CARY, NC – It’s hot down here in “The Triangle” (that’s what the locals call area consisting of Raleigh, Durham and Cary. And it was in here when Jackson Sternberg ranked what he considers to be the Greatest Pitcher Ever. He listed five choices and others followed suit, slammed their tables and/or condemned Mr. Sternberg to the Cuckoo’s Nest. And yet, in the Fog of War – (or is that the Canadian Fire smoke?), nobody gave Dwight “Doc” Gooden any mention! I’m here to make the case he should have made the cut.
WHAT’S UP, DOC?
Always sneak a Bugs Bunny reference in when you can, folks. Always. Even if it technically doesn’t fit, like this one. Anyway, there are pitchers with better career numbers than Dwight Gooden. There are pitchers with longer careers, more wins, and more Cy Young Awards. But if the debate is about sheer dominance at a pitcher’s peak, Doctor K belongs in any discussion of baseball’s five most overpowering arms.
Gooden’s case starts with what he accomplished before most pitchers are even established in the big leagues. At 19, he struck out 276 hitters as a rookie. At 20, he authored one of the greatest seasons in baseball history: a 24-4 record, a microscopic 1.53 ERA, 268 strikeouts, 16 complete games and 8 shutouts. In an era when pitchers routinely worked deep into games, Gooden still stood apart. Every fifth day, he wasn’t just expected to win – he was expected to overwhelm.
His combination of a blazing fastball and perhaps the nastiest overhand curveball of his generation made hitters look helpless. In baseball vernacular, a curveball is called an Uncle Charlie. Gooden’s was so good it was called Lord Charles. Veterans who had faced Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Steve Carlton often said Gooden’s stuff was as intimidating as anyone’s. The eye test matched the numbers. He didn’t merely beat teams; he buried them.
From 1984 through 1986, Doc went 58-16 with a 2.00 ERA while averaging nearly 260 innings and 259 strikeouts per season. That three-year stretch compares favorably with the greatest peaks ever produced by Sandy Koufax, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Bob Gibson, and Greg Maddux.
Granted, Gooden’s career was shortened by injuries and a coke addiction. These facts make for fair arguments when discussing overall greatness or Hall of Fame credentials. But dominance is different from longevity. Peak performance should stand on its own.
Think of it this way: if you needed one pitcher to start one game at the absolute height of his powers, Gooden belongs on the shortest of short lists. His electric stuff, incredible command, and ability to finish what he started made him baseball’s most feared pitcher for a remarkable stretch.
The conversation about the most dominant pitchers in MLB history often begins with Koufax, Martinez, Johnson, and Gibson. Dwight Gooden deserves the fifth seat at that table. And it wasn’t because of what might have been. It was because Doc was undeniably one of the most unhittable pitchers the game has ever seen.
That’s it for me. Feel free to comment below and come back tomorrow for Jacob Sternberg.
