Mets Video Vault: Doc's Debut vs. Astros

On April 7, 1984, the phenomenon began. Dwight Gooden, less than two years out of high school and coming off a 300-strikeout season in the minors the previous year, made his first major league appearance as the starting pitcher against Houston.

The Mets and manager Davey Johnson eased the 19-year-old Gooden into the spotlight by having his initial entrance come in a rather subdued environment like the Astrodome. The WOR-TV broadcast acknowledged the importance of this occasion, even interviewing his parents (who were in attendance) as part of the pre-game. Still, nobody could anticipate what was to come that year (or next).

Here are some highlights to look for:

Enjoy the instrumental version of the ’80s “Meet the Mets” beginning at 1:13.
The Astros’ “Tequila Sunrise” uniforms…need I say more?
Also, the Mets’ 1983-84 blue alternates.
Doc’s initial inning goes very smoothly, getting a pair of groundouts to second base followed by a strikeout of Dickie Thon.
The Mets offense offers up some run support in the top of the second, courtesy of the franchise’s other phenom — Darryl Strawberry. Still less than a year into his major league career, Straw takes a Bob Knepper pitch to the deepest part of the ballpark at the 19:21 mark.
Gooden encounters his biggest trouble in the fifth. A one-out single is later followed with a two-out walk and base hit, which plates the first (and only) Houston run. Doc prevents further damage, ending his debut at 1:19:19 on a deep fly ball by Terry Puhl into the glove of Mookie Wilson in center field.
Gooden’s final line on the evening: five innings, one run, three hits, two walks, and five K’s.
After relievers Dick Tidrow and Doug Sisk work one inning apiece, Jesse Orosco goes two innings to preserve Gooden’s victory (at 2:36:18) some two-and-a-half years before the biggest (and most exhausting) appearance of his career on the very same mound.