New York Mets Hall of Fame pitcher Jerry Koosman died Sunday morning in Osceola, Wisconsin, at the age of 83, the team announced. Koosman, who had been battling multiple illnesses prior to his death, was a central figure in leading the franchise to its first championship in 1969.
In a statement, Mets owners Alex and Steve Cohen paid tribute to the former left-hander, highlighting his pivotal contribution to the organization. “Kooz was one of the greatest pitchers in team history and a beloved member of the Mets family,” the Cohens said, adding that his performance in the 1969 Fall Classic helped secure the first World Series title in franchise history.
Rise to Stardom and 1969 Championship
The Mets originally discovered Koosman while he was pitching for the United States Army, signing him to a contract in August 1964. He made his major league debut in April 1967 before joining the starting rotation permanently the following year. During his 1968 rookie campaign, Koosman registered a 2.08 ERA across 263 ⅔ innings, earning an All-Star selection and finishing second to Johnny Bench in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Koosman remained a standout starter in 1969, posting a 2.28 ERA over 241 innings. Pitching alongside Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan, the left-hander delivered crucial postseason performances. Koosman started two games in the World Series against the Baltimore Orioles, including a complete-game victory in Game 5 where he surrendered just three runs to seal the title for the “Miracle Mets.”
Career Stats and Mets Legacy
Between 1968 and 1976, Koosman emerged as one of the premier pitchers in Major League Baseball, recording a 2.94 ERA while averaging 223 innings per season. He finished as the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award behind Randy Jones in 1976. New York traded Koosman to the Minnesota Twins in December 1978 for Jesse Orosco. He later pitched for the Twins, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies before retiring after the 1985 season.
Over his 19-year career, Koosman compiled a 222-209 record, a 3.36 ERA, and 2,556 strikeouts. He ranks among baseball’s all-time leaders in career starts (527), innings pitched (3,839 ⅓), and pitching WAR (57.0). Within the Mets franchise, his 140 victories are the most by any left-hander and third overall behind Seaver and Dwight Gooden. He also ranks second in team history in innings pitched and third in strikeouts.
The Mets inducted Koosman into their team Hall of Fame in 1989 and officially retired his No. 36 jersey in 2021. He previously dropped off the Baseball Writers Association of America’s Hall of Fame ballot after his initial year of eligibility in 1991.
