#308) DWIGHT GOODEN

Dwight Gooden was selected in the first round (5th overall) of the June 1982 free agent draft by the New York Mets. The hard throwing right-hander was voted as the Rookie of the Year in 1984. Then followed that with winning the National League Cy Young Award the next season in 1985. "Doc" was also a member of the 1986 World Championship team.

Dwight dominated with an 98 mph fastball and sweeping curveball that froze many a hitter. Gooden attracted a fan section at Shea Stadium that was dubbed the "K Korner" where they would hang up red letter "K"s for each of his strikeouts. He would fan 276 batters to set the rookie mark in 1984.

After Tom Seaver, he is easily the greatest Mets pitcher in Shea Stadium history. "Dr. K" along with Darryl Strawberry provided what should have been a foundation for years to come. Personal problems would derail both their careers. Gooden left the Mets when he signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees on February 20, 1996.

Doc was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in 2010.

Dwight Gooden signed his card in the set for my friend Eddie during an appearance at the Steiner Collectibles Store in New York on October 20, 2009.