Dwight Gooden’s battle with addiction has not necessarily been private in nature over the past three decades.
Now 54 years old, Gooden’s first bout with addiction came back in 1987 when he tested positive for cocaine. Then a member of the New York Mets and one of the best young pitchers in the game, Gooden was forced into rehab by MLB.
It didn’t stop there. He was suspended the entire 1995 season for cocaine and has been in and out of jail since retiring back in 2000.
The former Cy Young is in hot water with the law again. Gooden was arrested last month in New Jersey for possession of cocaine and driving under the influence.
“The retired pitcher, best known as “Doc,” was arrested June 7 by Holmdel police, who pulled him over just before 1 a.m. and allegedly found him with “two small green zip-lock style plastic baggies containing suspected cocaine,” according to a criminal complaint filed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office,” the NY Post reported on Friday.
Gooden played 16 seasons in the majors, earning the Cy Young back in 1985 while posting a 24-4 record with a 1.53 ERA. It’s considered one of the best statistical seasons for a pitcher in the modern era.
The hope here and as it’s been over the past 30 years is that Gooden gets the help he needs. Maybe this will provide him with a wake-up call.