New York Mets: Dwight Gooden in drug trouble yet again

Stop us if you’ve heard this before – former New York Mets star Dwight Gooden is in trouble with the law due to drug usage.

The New York Mets of the late 1980s and early 1990s were an incredibly talented team. Led by young stars Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, along with dependable veterans like Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter, the Mets were one of the better teams of that time.

However, they were only able to capture one World Series title, taking home the crown in 1986. While talented, the Mets were done in by drug and alcohol usage amongst their top players, particularly with Gooden and Strawberry. Their addictions to cocaine, and their injury woes later in their careers, made them unable to truly tap into their immense talent and potential.

For Gooden, sobriety has been a struggle. He has dealt with his addictions since the mid 1980s, with off and on success. Unfortunately, Gooden has fallen back into his previous drug usage, having been arrested on June 7 for cocaine possession.

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Drug and alcohol abuse have been a problem for Gooden throughout most of his life. In 1987, just months after winning the World Series, Gooden tested positive for cocaine during Spring Training, and entered rehab. He was suspended for the entire 1995 season due to drug usage, and in 2006, served time in prison for being high on cocaine during a meeting with his probation officer.

Those drug woes did not end there. After seemingly turning his life around, he was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs, child endangerment, and leaving the scene of an accident when he crashed his car while taking his five year old son to school.

While Gooden had a solid career, one has to wonder what could have been. He was a four time All Star, won the 1984 NL Rookie of the Year award, and was the 1985 NL Cy Young winner. However, all of those accomplishments took place in his first five seasons in the majors. Overall, he finished his 16 year career with a 194-112 record, posting a 3.51 ERA and a 1.256 WHiP, striking out 2293 batters with 954 walks in 2800.2 innings. As good as that career was, it just was not what one expected from the former phenom when he first ascended to the majors.

Former New York Mets star Dwight Gooden has once again been arrested on drug charges. Hopefully, he can find his way to sobriety again.