Baseball Great Gooden Arrested for Domestic Battery

TAMPA, Fla. – Dwight Gooden (search) was arrested early Sunday for allegedly punching his ex-wife in the face, police said.

The former All-Star pitcher was charged with domestic violence battery and was being held Sunday without bond at Hillsborough County Jail (search). It wasn't immediately known if he had an attorney.

Jail officials said Gooden, a special assistant for the New York Yankees (search), was scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday morning.

He was arrested by Tampa police at 12:44 a.m., according to jail records. Tampa police spokeswoman Laura McElroy said the dispute occurred at the home of Monique Moore (search), Gooden's ex-wife.

"She threw a handset from a telephone at him and he punched her in the face," McElroy said. "She called 911. We responded. There was a bruise forming on her face and he was arrested."

McElroy said Moore declined medical attention, and the 40-year-old Gooden was cooperative with police.

Yankees spokesman Rick Cerrone said the team had no comment.

Gooden spent 16 seasons in the major leagues pitching for the New York Mets, Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Devil Rays before retiring in March 2001 with a career record of 194-112 and a 3.51 ERA.

He became the youngest Cy Young Award winner ever at age 20 in 1985 with the Mets, then helped them win the World Series a year later.

In June 1994, Gooden was suspended for 60 days for testing positive for cocaine. He tested positive for cocaine again while on suspension and was sidelined for the 1995 season.

Gooden was also involved in a scuffle with Tampa police after a traffic stop in 1986. He was arrested for drunken driving in February 2002 in Tampa, along with having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle and driving with a suspended license. Another suspended-license arrest followed in January 2003.