The two have been linked since they first entered the majors.īoth were selected by the Mets in the first round of their respective drafts - Strawberry No.1 overall in 1980 and Gooden fifth overall in 1982. "Doc & Darryl," which debuted on ESPN last month, featured the two talking in depth about their rise to stardom as the Mets won the 1986 World Series, and then their downward spirals as each battled addictions. We, as a family, are currently planning his best course of action and thank you all for your concern, messages and prayers." He has been planning on taking a break from the spotlight to rest and regroup and address his health. Between this and our father's work schedule he has been under an extraordinary amount of stress, pressure and above all sadness. She was the leader of our family and things will never be the same without her. With our Grandmothers diminishing health and her passing last month, the stress and sadness that this brought us has been unthinkable. issued a statement about his father's health to the Daily News on Sunday night that read, in part: "This has been a very hard year for our entire family. Gooden, after Strawberry and others expressed concern for him following his no-show at last week's event, sent a text to the Daily News that read: "I am fine, just finishing up some minor health issues."ĭwight Gooden Jr. I feel like I've got to get it out there because nobody else is doing anything to help him, and it might be the only way to stop him." "The condition Doc is in, it's bad, it's horrible. His son called me to beg me to help his dad before he dies. "He thinks he can manipulate and BS his way through everything.
"I've been trying behind the scenes to talk to him and get him to go for help, but he won't listen. "He's a complete junkie-addict," Strawberry told the New York Daily News about Gooden. The duo, who were the subject of ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary "Doc & Darryl," were recently scheduled to make a joint public appearance, but Gooden was a no-show. Strawberry believes Gooden has relapsed into the drug use that derailed his playing career.
You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browserĭarryl Strawberry on Dwight Gooden: 'Have to try something before he's dead'ĭarryl Strawberry is trying to save 1986 New York Mets teammate Dwight Gooden before it's too late.