New York Mets Hall of Famer and two-time All-Star Jerry Koosman died Sunday morning in Osceola, Wisconsin, at the age of 83, the team announced. The Mets said Koosman had battled multiple illnesses before his death.
"Kooz was one of the greatest pitchers in team history and a beloved member of the Mets family," owners Alex and Steve Cohen said in a statement. "The 1969 Miracle Mets were filled with heroes, and the special southpaw from Appleton, Minnesota, was central to their success. He was a fierce competitor on the field, and respected teammate in the clubhouse. His legendary performance in the World Series helped the Mets secure their first Championship in team history."
Koosman was discovered while pitching for the United States Army and signed by the Mets in August 1964. He made his MLB debut in April 1967 and became a full-time starter the following season. As a rookie in 1968, he threw 263 ⅔ innings with a 2.08 ERA, earning an All-Star selection and a second-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting behind Johnny Bench.
In 1969, Koosman was again an All-Star, posting a 2.28 ERA over 241 innings. He served as New York's No. 2 starter in the postseason between Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan. Koosman made two starts in the World Series, including the Game 5 clincher against the Baltimore Orioles, allowing three runs in a complete-game victory and recording all but one possible out across his two starts.
From 1968 to 1976, Koosman compiled a 2.94 ERA and averaged 223 innings per season. The Mets traded him to the Minnesota Twins for Jesse Orosco in December 1978, and he finished his career with the Twins (1979-81), Chicago White Sox (1981-83), and Philadelphia Phillies (1984-85). He retired after the 1985 season with a 222-209 record and a 3.36 ERA, ranking 39th among AL/NL pitchers with at least 3,500 career innings.
Koosman ranks 35th all-time in strikeouts (2,556), 40th in starts (527), 48th in innings (3,839 ⅓), and 77th in pitching WAR (57.0). He was a two-time All-Star and finished second in the 1976 Cy Young voting. The Mets inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 1989 and retired his No. 36 in 2021. His 140 wins are the most by a left-hander in franchise history and third overall behind Seaver (198) and Dwight Gooden (157).
