Dwight Gooden, the final link to the 1986 World Series champion Mets and the franchise's glory days of the 1980's, was suspended for 60 days without pay by Major League Baseball yesterday for a second violation of the commissioner's drug policy.
According to a highly placed person in Major League Baseball, Gooden failed two random drug tests that were administered as a part of the aftercare program in which he had been enrolled since his first drug -related suspension from baseball, in 1987. At that time, Gooden underwent treatment at the Smithers Center in New York City for cocaine abuse.
The darling of the organization after he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1984 and the Cy Young as the league's best pitcher in 1985, Gooden returned from his rehabilitation in midseason 1987. For seven years, he had passed random drug tests administered by the commissioner's office.
He had also rebuilt his reputation both on and off the baseball field and, despite injuries and a subpar pitching record the past few seasons, was widely considered to be the heart and soul of the Mets.
"He breathed life into this organization," said Joe McIlvaine, who was serving his first stint as the Mets' general manager when Gooden was suspended in 1987. "At that time -- the early 80's, '81, '82, '83 -- the Mets were a last-place outfit. He gave us credibility. He gave us flair."
Baseball has been working without a drug agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association since 1985. But in accordance with the commissioner's drug policy, Gooden, 29, will be examined this week by Dr. Robert Millman, who represents the clubs, and Dr. Joel Solomon, who represents the Players Association, and they will decide whether further rehabilitation is necessary. The two physicians have administered Gooden's aftercare program in conjunction with Dr. Alan Lans, the Mets' club psychiatrist.
Gooden was not present at Shea Stadium last night when the Mets played the St. Louis Cardinals. In a statement released by the team, he said: "I have been suspended for breaking the rules of my aftercare program. I'm truly sorry it happened. I want to apologize to the club, my teammates, and the people of New York City. I want to thank everyone for their past support.
"I will be back stronger and better. I want to earn your respect back."
Gooden's teammates, members of the Mets' organization, his friends and even his father, Dan Gooden, said yesterday that they had seen no signs of a relapse and were stunned by the news. Doctors involved with the case and lawyers representing both the Players Association and the owners' Player Relations Committee met last Thursday to discuss Gooden's status. McIlvaine, the Mets' general manager, confirmed yesterday that the Mets' organization had been informed as long as 10 days ago that Gooden was under investigation by the commissioner's office.
It is not known how long Gooden has been aware of the investigation, although he did speak to McIlvaine by telephone on Monday afternoon and acknowledged at that time that he knew a suspension was imminent. Gooden later dressed in his uniform and sat on the bench with his teammates to watch the Mets' 9-8 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Account From Sheffield
Several executives in baseball with knowledge of Gooden's situation, who insisted on anonymity, contended that Gooden had failed drug tests. But several people who have spoken with Gooden said the pitcher has said he had merely missed tests, which also would be a violation of his aftercare program. One executive who spoke with Gooden in recent days said the pitcher appeared to be in denial about his substance abuse, a characterization that was somewhat supported by Gary Sheffield, Gooden's nephew and an outfielder for the Florida Marlins, who spoke to Gooden yesterday afternoon.
Speaking to reporters before Florida's game at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium, Sheffield said that Gooden was not fazed by the suspension and had insisted to him that it had been for missing, not failing, drug tests. "I'm sure he'll be all right," Sheffield said. "As long as it's not drugs, everything will be fine. The main thing I was concerned with is his health. And once I knew it was not drugs, it made everything O.K."
Although a 60-day suspension without pay is automatically given to any player who has a second violation of the drug policy, Gene Orza, associate counsel of the Players Association, said yeterday that Gooden could appeal and ask instead that he be treated as a first-time offender because of the extensive time lapse between the first and second incidents. Orza said that the union would talk to Gooden before deciding whether to file a grievance.
Gooden, whose suspension began yesterday, stands to lose $1,213,115 if the suspension is upheld.
Gooden is the second player to take time off this season for drug -related problems. Darryl Strawberry, Gooden's friend and former Mets teammate, revealed in early April that he was suffering from a substance-abuse problem and subsequently enrolled in the Betty Ford Clinic in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was treated there from April 8 to May 4, but was let go thereafter by his team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. He recently signed with the San Francisco Giants.
It was the second rehabilitation for Strawberry, who like Gooden had spent time at Smithers. When speaking of Strawberry's relapse in early April, Gooden openly acknowledged that he still was challenged each and every day by the temptation of drugs and, at the time, he expressed great relief that he had avoided succumbing to those temptations for seven years.
"The big test is when you're out and you've got to face the world," Gooden said on April 5. "I think you have to surround yourself with friends and family. Your old friends -- the people you were with when you were doing whatever you were doing -- you have to change your relationship with them, maybe not go over to their house, whatever."
"Every day, myself, I still don't take it for granted," Gooden continued. "I'm still aware of it every day. What helps keep me strong is knowing no good came out of it in my life. When you go through difficult times, get down for whatever reasons, temptations come in. But somewhere you've got to find the balance in your life. Forget baseball, you have to find it in your life."
And Gooden appeared to have found that balance, at least in the eyes of those who were close to him. When reached at his home in St. Petersburg, Fla., early yesterday evening, Dan Gooden, Dwight's father, said he was "shocked" to learn that his son was having any sort of problem with drugs.
Anthony Young, formerly a Met and now with the Chicago Cubs, said in a phone call from the Wrigley Field clubhouse that he had spoken to Gooden two days earlier and that he "can't believe it."
"I need to find out the truth," said Young. "Everything was fine. There were no signs. None."
In the final year of a five-year contract, Gooden had been frustrated by an injury to his big right toe that forced him to miss more than five weeks of action in a season in which he was trying desperately to make a comeback. With a combined record of 22-28 in the past two seasons, Gooden had hoped to re-establish his prominence in the Mets' rotation, as well as his stature as a player whom the Mets would want to re-sign to another big contract. His agent, Jim Neader, had asked for close to $6 million per season during initial contract talks with the Mets this spring.
Now, Gooden likely will not pitch for the Mets again this season -- McIlvaine hinted at as much in his news conference yesterday -- and, realistically, could have made his last appearance in a Mets uniform.
"It's sad, more than anything," said John Franco, one of Gooden's teammates. "I think what we all want is for him to get himself together and get well. Everybody makes mistakes. We're all human beings. All we can do is pray for him."
