Jerry Koosman, one of the defining arms of the Mets’ first golden era, has died at 83.
The left-hander was a cornerstone for the 1969 World Champion Mets and the 1973 National League champions, and his place in franchise history is secure: he’s in the Mets Hall of Fame, his No. 36 is retired, and he remains one of the most recognizable figures from that era.
Koosman’s path to Queens was unusual. Born in Appleton, Minnesota, he was discovered while serving in the military, and the Mets signed him after his service ended.
He reached the majors in 1967, then became a full-time piece of the rotation in 1968 and immediately looked the part. That season, he went 19-12 with a 2.08 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 263.2 innings, then finished second to Johnny Bench in Rookie of the Year voting.
His best-known work came the next year. Koosman turned in another strong season in 1969 and won two games in the World Series, throwing 17 and two-thirds innings across those two starts. He was also awarded the ball Cleon Jones caught for the final out of the game.
For years after that, Koosman held down the No. 2 spot behind Tom Seaver and kept piling up quality seasons. In 1976, he won 21 games and finished second in Cy Young voting. After the Mets’ rough 1978 season, he asked for a trade and was dealt to the Twins for Greg Field and, as a player to be named later, Jesse Orosco.
Across 12 seasons with the Mets, Koosman went 140-137 with a 3.07 ERA and made the All-Star team in 1968 and 1969. His 140 wins are the third-most by a Mets pitcher, behind Seaver and Dwight Gooden.
His career had one more big spike after leaving New York. Koosman had a fantastic 1979 season with the Twins, but he never quite reached those heights again.
He spent two and a half seasons with Minnesota, two and a half with the White Sox and two with the Phillies before retiring after the 1985 season. He finished with 53.6 bWAR.
The Mets inducted Koosman into their Hall of Fame in 1989 and retired his number in 2021, making him just the third player in franchise history to receive that honor.
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