Dwight Gooden’s Highly Sought After Rookie Card – 1984 Fleer Update

Dwight Gooden’s Highly Sought After Rookie Card – 1984 Fleer Update

I don’t own one of these, but I would really like to get one.

Easily the most coveted card for a collector of Dwight Gooden, I remember how hot this card was when released as part of the 1984 Fleer Updated baseball card set.

Since ‘Doc’ did not have a card in any base set issues in 1984, by the time the updated and traded sets came out he had already established a reputation.  And the collectors went nuts for his rookie cards.

So, here it is.  If you have one, you’re lucky.  If you want one, so do I!!!!

Dwight Gooden Offers Up A Fair Looking Autograph…

Dwight Gooden Offers Up A Fair Looking Autograph…

With less flare than what he offered at the beginning of his career, Dwight Gooden offers up a very nice, clean, and concise autograph.

From what I have been seeing lately, he tends to lean more towards signing ‘Doc’ than ‘Dwight’.  I don’t know if this is a new twist for Gooden, but as you can see below, his signature is very legible and it fills up the sweet spot of a baseball nicely!!

Dwight Gooden & His 1986 World Series Championship!!!

Dwight Gooden & His 1986 World Series Championship!!!

Dwight Gooden and the New York Mets are one of the most remembered and talked about World Series championship winning teams of the last 30 years.

Full of talent and personality, this team was very hard not to like.  And the young superstars that built their roster were all integral parts of the Mets bringing home the World Series trophy.

As for Gooden, he did not have that strong of a series against the Red Sox.  Making 2 starts, he threw just 8 innings and recorded losses in both efforts.  In the losses, he collected just 9 strikeouts while allowing 17 hits and 10 runs.

But, the good news(for Gooden) is that the Mets were able to beat the Red Sox in 7 games in 1986.  And Dwight Gooden won a ring in his first and only shot at a World Series title.

Dwight Gooden & His 1996 No-Hitter!!!

Dwight Gooden & His 1996 No-Hitter!!!

As a member of the New York Yankees in 1996, Dwight Gooden threw the eighth no-hitter in the franchise’s history.

On May 14, 1996, ‘Doc’ and his Yankees teammates took on the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium.

And ‘Doc’ dazzled!!  Throwing a complete game, he allowed no hits and gave up six walks while striking out 5.  Gooden was on top of his game from the start – and he  dominated a Mariner’s line-up that included Ken Griffey Jr, Alex Rodriguez, and Edgar Martinez!!

Congratulations Doc!!!

 

Dwight Gooden’s 1992 Silver Slugger Award

Dwight Gooden’s 1992 Silver Slugger Award

It’s not often that a pitchers gets to strut his stuff at the plate.  And it is even less often that a pitcher gets to brag about how his batting skills match up with the other pitchers in the league.

But in 1992, Gooden was able to do just that as he captured the league’s Silver Slugger award – an award that is given to the best hitter at each defensive position.

In 1992, Gooden hit .264 as he went 19-for-72.  On the year, he collected 3 doubles, a triple, and a home run.  He also scored 8 runs to help his cause at the mound too!!!

Dwight Gooden Is A 4-Time All-Star

Dwight Gooden Is A 4-Time All-Star

As documented on this blog, Dwight Gooden’s career got off to an incredible start.  The first four years of his career were incredible and the sport, the fans, and the baseball public took notice.

For his efforts, Gooden was selected to the All-Star team in the first three of those four seasons and 4 of his first five.

Few Could Measure Up To The First Four Years Of Dwight Gooden’s Career…

Few Could Measure Up To The First Four Years Of Dwight Gooden’s Career…

It’s very rare that a player comes out of the gates at the rate at which Dwight Gooden did.  And to maintain high levels of play at such a young age is a true credit to his talent and skill levels.

And of all of the pitchers that have debuted since, the only one that comes to mind that may have similar first 4-season numbers would be Tim Lincecum…

As for Gooden’s first four seasons in the bis leagues, they went something like this:  124 starts, 73-26 record, 42 complete games, 16 shutouts, 892 strikeouts, 275 walks allowed, and an ERA of just 2.55.

Not too shabby, huh??

Dwight Gooden And The Birth Of “Dr. K”

Dwight Gooden And The Birth Of “Dr. K”

I don’t know where or why the letter ‘K’ was associated with a strikeout, but whoever gave the nickname of ‘Dr. K’ to Dwight Gooden knew what he was doing…

On October 2, 1986, Dwight Gooden recorded the 200th strikeout of his 1986 season.  And while there was a lengthy list of pitchers that had accomplished that feat prior to ‘Doc’, he was the first pitcher in major league history to collect more than 200 K’s in his first three big league seasons.

Amazingly, with all of the fireballers before his era, Gooden was the first.  Not Nolan Ryan or Tom Seaver or Bob Gibson or Jim Palmer.

Here is a closer look at those three historic years:

Season	K’s
1984	276
1985	268
1985	200

Dwight Gooden’s Unforgettable 1985 Baseball Season

Dwight Gooden’s Unforgettable 1985 Baseball Season

Following up on his amazing rookie season, Gooden was amazingly even better during his second full year in the majors.

Now, at 20-years old, ‘Doc’ was performing like a seasoned veteran.  With a repertoire that included one of the best fastballs in the game, Gooden made 35 starts for the Mets while recording 24 wins and just 4 losses.  His season ending ERA of 1.53 is one of the lowest from a starting pitcher with 20 or more starts in a season.

Oh, and he struck out 268 batter too.

Gooden made his second All-Star appearance in 1985, and he finished in 4th place for the MVP award too.  He won the Cy Young Award unanimously, capturing all 24 first-place votes.

Dwight Gooden & The 1984 Rookie Of The Year Award

Dwight Gooden & The 1984 Rookie Of The Year Award

In my lifetime few rookies, especially pitchers, came on to the big league scene with the kind of impact that Dwight Gooden did.

At just 19 years of age, Gooden captivated the sport, and he did it in front of the crazed New York media.

He made 31 starts that season, and compiled a 19-7 record.  He amassed 276 strikeouts during that campaign, and finished the season with a very low and respectable 2.60 ERA.

In addition to an All-Star team selection, Gooden finished in second place for the NL’s Cy Young award.  He did, however, capture the league’s Rookie of the Year award as he collected 23 of 24 first place votes.