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Part 6: Dwight Gooden on Winning the World Series, Missed the Parade to Get High in the Projects
Part 4: Dwight Gooden on Thinking Darryl Strawberry Was Jealous of Him, Developing Drinking Problem
Part 1: Dwight Gooden on His Mom Tracking Down & Shooting Sister's Shooter, Shot Dad for Cheating
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Dwight "Doc" Gooden quickly rose to stardom in Major League Baseball, clinching awards like the National League Rookie of the Year and MLB strikeout leader in his debut year. Speaking to Vlad, Gooden recalled his swift ascent and the overwhelming media attention. Despite tremendous success and lucrative endorsements, including Polaroid and Kellogg’s, Gooden grappled with the pressures of fame.
At just 20, he was shy and preferred the simple comforts of home over the limelight. This aversion to attention led him to decline high-profile offers, including hosting "Saturday Night Live." Gooden's personal life, however, took a darker turn. He fell into substance abuse, reminiscing how his cousin was a drug dealer and pimp. Gooden recounted visiting his cousin's house, where women using cocaine offered him the drug. That initial experience led to a deep addiction, which marred his illustrious baseball career.