Dwight Gooden visits Camp Hillel
Known as a fire balling, curve ball strikeout artist when he was a major league pitcher, Dwight Gooden, known as “Dr. K” during his heyday, struck a chord with the youngsters during a visit to Camp Hillel in Lawrence. K is the scorecard symbol for a strikeout.
Gooden played a decade for the Mets. He was part of the 1986 Word Series winning team, and threw a no-hitter for the Yankees in 1996. At the top of his career he was nearly unhittable, but problems with drugs then injuries derailed a once certain Hall of Fame career. His career ended in 2000.
But the Camp Hillel kids ranging from 7 to 13 were thrilled to see a real former professional baseball player. “It was exciting that he threw the ball to us and we could bat,” said Eliyahu Cohen, 7.
Gooden addressed the kids throughout a two-hour visit about making good choices in life. “Don’t cheat your coaches, don’t cheat your teachers with you effort,” the 1984 National League Rookie of the Year said.
A pitcher, who won the NL Cy Young Award and the hurler’s version of the Triple Crown: leading the major leagues in wins, ERA and strikeouts, also provided the kids with hitting tips as they batted against him.
“It was great because I love the Yankees,” said Jacob Adler, 8. Adler had a White Sox hat on his head but that’s because it’s the team he played on this past season in the Hewlett-Woodmere Little League.
Daniel Green, a Camp Hillel counselor, was born on the day – May 14, 1996 – that Gooden tossed his no-hitter. “I learned about that a couple years ago and I checked to reassure myself it was true,” said Green, who wore a No. 7 Jose Reyes Mets shirt. Green, a Mets, Jets, Rangers and Knicks fan said meeting Gooden is like connecting with the 1986 Mets World Series team. Camp associate Jacob Grossman called it “incredible, like a dream.”
Ari Solomon says “it gets campers excited about learning more about sports from a professional and it is a great experience.”
Last year, Camp Hillel received a visit former Knicks guard John Starks. On Aug. 8, formers Jets wide receiver Wesley Walker is expected to make an appearance.
