John Gibbons still remembers the first time he witnessed Dwight Gooden speak.
In the early 1980s, when Gibbons and the minor league Mets were staying at Tampa’s Edgewater Beach Hotel for spring training, an “upgraded” car with a license plate reading “DOC” was spotted. It stopped.
“Who is this guy?” Gibbons, now the club’s bench coach, remembers Mets players asking one another.
A few days later, Gibbons saw Gooden pitching in the bullpen.
“Okay,” Gibbons said with a smile. “He can do whatever he wants.”
“Doc” graduated to “Dr. K,” marking the beginning of a legend that will reach its climax on Sunday. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1984, the youngest pitcher in history to win the Cy Young Award (at age 21), and is a genius forever etched in Mets legend. He will likely watch his No. 16 jersey be retired.
His jersey number had already been cut into the center field turf during Saturday’s 11-7 loss to the Royals at Citi Field. Gooden spent 11 years with the Mets, ranking second in franchise history in wins (157) and strikeouts (1,875) and third in franchise history in innings (2,169/₃) and complete games (67). .
Gibbons, who caught Gooden in the minor leagues and three times in the majors, is not well known for his career with the Mets, appearing in 18 games in 1984 and 1986, but with Gooden’s enthusiasm, he felt like his knees would buckle. He had a unique perspective of watching curveballs. close.
“He was a really special guy, both in his baseball ability and his personality,” Gibbons said Saturday. “Surprisingly, his quality was great, but he was throwing strikes, so it wasn’t that hard to catch him. It takes a lot of time, and some people can’t master it.
“But Doc was able to command it, especially with that breaking ball, a great breaker. He could turn it into a strike almost at will.”
In 1986, after Gary Carter broke his thumb, Gibbons was called up in August and remained with the team for the World Series appearance as a bullpen catcher.
Gooden pitched in Games 2 and 5 of the World Series against the Red Sox.
Gibbons remembers catching Gooden in the bullpen late in Game 6. Gooden was ready for what was supposed to be a surprise appearance before Bill Buckner’s mistake cost the Mets a run for their money. As Gooden remembers, it was the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7.
Gooden didn’t enter, but Gibbons remembers when the ball hit his mitt. The sound continued to frighten police horses nearby to deter fans from running onto the field.
“It sounded like a gunshot or something,” Gibbons said.
The following season, Gibbons returned to spring training, when Gooden tested positive for cocaine, and his substance abuse problems became apparent to Gibbons for the first time. Gibbons never returned to the majors and began his coaching career with the Mets in 1990, mostly watching Gooden’s struggles and victories from afar.
On Sunday, he’ll be in the dugout to watch his friend earn Mets immortality.
“He’s been through a lot, we all know that,” Gibbons said. “But you won’t find a better man.
“[Sunday is] It’s going to be a great day. ”
