Mets to retire Dwight Gooden's no. 16 and Darryl Strawberry's no. 18 in 2024

The two players will become the sixth and seventh players to have their number retired by the Mets

In another long overdue honor, the Mets announced on Thursday they will be retiring Dwight Gooden’s number 16 and Darryl Strawberry’s number 18 during the 2024 season.

Gooden was selected by the Mets in the first round of the June, 1982 draft and made his Mets debut in 1984 as a 19-year-old against the Astros in the Astrodome. He would go on to win the 1984 National League Rookie of the Year Award with a rookies record of 276 strikeouts, becoming the youngest player ever to play in an All-Star Game that season. He went on to win the 1985 National League Cy Young Award while capturing a pitcher’s triple crown with the lowest ERA (1.53), most wins (24) and the most strikeouts in the league (268).

“I was completely overwhelmed when I got the call,” Gooden said. “I want to say ‘thank you’ to the fans who supported me through the good times and bad times. I couldn’t have made it through without their encouragement. There is no greater honor a player can receive than having his number retired. It’s hard for me to express how honored and thankful I am to Steve and Alex (Cohen). This would make my mother and father extremely proud and I know they are looking down from heaven smiling.”

Gooden is second in franchise history with 157 wins and 1857 strikeouts, third in innings pitched with 2169.2, 67 complete games, 303 starts and 209 quality starts.’

“There was no more electric place to be than at Shea Stadium on a Friday night in the 80’s when Dwight Gooden was on the mound,” Cohen explained. “Doc continues the pitching-rich lineage of retired numbers joining Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman. It’s fitting that his №16 will forever hang in left field where his legendary K-Korner was located.”

Strawberry was drafted in 1980 by the Mets, and won the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year award after hitting 26 home runs with 74 RBI while hitting .257/.336/.512 in 122 games as a 21-year old with the Mets.

“When I got the call from Steve, I welled up with tears of joy,” Strawberry said in a statement. “I started to reflect on my journey through the organization. I had some ups and downs, but in the end, I am proud of my time in New York. I owe so much to Mets fans — they are simply the best. It’s really amazing to me that №18 will be forever remembered. I would like to thank the Hall of Fame committee and especially Steve and Alex Cohen.”

Strawberry went to seven All-Star Game’s during his tenure with the Mets and is the all-time club leader in home runs (252), second in RBI (733), walks (580), third in extra-base hits (469) and runs (662) and fourth in slugging (.520). He was elected to the Mets hall of fame in 2010 along with Gooden.

“Darryl Strawberry’s sweet left-handed swing made him one of the most feared hitters in the National League as his monster moon shots bounced off Shea’s scoreboard,” Mets owner and CEO Steve Cohen said in a statement. “Strawberry’s arrival to the Big Apple in 1983 re-energized the franchise and it’s very appropriate that the club’s all-time homer leader will have his №18 retired.”

Strawberry and Gooden will become the sixth and seventh players to have their number retired by the Mets, joining Tom Seaver (#41), Mike Piazza (#31), Jerry Koosman (#36), Keith Hernandez (#17) and Willie Mays (#24).

Dates for each ceremony will be announced at a later date.