Gooden was charged with driving while intoxicated, having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle and driving with a suspended license. He was released from Hillsborough County Jail Wednesday morning on $500 bond.

According to a police report, Gooden refused to take a breathalyzer after he was stopped for weaving in and out of lanes.

Gooden retired before the 2001 season after failing to win a roster spot with the New York Yankees. The 37-year-old had trouble with substance abuse during his career and was suspended from baseball for parts of the 1987 and 1994 seasons and missed all of the 1995 campaign.

The four-time All-Star had a 194-112 record, a 3.51 ERA and and 2,293 strikeouts and was hired as an assistant to Yankees owner George Steinbrenner after his retirement.

"Of course we are disappointed in this occurence and are taking it very seriously as I'm sure Dwight is as well," Steinbrenner said. "While we do not have all the facts at this time, we will monitor very closely."

Gooden was NL Rookie of the Year in 1984 with the New York Mets. He was the best pitcher in baseball the following season, when he went 24-4 with a 1.53 ERA and 268 strikeouts and at just 20 years old became the youngest pitcher in history to win the Cy Young Award. The Florida native went 0-1 with a 7.90 ERA in six Grapefruit League games last season.