Gooden Returns to Mets, Says He Regrets His Mistake

Dwight Gooden, warned by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth that he faced at least a one-year suspension if he went back to drugs, admitted Thursday he made a mistake by using cocaine and said he hoped he could put his problem behind him.

Gooden, who rejoined his New York Met teammates 24 hours after ending a 28-day stay at a drug treatment center, will face frequent drug testing.

“I know I made a mistake and I regret it, but I must turn the page once again because life goes on and I want to put all this behind me,” Gooden said, reading from a prepared statement. “I want to get back to doing the things that I like, and that’s playing baseball and having fun again.”

The 1985 Cy Young Award winner appeared nervous and uncomfortable as he rushed through his remarks in less than a minute at a briefing at Shea Stadium.

The Mets hope Gooden can resume pitching in the major leagues by the first week of June, but General Manager Frank Cashen emphasized the team would not hurry him.

“The last thing on our mind is to rush him back into baseball,” he said.

About the time Gooden had arrived at the stadium, Ueberroth’s office released a statement that said: “Any return to drug use will result in his suspension from baseball for a minimum period of one year.”