Too Gooden

May 14, 1996 – Problems with drugs had forced Dwight Gooden out of the game entirely for the better part of two years, and when he signed with the New York Yankees in 1996, there was no realistic expectation that the wizardry he'd exhibited in leading the Mets to victory in the 1986 World Series was still in his repertoire.

Just a few years earlier, the Yanks had relegated Gooden to the bullpen and considered sending his down to the minors.  But in his seventh start, Gooden struck out five, walked six, and allowed no one to reach first on a batted ball in a 2-0 no-hit win over the Seattle Mariners.

"This is the greatest feeling," said Gooden. In my wildest dreams I never could have imagined this.  This is sweet."

 

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