Jerry Koosman, iconic New York Mets left-hander who starred in 1969 World Series, dies at 83

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Jerry Koosman, the iconic left-handed pitcher whose performances helped define the New York Mets’ ascent in the late 1960s, has died at age 83, MLB reported on Sunday. Koosman spent 12 seasons with the Mets from 1967 to 1978, compiling a 140-win record and a 3.09 ERA during his time in New York.

MLB’s account highlights Koosman’s central role in the Mets’ 1969 World Series. In Game 2, he “held the Orioles hitless until the seventh inning,” when Paul Blair led off with a single, as the Mets ultimately won 2–1 to tie the series. Three games later, the Mets claimed the championship with a Game 5 clincher at Shea Stadium, and Koosman pitched a complete game to close out the title.

Koosman also contributed to New York’s post-season history beyond 1969. MLB notes that he beat the Reds in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series in 1973, and that he recorded a win and a no-decision in the ’73 World Series against the Oakland A’s.

While Koosman’s win-loss record did not always mirror his underlying effectiveness, MLB points to 1977 as an example. That season, he lost 20 games despite posting a 3.49 ERA. The following winter, at the 1978 Winter Meetings, the Mets traded Koosman to the Minnesota Twins, receiving right-hander Greg Field and a player to be named later.

According to MLB, the trade was completed in February 1979 when Minnesota sent left-handed reliever Jesse Orosco to New York. MLB also notes that the swap connected to memorable postseason moments for each club, pointing out that Orosco pitched the last two innings of Game 7 against the Red Sox in 1986.

Off the field, MLB reports that Jerome Martin Koosman was born Dec. 23, 1942, in Appleton, Minnesota. After being drafted into the Army in 1962, he played baseball at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, and MLB cites a SABR biography by Irv Goldfarb in describing how a Queens native named John Luchese impressed Mets personnel and helped set up Koosman’s signing. MLB says the Mets signed Koosman for $1,600 in August 1964.

Koosman made his Major League debut on April 14, 1967, and appeared in nine games that season. In 1968, MLB reports that he went 19–12 with a 2.08 ERA, earned his first of two consecutive National League All-Star selections, and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds.

MLB also provides a statistical snapshot of Koosman’s production and long-term franchise standing. It says Koosman averaged 31 starts and 14.3 wins per season from 1968–76, but combined to go 11–35 with a 3.62 ERA in 1977–78. It further notes that his 19-year Major League career included stints with the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, and that he finished with Philadelphia in 1985 at age 42, compiling a final mark of 222–209 with a 3.36 ERA and 2,556 strikeouts.

Beyond career totals, Koosman is recognized in MLB’s report for establishing multiple Mets franchise records among left-handed pitchers. MLB says he holds marks for left-handers in starts (346), complete games (108), shutouts (26, tied with Jon Matlack), wins (140), decisions (277), innings (2,544 2/3), and strikeouts (1,799). MLB adds that among Mets lefties with five or more starts, Koosman’s 3.09 ERA is bested only by Matlack’s 3.03.

Koosman’s legacy with the Mets was officially honoured years after his final season in 1978. MLB states that New York retired his No. 36 on Aug. 28, 2021, making him the third player in franchise history to receive that honour. MLB reports that Seaver (No. 41) and Mike Piazza (No. 31) preceded him, and that other numbers retired before and after include managers Casey Stengel (No. 37) and Gil Hodges (No. 14), along with Jackie Robinson (No. 42), whose number was retired league-wide. MLB also notes later retirements for Keith Hernandez (No. 17), Willie Mays (No. 24), Dwight Gooden (No. 16), Darryl Strawberry (No. 18) and David Wright (No. 5).

In connection with the number retirement, MLB includes Koosman’s remarks from that day. MLB quotes him saying, “I’m thankful that they thought so much of me to retire my number,” adding, “I know I’m joining a great crew that they had their numbers retired. I don’t know if I deserve it. I guess we are going to get on with it.”

MLB’s report also recounts how teammates remembered him. It quotes former Mets teammate Ron Swoboda from 2021 describing Koosman as “a warrior,” saying, “You loved him because he was the kind of gamer that you wanted to hang out with. He played the whole game all the time and brought dominant stuff out there and a dominant attitude.”

With Koosman’s passing, MLB said the Mets sent condolences to his family, and the organization expressed its sadness at the news. For Mets fans and Major League Baseball followers, the impact of Koosman’s Mets years remains tied to the 1969 championship run—especially his October control in Game 2 and the complete-game performance that delivered the title in Game 5—along with a franchise legacy measured by decades of left-handed excellence.