Over the years of New York Mets baseball, the team has fielded many players that could’ve had their numbers retired years ago. After the Mets retired Tom Seaver’s number in 1988, Shea Stadium would not see another Mets player’s number placed on the wall for the remainder of its run. The stadium would close its doors for Citi Field after the 2008 season. It took until 2016 for the Mets to finally retire another legend’s number in the form of Mike Piazza. Jerry Koosman would also get his number retired in 2021. He was supposed to have his ceremony in 2020, but the Covid pandemic postponed it to the following season. Now, two more Mets legends will have their day next year. And it’s a long time coming.
Mets To Enshrine Two Legends
Ever since owner Steve Cohen took over the team in 2021, he’s made it a point to honor Mets history. Last year, he retired the numbers of Keith Hernandez and Willie Mays. On Thursday, Cohen and the Mets announced that two 1986 World Champion Mets members will join them. Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden.
No. 16 and No. 18: Forever enshrined in Mets history.
Next season, we will retire Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry’s numbers. pic.twitter.com/WvgZ0SuxvA
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 24, 2023
Doctor K dominated the ‘80s.
Next year, his number 1️⃣6️⃣ will forever be immortalized in our history. pic.twitter.com/fteq7ohrgI
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 24, 2023
No one had a sweeter swing than Straw.
Next season, his number 1️⃣8️⃣ comes home for good. pic.twitter.com/KPx8ReruE4
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 24, 2023
Strawberry and Gooden will join Koosman, Mays, Hernandez, and Piazza as the only players in Mets history to have their numbers retired. The other numbers in the rafters are managers Casey Stengel and Gil Hodges, as well as Jackie Robinson’s #42. The duo was critical in the Mets’ run to the 1986 title and New York’s overall success in the 1980s, which is still the golden age of Mets baseball. Ever so talented, yet so polarizing and controversial.
Dwight Gooden
In the 1960’s and 1970’s it was Tom Seaver. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw Al Leiter. 2010’s saw Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom. In the 1980’s, there was nothing like Dwight Gooden Day in Queens. The Shea faithful saw performances they’d never forget when the doctor was in the house, especially in his prime. Gooden took home Rookie of the Year in 1984 and the Cy Young in 1985. In 1986, he pitched a complete game against the Chicago Cubs to clinch the National League East for the Mets. He even went toe-to-toe with Nolan Ryan in Game 5 of the 1986 NLCS. Doc went ten innings in a Mets 2-1 win. 1984-1988, Gooden won 91 games and struck out 1,067 batters with an ERA of 2.62. He made the All-Star team four times.
Unfortunately, Gooden’s career was mired by problems with drugs, alcohol, and numerous arrests. Talent-wise, Gooden is one of the most gifted pitchers the league has ever seen. His career was on the fast track to Cooperstown, but his demons got in the way. Gooden knows that to this day. Gooden is 2nd on the all-time Mets WAR leaders for pitchers, 8th in ERA, 2nd in wins, and 2nd in strikeouts.
Darryl Strawberry
Like Doc, Strawberry set the world on fire as a rookie in 1983, winning the Rookie of the Year award. From there, he would be one of the most dominant hitters of the 1980s. He smashed 215 home runs and drove in 625 RBI in the decade while slugging .520 in the process and making the All-Star team six times. In the 1986 NLCS, he hit a home run in games 3 and 5, contributing to Mets victories. In game 7 of the 1986 World Series, Strawberry hit a towering home run that would seal the Mets’ second World Series crown; however, like with Gooden, Strawberry’s demons got in the way.
Strawberry would battle drug and alcohol problems as well as numerous legal troubles. A career that could’ve been on the way to being one of the best hitters ever was sadly derailed. Like Gooden, Strawberry knows that. Strawberry is 2nd among Mets position players in WAR and 2nd in offensive WAR. He is 3rd in slugging percentage, 2nd in RBI, and is the Mets all-time home runs leader.
Main Photo Credits: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
