More From Jon Heyman You had to be around back then to believe it. Dwight Doc Gooden was one of those pitching prodigies that comes along about once every half century, if that. Today we celebrate phenoms like Jackson Chourio and Jackson Holliday who accomplish the almost unthinkable feat of making the major leagues at age 20. By age 20, Gooden, having already led the league in strikeouts with 276 as a teenager, rose to become the best player in the bigs. Those alive back then knew it anyway, but to be sure, I checked. Gooden whose Mets No. 16 topped the majors at age 20 in 1985 with a 9.7 WAR, tied with Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson. He was 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA. He was a phenomenon the likes of which this town had never seen. Or probably ever will see. Dwight Gooden, pictured Sunday during his number retirement ceremony, was a dominant pitcher with the Mets. Carlos Toro for the NY Post Youd probably have to go back 70-plus years to find a 20-year-old in New York who was even a great All-Star (Mickey Mantle was, in 1952). At 20 Gooden was Cy Young, unanimously. Doc dominated like no 20-year-old. He wasnt merely an Sean Doolittle Jersey All-Star. He was all-time great. Whats more, his outings were an event. Gooden games were must-see. See Also Goodens former rotation mate and current SNY and MLBN broadcaster Ron Darling recalled that in those days as the Mets second pitcher a distant second, Darling said, honestly he charted the previous nights pitcher. And that Gooden was so off-the-charts good that it bore no relation to anything he was about to do. The only thing I can compare it to is like in Little League, occasionally you get the kid thats almost shaving, thats better than everyone else, that strikes everyone out. Thats what he was like, Darling recalled. He was just bigger, stronger, better. No one had a chance. The other thing that was different was the time. When Gooden made the majors at 19, even the Mets front office planned the usual Cla s-A to Double-A to Triple-A progre sion until the spring of 1984 when savant-like manager Davey Johnson told general manager Joe McIlvaine the kid was ready. Dwight Goodens No. 16 was retired by the Mets on Sunday. Carlos Toro for the NY Post Gooden treated Cla s-A hitters the year before like toddlers, whiffing exactly 300. But it wasnt like it is now when media members are dedicated to minors and even amateurs. And honestly, the teams sometimes didnt know what they had. Nobody knew about Dwight Gooden until he made the team, Darling recalled. There was an innocence about ballplayers then. Players came out of the cornfields. They came out of Tampa. They could be 19 years old. See Also At least Doc could anyway. Darling didnt recall other baseball players who compared, but instead conjured Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby Orr. When they did give him his shot, it was quickly clear Gooden needed another league. He was that good. Those first two years are the best first two years anyones ever had, Darling said. Which bring us, sadly, to what happened next. And give Gooden credit. He faces up to it. He was the first to bring up the off the field stuff that diverted him from the Hall of Fame and career all-time great status. And give him this, too. He deals with the lo s as best anyone could. When I asked if he thinks about what might have been, he recalled that playing on the Tampa sandlots with his nephew Gary Sheffield, they didnt think like that. Gooden recalled they dreamt of making it to the majors, of having a nice career and maybe winning a World Series. Dwight Gooden was an all-time great pitcher for the Mets, whose outings were events. Carlos Toro for the NY Post Regrets are for fans. Gooden mi sed the 1986 World Series parade because he was on a bender, not that anyone knew the reason at the time. He was addicted. Soon he was in and out of Smithers. Eventually, he was arrested multiple times. Hes in a good place now, which makes everyone who knows him happy, and relieved. He lives a middle-cla s life in Glen Cove, L.I. By all accounts hes a great family man with seven kids and eight grandkids. Hes sober today. Hes a guy whos been to the mountaintop and spent many a night at the nadir of the valley. But today, hes comfortable and content as a regular suburban dad, rich only in memories. He made it through that wild youth, which might be among his biggest accomplishments. The 1980s were a crazy time, teammates recall. Both he and Darryl Strawberry are lovely guys . They arent Hall of Famers, but they memorably made their mark. Gooden said he forgave himself for mi sing the parade. And very likely, everything else. If anyone is disappointed, it isnt Gooden. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! These are expectations that other have Ive gotta be thankful for the things I did accomplish. I cant worry about things that didnt happen, Gooden said in answer to my question about what might have been. Not to blow smoke, but I won just about every award a pitcher can win, he said. I won the World Series with both New York teams, [had] my number retired got inducted into the Negro League Hall of Fame. I have a lot to be thankful for. And with that, folks applauded. Gooden days never did disappoint. Steve Cishek Jersey