Honored by the New York Mets with the retirement of his No. 16 on Sunday, Dwight Gooden, a four-time All-Star, told the adoring crowd that 'to be able to speak to you guys and share the history all through his life -- that's the most important thing.
with the retirement of his No. 16 on Sunday, the four-time All-Star recounted how his career in Queens was cut short by drugs and alcohol, forcing him to sign across town ahead of the 1996 season.
"I'm always a Met. I'm not saying nothing. I'm always a Met. I'm always a Met," he said, prompting cheers. The ceremony began with rapper Chuck D., whose actual name is Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, narrating a montage that ended with Gooden watching and nodding in an empty Citi Field. Gooden entered through a"K Korner" outside the home dugout, a nod to how fans at Shea Stadium hung Ks for each strikeout.
"The moral of the story is everything's about timing," Gooden said as a light rain fell during his three-minute speech."Now, today, the time is right. My health is good, my mental health is good and today I get to retire as a Met. And I want all you guys to know, you guys are part of this. Thank you so much."
"Everything was compared to what I did in '85 because I set the bar so high," Gooden said during a morning news conference."The things I did on the field, I've always had a chance," Gooden said."But unfortunately, the struggles I had off the field, I thought it diminished that, it probably wouldn't happen."
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