[@ArenaGuy1]

Gotta do Dave Winfield!

[@codygurnick6405]

Don't think you're off the hook, Cam. I'm a day late, but I'm still here to ask for my DUSTIN PEDROIA VID.

[@DrAnarchy69]

Yankees legend Doc Gooden

[@HT-sm9dm]

If Doc Gooden played today he would struggle to make a high school team because nowadays 13 year olds are throwing harder than he was because evolution

[@CountrySingerWannabe]

Justin Verlander is rightly considered a power pitcher. Next to a Doc Gooden (parallel universe) Verlander might not be more than just "good".

[@malachisnyder167]

Chase utley or Steve Carlton

[@flame-sky7148]

Rod Carew, Carlos Delgado, or Ralph Kiner.

[@kingcassius2586]

4:38 His K per 9 was 11.49 If you leave off the last digit it should be rounded up to 11.5 K per 9.

[@Cam23]

11.394 is how it's listed for 1984 mlb pitching leaders (perhaps you're checking a different site?): www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1984-pitching-leaders.shtml

[@kingcassius2586]

@@Cam23 I'm going to have to take the L on this one. Is it actually possible that it was miscalculated years ago? Unless that stat was changed alá Cobb's hit total(because I swear it was 11.49), I'll just have to stand corrected.

[@Cam23]

@@kingcassius2586 that's a good question! Who knows, although I think they'd probably have to change more than handful of strikeouts after the fact in order for it to come down nearly .1 K/9

[@kingcassius2586]

@@Cam23 I'm thinking maybe it was officially miscalculated at some point.

[@reboot3332]

If it wasn't for drugs, he would've been one of the best ever. That rising fastball was so unhittable.

[@ItBeHurka]

I'm a Phillies fan. I can't stand the Mets, but I respect Doc.

[@person1192]

George Brett

[@rosschassy]

I still want will Clark

[@mattlitzenberg9623]

Pudge Rodriguez

[@bryanklein6428]

I love how doc missed the championship parade because he was busy getting high in a motel room on long Island

[@4392amtrak]

Mike Mussina would be a good one

[@bobbywhelan6668]

Tiger blood

[@NickPR87]

His career saddens me a little, he had all the characteristics of someone who should have been among the best pitchers of all-time. Fortunately he's been on the bright side of his battle with drugs and serves as both a cautionary tale and an example of keeping the fight against your demons alive!

[@Cam23]

I've always felt that we can learn the most from the "saddest" stories. Luckily, Doc's has turned out to be a much more positive one as of now!

[@jimlaregina]

Mickey Mantle hit the ball in the middle out of the park more than 500 times. Sure, hard partying improves nobody's health, but what cost Doc Gooden a longer shelf life was the fact that the Mets overworked him. He had his first injury at age 26. Yes, 26! Most players are only coming into their prime at that age! The innings overload to which the Mets subject Dwight Gooden turned him into an old man while he was still young.

[@CrashPK77]

Ryne Sandberg!!!

[@stonefree2573]

cocaine is a wicked pitch to have in your arsenal ....

[@dexteratoe8705]

Coca Cola

[@ryanthompsonthompson820]

Babe Ruth

[@lifeonthelake4367]

Doc and strawberry could have been special if they could have stayed off the dope

[@rogergeorge3231]

Reggie Jackson

[@aaacomp1]

LOL at twirl. Pitchers don't twirl!

[@Cam23]

I did not coin the term twirl for the record 😂it is absolutely something I've heard on many occasions via broadcast haha

[@aaacomp1]

@@Cam23 they hurl, but surely don't twirl

[@matthewstarjumper5286]

@@aaacomp1 y dont u both agree to disagree and move on it aint that deep

[@alejandroabreu1658]

A-Rod

[@fluoriteheals]

UGH COKE! What a waste!

[@ibrahimkhalif83]

He was robbed of 1985 MVP

[@corbincox8onpride43]

I liked my own comment

[@ShineOnYouCD]

I liked your mom’s comment

[@kenyontucker6469]

Damn right.

[@s.henrlllpoklookout5069]

I commented on my own like

[@alejandroabreu1658]

Alex Rodriguez

[@rosschassy]

Ok that’s better though he did take drugs

[@theywouldnthavetocensormei9231]

You would probably be surprised how many athletes do, Doc and Darryl were just extreme examples because their addiction was so severe they couldn't really hide it in public life.

[@barbaracaroll]

He was never Seaver

[@themase3219]

Day 22 of asking for Ted Williams

[@bobbywhelan6668]

Thats a tough one bc noone likes the Red Sox

[@themase3219]

@@bobbywhelan6668 yeah but Ted Williams was the best

[@willshad]

Not to downplay it, but Gooden's ' prime' was one season, or maybe two at most. The rest was a huge disappointment.

[@wutangisforever2798]

🦄

[@JoeValenzuela-vc9iv]

yeah, the prime of his drug habit.