On this day, Dwight Gooden, one of baseball’s most electrifying pitchers, was born in Tampa, Florida. Known as “Doc” or “Dr. K,” Gooden made history in 1984 when he became the youngest player ever to be named National League Rookie of the Year at just 19 years old. He was also the youngest pitcher selected for an All-Star Game and, in 1985, became the youngest winner of the Cy Young Award, dominating the league with a 1.53 ERA and 268 strikeouts.
Gooden’s early career helped define the success of the New York Mets in the 1980s and inspired a generation of young Black athletes in America’s pastime.
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