Dwight Gooden

1st Game Apr 7, 1984 Houston, Tx

NY Mets 3-2 Houston Astros

Dwight Gooden's first start and win pitching 5 innings, striking out 5

Sep 7, 1984 New York

C Cubs 0-10 NY Mets

Gooden pitches a complete game for his 15 win, strikes out 11

Strikes out his 228 batter to break the National League record for most Ks by a rookie

Sep 12, 1984 New York, NY

Dwight Gooden Strikeout Record

In a 2-0 NY whitewash of the Pirates, 19-year old Gooden struck out 16 batters, shattering the all-time rookie record (245) held by Cleveland Indian's Herb Score. Golden previously broke Grove Cleveland Alexander's NL record (227) established in 1911

April 14, 1985 New York

K Day

Doc Gooden's first start of the 1985 season. Doc pitched a 4-hit nine inning game for the victory over the Cincinnati Reds, 4-0.

Doc struck out 10 batters, walking 2. 

After the 1984 season where Doc went 17-9 with a league leading 276 strikeouts on the season. the 1985 season was expected to be a big year for the young pitcher.

Golden was honored as Rookie of the Year and came in second in voting for the Cy Young Award

August 20, 1985

Doc Gooden strikes out 16 batters, bringing his season total to 208

Making the second consecutive season over 200

photo: newspaper image of fans at Shea Stadium hanging K's in the K Korner

Dwight "Doc" Gooden pitched for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1984-1994, and again from 1996-2000.

In his rookie year, 1984, Gooden earned an All-Star selection, won the National League Rookie of the Year award and led the league in strikeouts. In 1985 he won the Cy Young Award and achieved the pitching triple-crown winning over 20 games, leading the league with a 1.53 ERA, 268 strikeouts and 16 complete games. In 1986 he would lead the Mets to the World Series.

In his first three seasons, Gooden would strikeout 200 or more batters: 276 (1984) 268 (1985) 200 (1987)

August 25, 1985

Doc Gooden becomes the youngest pitcher to win 20 games. The record had been previously held by Bob Feller, who was one month older than Gooden, when he completed the feat for the Cleveland Indians in 1939. Gooden was 20 years, 9 months and 9 days old.

Gooden's 20th victory came at the hands of the San Diego Padres 9-3. It was Gooden's 14th consecutive victory of the season, on a rainy afternoon. Gooden was not his usual self, as he struggle to gain the victory working 6-innings. He only struck out four batter, giving up three runs on five hits. He threw two wild pitches and committed a throwing error, which cost him a run.

"I didn't have my best stuff, and never found my rhythm. I was fortunate my team scored some runs."

Gooden would finish the season with a record of 24-4