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MLB great Dwight Gooden still loves the game, collecting his favorite players
Dwight Gooden was 9 years old when he first met Pete Rose during spring training in Tampa, Fla. He still has that autograph he acquired decades ago.
Rose also gave the youngster some sage advice that day in the mid-1970s: “Keep working hard, maybe one day you’ll play with us,” Rose told Gooden.
Sure enough, 10 years later, Gooden was facing Rose in Major League Baseball.
Gooden made his MLB debut in 1984 for the New York Mets and quickly established himself as one of the most talented and dominant pitchers in the game. He pitched from 1984-94 and from 1996-2000 for the Mets, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Gooden pitched 430 major league games, posting a 194–112 career record with a 3.51 ERA and 2,293 strikeouts.
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His other accolades include: four-time All-Star (1984–1986, 1988); two-time World Series champion (1986, 2000); 1985 National League Cy Young Award; Triple Crown winner in 1985; two-time MLB strikeout leader (1984, 1985); 1984 NL Rookie of the Year; 1992 Silver Slugger Award; MLB wins leader (1985); MLB ERA leader (1985); and more.
“In 1984, I was trying to get the nerves to walk up to Pete to show him the picture [from 10 years earlier],” Gooden said.
Instead, Rose walked up to Gooden and said, “Congratulations on making the team; I’ve followed your career and wish you all the best.”
Later that summer, Gooden’s dad brought the picture from 10 years earlier and had Rose sign it again.
Gooden was a 19-year-old rookie in 1984 and earned the first of four All-Star selections en route to the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Gooden saw Rose this summer in Cooperstown, N.Y., and they got another picture together. Both also were together at the annual National Sports Collectors Convention, signing autographs at the I-X Center in Cleveland.
COLLECTING AUTOGRAPHS
Gooden is not as much of an autograph collector nowadays, but he was years ago.
“When I was playing, I [got] signed jerseys from my favorite players from each team; [they are now] in my game room,” he said.
Gooden also has a lot of Hall of Fame single-signed baseballs, which he often acquired at card shows. “Those are pretty cool,” he said.
The prized collectibles in Gooden’s collection are autographed items from Mel Stottlemyre and George Steinbrenner. He has a photo of himself and Stottlemyre that the late pitcher signed and included a nice, personal inscription to Gooden.
“I might give away any [collectibles] in my basement, but those two [items] are untouchable,” Gooden said.
He scored many high-profile autographs during his playing days. Of today’s players, he looks to snag a signature from Bryce Harper, for one, as the Philadelphia star is his favorite modern-day player “because of the way he plays the game.”
“The way he plays the game and the way he gives to the community, I love that,” Gooden said.
He also wants an autograph from Joe DiMaggio.
“I still watch the game and still love the game,” said Gooden, now 59.
Gooden’s late mom collected everything from his baseball career, from Little League through high school and into the major leagues, including cards.
“She turned one bedroom into a shrine [to my baseball career],” Gooden said. “When I took my friends into the room, she’d stand right there [watching], making sure nothing was taken out.”
Gooden’s card legacy dates to 1984 with rookie cards from Fleer and Topps.
Ironically, his favorite cards show him hitting or running the bases. And he has the same comment about his favorite card, showing him hitting.
“Whenever I get asked about the card, I always say, ‘I hit a home run … even though I have no idea if I really did. It just sounds good,” Gooden said, laughing. “The cards of me hitting, bunting and running the bases … those are my favorites. Sure, my big league career was as a pitcher, but my dream dating back [as a] Little Leaguer, I wanted to play a position and be a hitter. But my dad figured pitching was my thing. He had me doing pitching drills at a young age.
“One regret I have is, not asking my dad about hitting tips. So those cards mean a lot to me.”
Gooden added, “People ask me, ‘What is more exciting: pitching a no-hitter or hitting a home run?’ For me, it was hitting a home run because that’s something you dream of back in Little League.”
During his career, Gooden drilled eight career home runs, including two for the Mets in 1993.
Gooden’s memorabilia collection includes jerseys and gloves, including his rookie season jersey and from his no-hitter. “That stuff means a lot to me, I wish I had more,” he said.
Gooden signed autographs at the VIP Party at The National in Cleveland.
“That’s the best,” he said of collectors bringing rare collectibles to a show to be signed. “I just hope they have two of the item, so they will give me one.
“It’s fun to see what people collect; that says a lot about your accomplishments, how the fans enjoyed your play. When fans come up to you at shows, it makes you feel good, makes you feel like you played the game the right way. That means a lot, that means a great deal.”
The Mets retired Gooden’s number 16 this past April.
“The friendships developed over the years really stand out,” he said. “Obviously winning the World Series and all the awards means a lot, but the friendships developed, with teammates and players who I played against, mean a great deal; they last a lifetime.
“Sharing moments about the game with other players, both those I played with and against, means a lot and is special at card shows. When you’re playing, you’re aware that the things you’re accomplishing are special. But I don’t think I enjoyed them as much as I should have.
“When the Mets retired my number, I really had the chance to reflect on my career, what I accomplished. I got to think back, reflect, and that was great. I accomplished some things that I’m very proud of.
“It’s always easy to think about the things I wish I could have done or wish I had accomplished. But yeah, I did accomplish a lot and I’m proud of what I did.
“I only saw my dad cry twice: when my mom passed, and when I told him that I made the team [as a major leaguer]. He hugged me, told me he loved me. That meant so much to me.”
