From Queens to the Bronx: Dwight Gooden on Fame and NY Baseball

In the late ‘80s, Dwight Gooden sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball. A 19-year-old phenom, “Doc” was dripping with swagger and had the numbers to back it up. As a hard-throwing rookie and the youngest Cy Young Award winner in MLB history at the time, he was a cornerstone of the ’86 Mets, one of the most colorful and memorable World Series championship teams of modern times.

After a series of injuries and setbacks, Doc found himself back on the MLB world stage—this time, with the Yankees. By then he evolved from young fireballer to crafty veteran, taking home a second championship ring in 1996.

The ’47 Subway Series Collection channels both of those New York championship teams. Having played a defining role for both clubs, Dwight was a natural choice to represent the drop.

This spring, we met with Gooden at a studio in Brooklyn, where he reflected on his early meteoric rise, the Mets’ golden years, and his later run with the Yankees.

’47: 

Take us back to 1986, New York City. You had a very historic start to your career. You were a huge contributor in the Mets being a force – the best team in the baseball world.  

Can you describe what the energy was like in the clubhouse when the Mets were rolling? 

Dwight Gooden: 

Oh, it was incredible. We had chemistry. We held each other accountable. And the thing was, you know, the year before in ’85, we won 98 games and still got sent home. But we knew man-to-man that the next year, ’86, was gonna be our year.   

We had guys like Kevin Mitchell, Danny Heep, Tim Teufel, Wally Backman – guys that could have been starters for other teams, but everybody put their egos aside for one common goal. And that was to win a championship.  

A lot of people say we were cocky. I think it was more confidence, but we were cocky. I mean, we didn’t like nobody, we didn’t fraternize with anybody. It was just our team or no team, and the fans played a big part. The fans that were at Shea Stadium; the energy and the excitement they brought to the stadium? Us as players, that’s what we fed off of.  

And it continued even on the road. Let’s say we went to Chicago, right? A 25-man roster, we all meet up downstairs and go out to eat. We all went out, hit the town, and we just hung out in a group – just tight-knit. We didn’t always get along, but we kept everything in-house and we had a lot of respect for each other. And it was just a great team. It was like your neighborhood friends going out for a pickup softball game. That’s how close we were.  

‘47: 

You mention the team feeding off the energy of the city. Can you describe a little bit about what that was like? You guys were the kings of New York that year… 

DG:  

It was great. Anywhere you go, people knew you. There’s a place in Long Island – it was called Finn MacCools. We used to call it “team meetings.” After games, we would go there and hang out with the fans; everybody was so close. 

The fans were so hungry for something, and we wanted to give that to them. Because we came so close in ’84 and ’85 and the fans deserved it. It had been a while since ’69 when they won a World Series.  

So, it was just a lot of fun and the only thing we didn’t get credit for: Our team; we had a lot of baseball knowledge. They say we were crazy - we were party animals and this and that. Most of it was true, but we did have a lot of baseball knowledge that we didn’t get credit for. And we loved each other; we loved our fans. 

’47: 

You were just 21 years old in 1986 when you stepped to the mound in the World Series, carrying the hopes and dreams of a hungry fan base and a city. There must have been an immense amount of pressure on you.  

DG: 

I went from Rookie of the Year ’84 to ’86 I’m pitching the World Series. I’m 21 years old, three years removed from high school, living a dream. Everything depends on, “If Doc Gooden pitches well, we win.”  

So, I was the ace of the staff but also the youngest player on the team. I accepted the pressure, and was lucky to have a catcher like Gary Carter who brought the best out of me and wouldn’t settle for anything less. And we had batters on the team like Keith Hernandez, Ray Knight - guys who held us accountable and you knew those guys had your back. 

We knew that pitching was the missing piece. So, our staff accepted the challenge. And now this year we get to celebrate the 40th anniversary, so I’m really looking forward to seeing those guys, celebrating with them and the fans, and the whole organization. 

 ’47:  

In your mind, what was the biggest difference that you can think of between the ’World Series champion ‘86 Mets and your other World Series championship team, the ’96 Yankees? What were some of the starkest differences between those teams?

DG: 

I think the biggest difference was that there was only voice [that mattered] with the Yankees and that was Mr. Steinbrenner. Great guy. He was tough, but he always put you in the best situation to succeed. He cared about you, cared about your family, cared about all that. He wanted to win, yes, and if you weren’t winning, you wouldn’t have to hear from anybody else. He’ll let you know.  

Another big difference was, with the Mets, if you were the starting pitcher that day, you got to listen to any music you wanted to throughout the clubhouse. With the Yankees, there was no loud music. With the Mets, you ate McDonald’s, Burger King. The Yankees? No fast food.  

With the Yankees, when you traveled, you wore a sports coat and a tie. With the Mets, for night games, you just wore a sports coat or if it was real late, you just wore a nice button-up shirt. With the Mets, the main thing was, they were trying to stay healthy and get to the playoffs. With the Yankees, it was “Win the World Series,” or it was a failure.  

So they were very different, but I loved getting the opportunity to win with both organizations and get to share with both the fans in the Bronx and the fans in Queens. I definitely don’t take anything for granted. I will always feel like a Met at heart but I definitely appreciate what the Yankees did for me and my family as well.  

’47:  

Between the Mets and Yankees, which team is more “New York?”  

DG: 

I think right now, today, probably the Yankees. In the eighties, it was definitely the Mets. In the nineties, it was the Yankees. It goes back and forth but I think it’s great when both New York teams are playing well and winning. I love that the Subway Series is coming up on the 15th of this month. It’ll be a lot of fun, and I think the fans look forward to that.   

’47: 

The Subway Series has so much history. What do you think the Subway Series means to the people of New York and to the players and alumni?  

DG: 

It’s a lot of fun. You know, players always say, “It’s no big deal. It’s just another game.”  They’re just trying to downplay it, but don’t let them fool you. It’s a big deal to the players, a big deal to the front office, on both sides and everybody. You want to win those games for bragging rights, and the fans are great.  

In my household, I have seven kids. My older kids saw me with the Mets and my younger kids saw me with the Yankees so they go at it, they love it, and I love it. You know, I like watching it, just for bragging rights.