AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: INDIANS v YANKEES

October 9, 1998

Dwight Gooden

DWIGHT GOODEN: Not at all. At this time of year, going to Spring Training this is what it's all about, playing in October. No doubt it would be special playing against the Yankees team from New York -- played my whole career in New York. Once you take the mound, they're just another ball club. You might not believe that, but that's what it is. That's how I have to approach it. Just having a lot of fun with it and this is what it's all about.

DWIGHT GOODEN: What happened was unfortunate, hopefully it doesn't happen tomorrow, but to me that's over with. We got to the next level, which we wanted to do. Hopefully I will -- this time I'll be out there a lot longer.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Well, in my situation last year there was a lot of things that happened. I talked to Mr. Steinbrenner during that time before my option was officially not picked up and there was still opportunity for me to come back. But I just thought as a player at that time it was time for me to move on. Lastly, I didn't -- still felt I had a lot to give to that ball club. Joe Torre thought differently, which you have to respect that, it's his club. Leaving -- the only thing that was tough for me leaving was that I was leaving the city of New York where I had been my whole career.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Not necessarily the Yankees. At this time in my career to me it's all about winning. Again, I'm still looking for that first postseason win. Anytime an organization like the Cleveland Indians gives you a chance to join, you have to jump on it. Good fit for myself. First class organization. I have known John Hart since '81 when I was in high school, a lot of guys on the team as well. Just a situation that I thought would fit the player that I am at this time in my career.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Probably the one thing that sticks out the most is that I think as a team as a whole I think we kind of looked passed the Dodgers that year, looking more at Oakland because we had so many against the Dodgers during the regular season. But unfortunately they knocked us out.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Too long ago. At that time I didn't have nightmares, but even at that time, that was no big deal.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Definitely like everybody else looking forward to watching him pitch firsthand. Maybe the high leg kick, too old now to get my leg up that high. He has good stuff and anytime you see a pitcher at this level and anytime they analyze you, it makes you feel good.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Makes you feel old, but he's probably my age, you know.

DWIGHT GOODEN: It would be big. I would look forward to it. A lot things happened in my career that I really didn't expect to happen. I remember making the team in '84 when David Johnson told me I made the ball club at that time. I remember telling my father I wanted to have a long career and stay healthy and have a good career, but I had no numbers set and no goals. Obviously a lot of things happened for me with awards, even the World Series. That's probably the only thing missing. Get the other thing accomplished; that would be the one thing I would like have to also, even if it's just one.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Well, you try not to. You try to take a game, but obviously you'd like to get that win tonight and build as big a lead as you can going into Saturday's game. I think it will be the same amount of pressure either way you look at it for myself.

DWIGHT GOODEN: I'd like to and if it was regular season I probably would. Tomorrow I just want to get past that first one-third of the game.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Actually, that was a good sign, let you know he was in good spirits because that's his team now. So for them to get to the next level they have to get through us so that was good, let me know he was feeling good about himself and that's good to hear.

DWIGHT GOODEN: Last year, anytime Mariano came in the game he figured it was over. Got spoiled watching him in '96. Like last year, he was just guaranteed. When Sammy hit the homerun for me personally it was like, there's another opportunity but at that time you try to get it from a personal standpoint and hope we're going to win the ball game. Once that game was over it was tough to swallow because we lost more so than him giving up the homerun.