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Part 4: Dwight Gooden on Thinking Darryl Strawberry Was Jealous of Him, Developing Drinking Problem
Part 2: Legendary Pitcher Dwight Gooden on Why a Kid Shouldn't Be Taught How to Throw a Curve Ball
Part 1: Dwight Gooden on His Mom Tracking Down & Shooting Sister's Shooter, Shot Dad for Cheating
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Dwight "Doc" Gooden reminisced about his early baseball career, notably his signing with the New York Mets for $40,000 right out of high school. Gooden initially faced challenges in making his high school team but eventually excelled, catching the eye of scouts. By his junior year, he impressed enough to land on the Mets' radar, leading to his draft as the fifth overall pick after his senior year. Despite a scholarship offer from the University of Miami, Gooden chose to help his financially struggling family by signing with the Mets. His $80,000 signing bonus enabled him to buy his mom a house and his dad a car – treasured moments for the young athlete. Reflecting on today's terms, Gooden acknowledged that a similar draft position now would likely net around $4 million, a stark contrast to his own experience.
