As far as modern rookie seasons go, you won’t find much better than what Dwight Gooden did for the 1984 New York Mets. At just 19-years-old, Gooden went 17-9 with a 2.60 ERA. He helped shift the narrative about the organization. Only two years after his debut, he was part of a championship squad.
Although Gooden’s signature season came in 1985 as a sophomore, his rookie season included plenty of awesome accomplishments. On August 22, 1984, Gooden reached one of those milestones.
In a 5-2 Mets victory against the San Diego Padres in Southern California, Gooden recorded his 200th strikeout of the season.