Remembering Mets Opening Days (1993) Dwight Gooden Shuts Out the Colorado Rockies in Their Franchise Debut

The 1992 Mets had ended the season a disappointing 72-90 in fifth place of the NL East, their lowest finish in ten years. 

The team had signed Bobby Bonilla in what turned out to be one the worst deals the team ever made. Other bad moves included Vince Coleman, Bret Saberhagen Willie Randolph.  Veteran free agent Eddie Murray would drive in 100 runs in 1993 but was still past his prime & not happy in New York. All this earned them the name "the worst team money could buy".

It had only been six years since the 1986 World Championship & four years since the teams last
N.L. East title, but it seemed like forever to the fans who would have to wait another six years for a playoff berth.

Going into 1993 Howard Johnson, Sid Fernandez & Dwight Gooden were the only players left from that '86 Championship team. Theres weren't any major additions to the team & confidence was low.

As expected 1993 would be even worse as the Mets fell to seventh place winning just 59 games while losing 103. In May, Dallas Green would replace Jeff Torborg as manger.

But on every Opening Day there is always optimism & with Dwight Gooden on the mound at Shea Stadium, there were hopes for a good start. 

For the 28-year-old Gooden this was already his seventh Opening Day start, second to Tom Seaver's eleven in Mets history. Gooden had started the 1985 & 1986 seasons, then spent 1987 in rehab. He then made every Opening Day start from 1988 - 1991. In 1992 David Cone got the start but this year Dr. K was back on the hill.

Colorado Rockies Inaugural Season: Today was a historic day for MLB as it was the first game in history for the new National League franchise, the Colorado Rockies. Minor league baseball had been played in Colorado since the 19th century. 

In the late 1950's Denver was one of the cities chosen for the new Continental League which had been proposed to be added to MLB by Bill Shea, Shea Stadium's namesake. But once the NL expanded in 1962, the league never came to be. By the 1990's Coors became a partner in the AAA Denver Zephyrs & when MLB expanded in 1993 Denver got its ball club.

The Colorado Rockies manager in the team's first year was former MLB player, Don Baylor. 

Don Baylor Trivia: Baylor a 19 MLB veteran who had played for six teams, was a 1979 AL MVP leading the league in RBIs & runs scored. In his career Baylor had 338 HRs 366 doubles 1276 RBIs & 1236 runs scored. 

He played in seven post seasons winning three pennants batting .273 in 38 post season games.

On this day Baylor sent David Neid to the mound to go up against Doc Gooden. 

David Nied would have a short five-year career going 17-18 with a 5.06 ERA in 52 games. 

Trivia: The Mets also honored NFL Jets player, Dennis Byrd before the game. Byrd had been injured the prior season, breaking his cervical vertebrae & was unable to walk for months after. He did recover but never played football again.

53,127 Mets fans poured into Shea Stadium as the Mets got started on the 31st year in team history, their thirtieth year in Shea Stadium.

Monday April 5th, 1993:  In the bottom of the 1st, Eric Young Sr. tried to reach on a bunt base hit, but Mets catcher Todd Hundley threw him out at first base.

In the bottom of the 1st, Tony Fernandez walked & Eddie Murray singled, Murray even stole second base, but the Mets could not score. Murray would steal just one more base all season.

In the bottom of the 2nd, the Mets got lead off hits from Joe Orsulak & Jeff Kent. With one out, Dwight Gooden hit a grounder to Charlie Hayes at third base. Orsulak attempted to score but Hayes threw to catcher Joe Girardi & got him at home to end the inning.

In the top of the 3rd, Gooden got into a two jam as a single a walk & hit by pitch loaded the bases for slugger Andres Galarraga. But Gooden struck out Galarraga to end the threat. Gooden retired the next 16 batters in a row, rolling along into the 9th inning.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, with one out, Dwight Gooden & Vince Coleman both singled. Tony Fernandez followed with the Mets third straight hit scoring Gooden for a 1-0 lead. 

In the bottom of the 5th inning Bobby Bonilla led off with a solo HR down the right field line. In 1993 Bonilla would hit a career high 34 HRs & drive in 87 runs while 265.

In the bottom of the 6th, Vince Coleman collected his second single of the game, then the speedster came all the way home on Eddie Murrays single to left field making it a 3-0 game.

The score remained that way going into the 9th inning. After recording the first out, Andres Galarraga singled into center field. Then Dante Bichette hit a pop up into short right field, Bobby Bonilla couldn't make the catch & the ball fell in for a hit. But Bonilla did throw out Galarraga at second base for the second out. Jerald Clark popped up to Bonilla in right for the final out. 

The Mets went on to the 3-0 win. Dwight Gooden shined, as he pitched a complete game four hit shut out on. Gooden struck out just four batters, walking just one, while throwing just 101 pitches. On 1993 Gooden would go on to have his second straight losing season at 12-15 with a 3.45 ERA.