Mets Legend Jerry Koosman, 1969 Champion, Dies at 83

WHO:

MLB.com - Jerome Martin Koosman, known as Jerry Koosman, was a left-handed pitcher for the New York Mets and a member of the 1969 World Series championship team.

Daily Mail Sports - Koosman was a starting pitcher and key member of the Mets’ first World Series-winning team.

TMZ - The Mets announced Koosman’s death on the team’s Medium account.

NY Post - Koosman was a Mets southpaw who helped lead the franchise to its first World Series title.

WHAT:

MLB.com - Koosman died at 83. The article says he passed away on Sunday; the Mets announced his death.

Daily Mail Sports - The Mets announced that Koosman had died at 83.

TMZ - Koosman died surrounded by family.

MLB.com - In 12 seasons with the Mets, Koosman won 140 games, recorded a 3.09 ERA, and had a 21-win season in 1976. He holds Mets left-hander franchise records for 346 starts, 108 complete games, 26 shutouts (tied with Jon Matlack), 140 wins, 277 decisions, 2,544⅔ innings and 1,799 strikeouts.

MLB.com - Koosman held the Orioles hitless until Paul Blair singled to lead off the seventh inning of Game 2 of the 1969 World Series. The Mets won 2–1, tying the Series at one game apiece.

MLB.com - Koosman pitched a complete game in Game 5 at Shea Stadium, clinching the 1969 World Series for the Mets. After the final out, he leaped into catcher Jerry Grote’s arms.

MLB.com - Koosman won Game 3 of the 1973 National League Championship Series against the Reds and recorded a win and a no-decision in the 1973 World Series against the Athletics.

MLB.com - Koosman’s 19-year career also included the White Sox and Phillies. He finished with Philadelphia in 1985, aged 42, with a 222–209 record, a 3.36 ERA and 2,556 strikeouts.

MLB.com - The Mets retired Koosman’s No. 36. He said, “I’m thankful that they thought so much of me to retire my number,” and, “I don’t know if I deserve it.”

MLB.com - Former teammate Ron Swoboda called Koosman “a warrior” and said he “played the whole game all the time.”

WHERE:

TMZ - Koosman died in Osceola, Wisconsin.

MLB.com - Koosman was born in Appleton, Minnesota, and pitched his 1969 World Series-clinching game at Shea Stadium in New York.

WHEN:

MLB.com - Koosman was born Dec. 23, 1942, made his Major League debut on April 14, 1967, and played for the Mets from 1967 through 1978.

MLB.com - Koosman’s first 19-win season came in 1968; he was selected to two consecutive National League All-Star teams and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting to Johnny Bench.

MLB.com - The Mets retired Koosman’s No. 36 on Aug. 28, 2021.

MLB.com - Koosman told MLB.com in 2021 that he was proud of Jesse Orosco and their “left-handed reputation.”

MLB.com - The Mets traded Koosman to Minnesota at the 1978 Winter Meetings; Minnesota sent Jesse Orosco to New York in February 1979 to complete the trade.

WHY:

MLB.com - Koosman’s strong performance helped the Mets win their first World Series championship in 1969.

HOW:

MLB.com - The Mets signed Koosman for $1,600 in August 1964 after John Luchese, his Army-base batterymate, told his father about Koosman’s pitching; his father passed the information to Mets minor-league executive Joe McDonald.

MLB.com - Koosman was drafted into the Army in 1962 and played baseball at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

MLB.com - In 1968, Koosman went 19–12 with a 2.08 ERA. From 1968 through 1976, he averaged 31 starts and 14.3 wins per season; in 1977, he lost 20 games while posting a 3.49 ERA.

Jerry Koosman, the Mets’ 1969 World Series hero, has died at 83. The left-handed pitcher helped secure New York’s first championship with a complete-game victory. Across 19 seasons, he won 222 games, and the Mets retired his number.