Mets legend Jerry Koosman dies at 83 after pitching in 1969 title run

Jerry Koosman died on Sunday at age 83, ending the life of the pitcher who anchored the New York Mets' first championship. The club confirmed the death, noting that Koosman had been fighting multiple illnesses.

As a southpaw out of Minnesota, Koosman joined the Mets in 1967. He quickly became a cornerstone of the team, earning All-Star selections in consecutive years during 1968 and 1969. His performance on the mound was central to the franchise's improbable rise that autumn.

In the 1969 World Series, Koosman pitched a complete game in the decisive fifth game to secure the title. He also took the win in the second game against the Baltimore Orioles. His impact extended to 1973, when he helped the Mets capture the National League pennant. In that postseason, he won the third game of the NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds and threw six and two-thirds scoreless innings in a World Series win over the Oakland Athletics.

Mets vice president of alumni relations Jay Horwitz stated that Koosman's health challenges had been ongoing. The organization retired his number 36 during the 2021 season. He entered the Mets Hall of Fame in 1989. Over twelve seasons in Flushing, Koosman posted a 140-137 record with a 3.09 ERA.

Koosman's career statistics include 2,556 strikeouts and 222 wins. In 1976, he finished second in the voting for the National League Cy Young Award. That year, he went 21-10 with a 2.69 ERA while striking out 200 batters. He spent the final seven years of his career with the Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies.