1984 Dwight Gooden Ties Rookie Strike Out Record Baseball. Poor decisions off the field would ultimately derail one of the most promising starts on it, as the young Doctor posted what was arguably the finest rookie seasons in Major League pitching history. Presented is one of the great milestones from that debut campaign, the ONL (Feeney) ball that fanned his fourteenth of sixteen Pittsburgh Pirates on September 12, 1984. This would bring his season total to 245, matching the record posted by Herb Score in 1955. Gooden's teammate Rusty Staub saved the ball for posterity, inscribing a side panel, "Sept 12, 1984 Mets vs. Pirates Strike Out #14 of 16 for win #16 for Dwight Gooden." The inscription and the autographs from both Staub and Gooden remain as bold as the day they were applied, and the ball exhibits solid game use. Derives from personal collection of Rusty Staub, with letter of provenance from his son. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA (autographs). Auction LOA from James Spence Authentication (autographs).