The Never Weres - Dr. K

[jsunac1]

Gooden's 1985 season has to rank in the top 5-10 for a pitcher in history. I know its the best that i've followed since I started following b-ball in the early 80's. I would have hoped a better career for him, but I realize that being a 20 year old millionaire in New York City in the 1980's with thousands of women wanting to suck your dick and cocaine everywhere and being famous and so forth was probably too much to handle. He still had a good career though. He was my favorite player for 5-6 yrs

[obiwanobiwan13]

Hey, I wouldn't call him a never was.  A ring, 2000+ K's, arguably one of the best streaks for a pitcher from '84-'88, and a reputation as one of the faster fastballers and one of the 80's best pitchers.

He screwed up off the diamond- he and Straw were just Kids, with huge fame and great deeds on the diamond in New York City- they were vulnerable to theat kind off corruption. But he chose prison over parole a while ago for an offense, stating he wanted to change. That shows some character.

[ChrisinEC]

You can dis Doc K for his mistakes but not what he did on the diamond. The dude was unhittable in '84, went through major problems, battled demons and came back and pitched a no-hitter in the house that Ruth built.

Yes, he had the talent to be much much greater but I'd put his first 2 years against just about anybody's and they would hold their own. Nuff said!

[supashak80]

It is Doc and Darryl's fault that used cocaine. But Mets management should not be let off the hook. Doc and Darryl was about 19 and 20 years old at the time. And coke was all over the club house, and they should

have never brought Keith Hernandez over knowing he was a coke use beforehand.

[obiwanobiwan13]

hey, I totally agree with the Clemens statement below, but I don't know if I'd call Dr. K a Never Were. 190 Wins, 2000+ strikeouts, a ring- doesn't sound like a bad career at all to me. And he took jail time over probation to send himself a message. Realizing he had done wrong and needed help, and then getting it, when he was a still famous athelete to a degree- shows a lot of character, if you ask me.

Strawberry and Doc both got into drugs in the drug-heavy 80's as kids, bad influences...

[kingdomoftheworm]

Actually, he won two rings in his career. He also won a championship as a member of the 1996 New York Yankees, even throwing a no-hitter that season.

And I wouldn't call Doc a never was. A lot was expected of him early on and he cracked under the weight and pressure. Did he have some good years? Sure, but look at how many wins came between the ages of 19 and 25, and how many came in the 10 years after. In all, it wasn't the surefire Hall of Fame career he was predicted to have.

[kingdomoftheworm]

Sorry, 3 rings. Forgot he appeared in two playoff game with the Yanks in 2000.

[willmcm10]

At least he only messed up his own life! 190 so odd wins may not be the "Hall of Fame" career everyone thought he would have but at least I can tell my kids that my childhood hero screwed up and did not cheat! A lesson can be learned unlike Roger Clemons. Although, I pray that Roger is clean because our world is so short of role models!

[ChrisinEC]

Pray? lmao Only an act of God could save Clemens roided ass...............

[czulkows]

It's a little saucy.

[mellebelle13]

and Joe Balczo!

[mellebelle13]

haha. nice job... i like the mug shots and pictures of him in his orange "uniform." I also liked the split second images of Ryne Sandberg