This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/23/2019
Few big leaguers began their careers with as much punch as Dwight "Doc" Gooden. The flame-throwing right-hander burst upon the scene at 19 years of age with the New York Mets and was dominant from the start. After claiming Rookie of the Year honors in 1984 with 17 wins and 276 K's in just 218 innings pitched, Doc stepped it up to the tune of a 24-4 record and a minuscule 1.53 ERA in '85 to win the NL Cy Young going away. He got his first taste of champagne glory in 1986 when the Mets defeated the Red Sox in the World Series.
Ten years later after a slew of off-the-field issues, Gooden made a valiant comeback with the cross-town Yankees and got second taste wearing pinstripes. On May 14th of that 1996 campaign, Doc took the hill at Yankee Stadium and threw a No-Hiitter in front of the Bronx faithful. He struck out five and walked six, but no Seattle Mariners -- not Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez or Alex Rodriguez -- were able to get a base knock off Doc that evening. The Yanks won the game 2-0 and would go on to beat the Braves in the Fall Classic later that year.
This offered OAL (Budig) baseball was used in that memorable game. The evenly soiled ball showing appropriate usage is signed by Gooden on a side panel with the following notation: "Ball used in No Hitter 5-14-96 2-0 vs Mariners." The autograph and inscription, which appears to be done entirely in Doc's hand, is done in 8-9/10 blue ballpoint. Includes full LOA from Beckett.