Remembering Mets History: (1984) Dwight Gooden Sets Rookie Record For Most Strikeouts In a Season

Davey Johnson's Mets (81-65) had had a spectacular year, the first winning season for the franchise since 1976. Among the highlights was Rookie phenom; Dwight Gooden. The Mets would finish second that year & were not mathematically out of the pennant race yeT.
But being seven games out with 16 left to play,
pretty much eliminated, hence the small crowd. Personally, after being on hand for so many of Gooden's games that season, I had to be at this one.
Gooden went up against John Tudor & Chuck Tanner's sixth place Pittsburgh Pirates (63-83).
Starting Lineups
1 | Marvell Wynne | CF |
2 | Lee Lacy | LF |
3 | Johnny Ray | 2B |
4 | Jason Thompson | 1B |
5 | Tony Pena | C |
6 | Jim Morrison | 3B |
7 | Doug Frobel | RF |
8 | Denny Gonzalez | SS |
9 | John Tudor | P |
1 | Mookie Wilson | CF |
2 | Kelvin Chapman | 2B |
3 | Keith Hernandez | 1B |
4 | George Foster | LF |
5 | Hubie Brooks | SS |
6 | Darryl Strawberry | RF |
7 | Ray Knight | 3B |
8 | Mike Fitzgerald | C |
9 | Dwight Gooden |

No one had a chance. The ball could be heard popping in catcher; Mike Fitzgerald's glove through out Shea Stadium.
In the 4th inning, Keith Hernandez led off with a single. Hubie Brooks then hit a two run HR, it was all Gooden & the Mets needed that night. Everyone just sat back & watched Dr. K go to work.
The 16 strike outs would break Nolan Ryan's club record of 14 strike outs for a rookie set in 1968.
On the season he would strike out out ten or more batters in a game 14 times, breaking Tom Seaver's record set in 1971.
Also Goodens 16 Ks were the most for a Mets pitcher in the last ten years.
After Gooden broke the record set by Herb Score, Score who was an Indian's broadcaster atthe time, appeared on the Diamond Vision saying: ''Congratulations. You're a fine looking young pitcher, and I wish you a great deal of success for many years to come.''
Darryl Strawberry: ''He's going to be one of the overpowering pitchers in the game. It's most unusual to see a 19-year-old come up here and set records. He should win rookie of the year hands up. I can't see anybody close to him. But I don't think he's going to get excited by any of this. He doesn't get excited about anything.''
Gooden went on to win the 1984 Rookie of the Year Aard, leading the NL in strike outs (276) going 17-9 with three shut outs, seven complete games & a 2.60 ERA (2nd in the NL).
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