Former Mets Doc Gooden and Art Shamsky revel in bond between 1969 and 1986 championship teams
From left, former Mets Art Shamsky and Dwight Gooden fand Village Idiot president John Sarno attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Village Idiot in Hauppauge on Tuesday. Credit: Tom Lambui
In Mets lore, 1969 and 1986 will be forever intertwined.
The only two World Series-winning seasons in franchise history featured plenty of magical moments, and two of their champions came together Tuesday morning.
Righthanded ace Dwight Gooden, a Met from 1984-94, and outfielder Art Shamsky, in Queens from 1968-71, appreciate the crowning connection between the two historic squads. Gooden, 59, and Shamsky, 82, reflected on the moments that will always be part of their lives.
Gooden and Shamsky helped cut the ribbon at the official opening of the Village Idiot Pub in Hauppauge, the newest location of the popular Long Island sports bar chain that will also include off-track betting.
“For me to see him today and reminisce a little bit with him, it’s almost like we were part of both teams,” Shamsky said. “We have so many friends that are still around from both teams, and for us to share those moments is great.”
Said Gooden: “Oh, 100% [there is a connection between the teams]. I’m a historian of the game. I love talking to these guys [about] what it was like in their time compared to ‘86, my time. We have a good connection.
“... I love just questioning these guys about their era.”
After three seasons with the Reds, Shamsky was traded to the Mets in November 1967. He enjoyed a career year in 1969, batting .300 with an .863 OPS and 14 homers in 100 regular-season games. The 1969 postseason was the only one he played in and he batted a team-leading .538 in the NLCS against Atlanta.
“I played 13 years, and nobody talks about the other 12,” Shamsky said. “It’s always about 1969.”
Gooden, who also played on the Yankees' 1996 and 2000 teams that won championships, made his major league debut at 19 in 1984 and was named the National League Rookie of the Year. He won the NL Cy Young award the following season and made his third All-Star team in 1986, starting the Midsummer Classic.
The Mets retired Gooden’s No. 16 in April.
“Those [1969] guys, [Shamsky] and Ed Kranepool are my guys,” Gooden said. “I’m around them all the time. The ‘86 guys, a lot of us go down to Mets Fantasy Camp together in November. You see a lot of fans come down here. It’s just a great time … And Steve [Cohen] is always calling, bringing alumni back, which is good for the players and the fans to come back to the stadium. So it’s fun to see those guys.”
Shamsky recognized that, while Mets fans have been disappointed with the way the up-and-down 2024 season has gone, they just need to sneak into the playoffs and anything can happen.
Gooden shared Shamsky’s sentiment, referencing the Diamondbacks winning last season's NL pennant after being the third and final Wild Card team. He added that the Yankees – if healthy – “have a really good shot at going all the way” despite their recent skid.
“There will always be a special connection,” Shamsky said of the '69 and '86 teams. “Hopefully at some point soon, there’ll be another championship.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
