Dwight Gooden never would’ve admitted it at the time. He knows Paul Skenes probably won’t admit it now — four decades after Gooden’s dazzling rookie year in 1984 and the encore that ended with a Cy Young Award in 1985 — as the Pirates’ ace, either.
But Gooden knew his starts carried extra weight. In front of sold-out crowds at Shea Stadium or road venues, he recognized — heck, embraced even — that fans bought tickets to see him.
To watch him strike out 10 or more hitters. To throw a complete game. To record a shutout. Once everyone started taking a 19-year-old rookie seriously, Gooden’s outings turned into must-watch events.
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