1985 TOPPS DWIGHT GOODEN
I caught some of the Yankees’ Old-Timers Day ceremony over the weekend.
It was not a moment of apostasy– I just like baseball history. And unfortunately, my team has not given me a regular, institutionalized Old-Timers Day since back in the early ’90s. They say it died of 
unpopularity, and out of concern for the dignity of older men who might not want to wear a uniform in middle age or beyond.
But I say that is rubbish.
What I saw during the Yankees’ celebration was pride. Whether it was Jesse Barfield or Bobby Brown or Charlie Hayes or Whitey Ford, these men did not slink out of the dugout when their names were announced, staring down at their feet abashedly. Instead they bounded onto the field with whatever measure of spring they had left in their steps, and they doffed their caps regally to reveal gray, white, or absent hair. They were warmed by the applause of the present day, and heard in it the deep echoes of ancient summers.
Baseball more than any other game we have is about pathos. It is all about the resonance of seeing Dwight Gooden in his current state and thinking back to the promise of the 19-year-old kid on this piece of Topps cardboard. The one with the devastating high heat and the knee-buckling Lord Charles. Our Dr K.
And make no mistake about it, Dwight Gooden is ours. Sure, he donned some late-career pinstripes, and even pitched that galling no-hitter for the Yankees. But Dwight Gooden– both in his glory days and his lesser days– belongs to the New York Mets.
We cannot let the Yankees usurp our history by the simple, passive act of ignoring our history. So here from a small corner of the blogosphere is a call to arms (and bats):
Bring back Mets’ Old-Timers Day!
They’dm love to do it, but a lot of the Dodgers from the 50’s are dead by now, so…
Absolutely bring back old timers day! Imagine the list that could include: Keith Hernandez, Mike Piazza, John Franco, Doc Gooden, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Koosman, Ed Kranepool, Wally Backman, Tim Teufel, Howard Johnson, David Cone, AND Gary Carter (if he’s able to b/c of the chemo). You could go on and on with more great names, but the Mets could trot out quite the array of former Met greats if they choose to. How about a combo old timers day / Gary Carter day to honor The Kid and retire his #8 (which should’ve already been done IMO)? Hey Fred and Jeff, you don’t think you could fill up Citi Field by bringing back many of the teams greats and honor one of the very best?
You are completely correct. Gooden is a Met, and not a Yankee (or Ray, Astro, or Indian). The easiest way to appeal to baseball fans is through history. Why not? Is it too expensive? Too much of a hastle to invite the players and get meals, flights, taxis, whatever? To me, it is an easy decision.