TAMPA, Fla. – Faced with the likelihood of not making the
Opening Day roster, New York Yankees pitcher Dwight Gooden retired
Friday.
|  | | Yankees manager Joe Torre watches Dwight Gooden announce his retirement Friday. |
Gooden, who signed a minor-league contract in December,
struggled this spring, going 0-1 with a 7.90 ERA in six games. He
finished his career with a 194-112 record and a 3.51 ERA, striking
out 2,293 in 2,800 2/3 innings.
"It's a sad and enjoyable day for myself," Gooden said. "I've
enjoyed a great career. It's been a joyous ride."
The 36-year-old right-hander ends his career six wins short of
200 victories, a goal Gooden set at the start of spring training.
The Yankees appeared poised to fill their open bullpen spots
with Darrell Einertson, Todd Williams and Brian Boehringer, sending
all three for medical tests to make sure they were healthy.
"I said last year this would be the last uniform I would
wear," said Gooden, who had on a Yankees' batting practice shirt
with the No. 17 on the back. "I'm looking forward to starting my
second career: spending time with my kids."
Gooden will remain in the Yankees' organization in an
undetermined role.
Gooden seemed headed for greatness after going 17-9 and winning
the NL Rookie of the Year award in 1984 with the New York Mets. The
following year he became the youngest player – at 20 – to win the
Cy Young Award after going 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA.
After reaching 100 wins at the third-youngest age – 24 years, 7
months, 3 days – in the modern era June 19, 1989, Gooden's career
went downhill.
He hurt his shoulder in 1989 and made trips to the disabled list
three times in a four-year period. He also was suspended for the
1995 season because of drug problems.
"Probably two things I'll remember," said Mel Stottlemyre, who
was Gooden's pitching coach with both the Mets and Yankees. "The
great years we had over there. You have to remember that
organization was struggling. The other thing I'll remember, like
everybody else, what might have been.
"I feel sadness. One of the great things about Doc, he
approached this spring like his first spring."
Gooden signed with the Yankees last June 11 after being released
by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in late May. He went 4-2 in 18 games,
including a 4-2 victory over the Mets at Shea Stadium July 8 in the
opening game of a day-night, two-ballpark doubleheader.
"What a way to finish last year, getting another ring." Gooden
said.
He helped the Yankees win the World Series in 1996 and 2000, and
won a ring with the Mets in 1986. His only no-hitter was for the
Yankees against Seattle on May 14, 1996. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories | |
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Dwight Gooden announces his retirement from baseball. (Courtesy:WFTS)
RealVideo: 28.8
 Dwight Gooden explains why he decided to call it a career.
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