Gooden's career had been left for dead, but a second chance gave him both new life and one of the most memorable 1996 Yankees moments.
Background
Few pitchers in New York sports have ever exhilarated fans quite like Dwight Gooden. The fifth overall pick in the 1982 MLB Draft out of Hillsborough High School in Tampa, he was likely the greatest pitcher drafted by the Mets in franchise history. Gooden came to the Mets gift-wrapped with a right arm capable of spinning off devastating curveballs, which paired nicely with his high-90s fastball to absolutely baffle hitters.