September 7th 1984:It was one of the most exciting games I had ever attended up to that point in time, since the days of Tom Terrific. 46,000 fans filled an excited Shea Stadium on this Friday night to see the 2nd place Mets take on the 1st place Cubs.The air was even more electric because rookie phenom Dwight Gooden was on the mound. I remember making a sign that afternoon with a giant K spelling the words Kill Kubs!! Those being the Heavy Metal days it was complete with a caricature of a long haired dude swirling an axe in metal garb!
Doctor K did not dissapoint, he went out and pitched a complete game one hit shut out, striking out 11 Cubs. These were the days of The K Korner and standing ovations with two strikes. These were great times and this was a great game. The only hit was a controversial call on a ball tha
t Ray Knight missed at 3rd base in the 5th inning. The Doctors fastball was rising and his curveball was sharp as he wizzed it by the Cubs for his 15th wn of the year. He would win 17 (3rd in the NL) in his rookie year, lead the league in strikeouts (276) & have the 2nd best ERA at 2.60.
The Met bats had 12 hits including a three run HRs by George Foster in the 3rd, his 20th & a two run shot by Daryl Strawberry in the 6th, his 21st. Mookie Wilson had two hits and drove in three runs, and even Dwight Gooden had two hits and scored a run. The Mets won 10-0 and moved within six games of the Cubs. It was the first time they were in a September pennant race since the mid seventies & it was exciting for life long fans like myself.
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