Remembering Mets History: (1985) Doc Gooden Wins 14 Straight While Reaching the Twenty Win Mark

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Sunday August 25th, 1985: The incredible Cy Young Award season for 20 year old Dwight Gooden reached another mile stone on this day as Gooden earned his 20th win of the season.

Centerfieldmaz, along with 37,350 Mets fans filled Shea Stadium as Davey Johnson's second place Mets (just one game out of first) hosted Dick Williams second place San Diego Padres. The Padres were the Reigning NL Champions at the time.  

It certainly wasn't Gooden's most dominating performance of the year, but it was good enough for win #20. He pitched six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out four while walking one.

Starting Lineups



 The Mets gave him run support in the 1st  inning, Len Dykstra singled, & Keith Hernandez reached on an error. Darryl Strawberry doubled bringing in both runners making it 2-0. Howard Johnson followed with an RBI base hit making it 3-0. Strawberry would add a HR later in the 5th inning & an RBI base hit in the 8th inning.

In the home 7th, the Mets got Keith Hernandez to lead off with a single, Gary Carter doubled & Strawberry walked.

With the bases loaded George Foster singled, bringing in two runs, Rusty Staub singled bringing in a run & Roger McDowell doubled bringing in a run as well. The Mets won it  for Dwight Gooden. Gooden became the first Met since Jerry Koosman in 1976 (eight years prior) to win twenty games.

The win marked 14 straight victories for Dwight Gooden, dating back to May 30th. Along the way he had pitched ten complete games, and had six games with ten or more strike outs. It was truly an amazing stretch for us lucky Mets fans to watch, as pitching at that level doesn't come along too often.

Tuesday August 20th 1985: In his last start, Gooden and the first place Mets (72-45) hosted Jim Davenport's last place San Francisco Giants (45-72). Jim Gott went up against Gooden but it was no contest. Dr. K was certainly on his mark that evening. His fastball was overpowering & his curve just as sharp.

Starting Lineups



In the 1st inning, Gooden gave up a pair of hits, then Chili Davis was caught stealing. Gooden also surrendered two walks but got out of the inning striking out former Mets Joel Youngblood to end the inning.

 In the 2nd & 3rd innings, he struck out two of the three outs both times. In the 4th & the 5th innings, Dr. K struck out the side.  He allowed two more hits but no runs in the 6th & then struck out two more Giants in the 7th inning. The K korner in the left field stands was busy hanging up the K cards that night & the Shea fans stood on every two strike count anticipating the third strike. These were real good times at Shea Stadium.

In the 9th  inning, Doc struck out Bob Brenly to start out the inning. After Jose Uribe grounded out, he struck out Rod Deer for K#16, a season high for Gooden. The 16 strike outs would also match his career high set back in 1984 (another game centerfieldmaz was at). Gooden finished up the seven hit 3-0  shut out. It was yer another gem in his 1985 spectacular season.

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