On Sunday, November 1, we heard of the passing of Mets Hall of Famer Jerry Koosman. Koosman had been ill for about one year and died surrounded by his family in Wisconsin. He was 83.
Jerome Martin Koosman was born in Appelton, Minnesota on December 23, 1942. He pitched 12 seasons for the Mets, posting a 140-137 record, with an ERA of 3.09 and an ERA+ of 113. He struck out 1,799 hitters over 2,544.2 innings pitched in the orange and blue. Koosman had his No. 36 retired in 2021, hanging at Citi Field with other Mets greats such as Tom Seaver, David Wright, Keith Hernandez, and Mike Piazza.
The stories on Koosman have referred to him as the “Robin to Seaver’s Batman.” That is largely true, as Seaver was larger than life as a Met, while Koosman stoically went out and did his job very effectively in Queens. Though he may have been Robin, Jerry was on the mound for some of the most iconic moments in franchise history.
Let’s start with the 1969 World Series Game 2 after the favored Orioles had defeated the Mets and Seaver in Game 1. Koosman was facing Dave McNally, with the Amazins needing a win to avoid going down two games to none. Koosman threw 8.2 innings, allowing one run and just two hits. Later in the series, Jerry was on the hill for the sentinel moment in franchise history, getting Davey Johnson to fly out to left field to seal the series win for the Mets. He pitched a complete game, letting up three runs on just five hits to a deep Baltimore lineup. The Mets were also-rans no longer.
Reflecting on getting that last out, Koosman had this to say (from Associated Press):
“I turn around and look at Cleon and I see Cleon going back and, uh, the first thing is the heart stops,” Koosman told Rose. “Well, then you see him slow down — oh, God, now you know it’s OK. Now the only other thing is: Don’t drop the ball.”
“We were so choked up with emotion we couldn’t talk,” Koosman was quoted as saying in Peter Golenbock’s 2002 book, “Amazin’: The Miraculous History of New York’s Most Beloved Baseball Team.”
After the trade of Tom Seaver in 1977, Koosman faced Seaver when The Franchise returned to Shea in August of that season. Seaver and the Reds won the game, 5-1. After the game on Kiner’s Korner, the two pitchers switched caps for the segment, showing the strong relationship they shared.
Koosman won 21 games in 1976, then proceeded to lose 20 games in 1977. His last season in Flushing was 1978, when he posted a 3-15 record. Jerry’s time in New York had come to an end. Going into his age 36 season, he did not want to be part of a Mets rebuild, and wanted to be closer to his home in Minnesota. The Mets accommodated, trading him to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later and Greg Field. That player to be named later was Jesse Orosco, who ironically was on the mound when the Mets won their second World Series in 1986.
Over his 19-year career (Mets, Twins, White Sox, Phillies), Jerry Koosman went 222-209. He was beloved by Mets fans as a tough-as-nails left-hander who seemed to rise to the biggest moments. His toughness was on full display during the pennant stretch drive in 1969. In a September game at Shea, Bill Hands of the Cubs knocked Tommie Agee down twice in an at-bat. Koosman had Agee’s back, drilling cleanup hitter Ron Santo in the next inning, hitting him in the hand with a fastball. Koosman and the Mets were not going to be intimidated. It’s because of situations like this that his Mets teammates held Jerry Koosman in the highest regard.
Rest in peace, Jerry Koosman. You helped change the perception of the Mets’ franchise and delivered when it counted most.
