The Final Score

When I was at Cooperstown over the summer to cover baseball's Hall of Fame induction ceremony, I was shocked to see Dwight Gooden's name listed as one of the players signing autographs in town.

Ever since Gooden got out of jail about two years ago, he had kept such a low profile that even people who were close to him had no idea where he was living or what he was doing.

But talking to Doc that day in Cooperstown, it was clear he was enjoying life and determined not to make the same mistakes again. Yes, he's said that before, many times, and it never came true. He said he realized that. But, he said, he's trying.

Since then he showed up for the final game at Shea Stadium - something he said at Cooperstown he didn't want to do - and just two weeks ago he was in New York City for this event at a sneaker shop. There's also video of it here. Who knows? Maybe we'll see Doc at Citi Field or Yankee Stadium next year.