Pitcher ‘Doc’ makes house call to fans

No matter how many deep breaths she took, Tracy Orgill, 37, from Baldwin couldn’t stop trembling. As Orgill would tell it, she’d been waiting her entire life for a moment to meet Dwight “Doc” Gooden, New York Mets Hall of Famer.

“All these years he’s been baseball to me,” Orgill said. “Doc is the reason I fell in love with baseball.”

Standing only a couple feet from Doc, Orgill and her friend Tara Colletti, 37, from Baldwin, both shared they grew up in Mets fan families and spent their childhood watching and attending baseball games where they cheered for Doc.

“I remember watching the 1986 World Series with my mom and I was like five years old,” Colletti said with a laugh. “I’ve been a fan since then.”

It was the similar story of dozens of New York Mets fans that lined the entrance of the River house grille on Woodcleft Avenue in Freeport, with their baseball memorabilia, on Aug. 11. Sitting in front of two stacks of photos, in his New York Mets uniform and the other in his New York Yankees uniform, Doc greeted fans of all ages while signing autographs.

Freeporter, Joanna Contreras was one of the first fans to arrive at the Rhg on a mission for her husband, Matthew Schwartz, who was unable to attend the signing because of his work schedule.

“My husband is a massive Mets fan,” Contreras said as she held up two baseballs he instructed her she had to get signed.

Doc played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball and pitched from 1984 to 2000, with a career of approximately 430 games, 2800 innings a win-loss record of 194-113, a run average of 5.51 and 2,293 strikeouts. Doc pitched for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. After establishing himself as one of the MLB’s most talented pitchers at age 19, he helped the Mets win the 1986 World Series. While pitching for the New York Yankees, Doc pitched a no-hitter and helped the Yankees win the 1996 World Series.

Now at 53, Doc says he’s been enjoying the retired life. The father of seven children with the youngest two — an eight-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son, he spends most of his days running from cheerleading practice with his daughter or traveling with his son’s baseball team. A quiet life he says is focused on his family and children.

Over the years, Doc’s received public criticism for his drug addiction stemming from his party days in the MLB. Before reaching his newfound sobriety, he admits he couldn’t talk about his cocaine addiction, but at this phase in his life, he finally feels comfortable talking about it openly.

“My problem was, unfortunately, I tried drugs, I liked it and I got addicted,” Doc said. “It cost me a lot of things like time with my kids, birthday parties and things you can’t get back. It took a while to forgive myself.”

When he’s not in “daddy mode” he takes the time to visit schools and youth programs to share his struggles with drugs and sobriety — a story he feels is important young athletes hear, especially from him.

“I’ve been clean for seven years,” Doc said.

In spite of his checkered past, Doc says baseball has given his family more blessings then he can count, adding that one of his greatest honors was winning two World Series for New York teams.

“Playing baseball for me was a privilege,” Doc said.

“When people found out Doc was coming they were very encouraged by it and were anxious to come out to see him,” said Jimmy Villani owner of the Rhg.

Doc’s appearance at the Rhg is the first of its kind, especially to Freeport, Villani shared. However, it won’t be the last time Freeporters will have an opportunity to meet their favorite athletes. According to Villani, the Rhg is planning on welcoming other star athletes like Jimmy Leyritz of the New York Yankees and possibly a football play from the New York Jets.