Koosman was discovered by the son of a Shea Stadium usher,John Lucchese,who caught Koosman when he pitched in the United States Army at Fort Bliss,Texas. The Mets offered Koosman a contract after his discharge from the military.[1] Koosman was about to be cut from the Mets in 1966,when Joe McDonald,the assistant farm director,requested Koosman be retained at least until his first payday,as he owed the Mets money they had wired him after his car broke down en route to spring training.[1][2]
After leading all International League pitchers in strikeouts in 1967,Koosman broke into the Mets’rotation in 1968. He posted a 19–12 record with seven shutouts,178 strikeouts,and a 2.08 earned run average. The wins,shutouts,and ERA set franchise records,breaking those set by teammate Tom Seaver the year prior. Koosman also made the first of two All-Star teams in his career. The National League won the game 1–0 (to date,the only All-Star Game to end in a 1–0 score) in the "Year of the Pitcher." Koosman pitched a scoreless ninth for the save,striking out Carl Yastrzemski for the final out. Koosman was named to the 1968 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster and finished runner-up to Johnny Bench for the National League Rookie of the Year honors.
The Miracle Mets
In 1969 Koosman posted a 17–9 record with a 2.28 ERA and 180 strikeouts in another All-Star season. That year,he was a member of the Mets team that unexpectedly won the National League East title (both leagues had split into two divisions after expanding from ten teams to 12) after finishing last in five of their first seven seasons,as well as trailing the Chicago Cubs for much of the season,and by as many as 91⁄2 games. After Koosman lost to the Houston Astros to fall to 9–8, he won eight of his final nine decisions.
In Game Two of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, Koosman was shelled for six runs in 42⁄3 innings (including a Hank Aaron three-run homer). The Mets won 11–6, however, then won the next game to complete the series sweep.
Koosman was the pitching star of the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles. After Seaver was defeated in Game One, Koosman, leading 1–0, held the Orioles hitless until Paul Blair singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning, eventually scoring on Brooks Robinson's only hit in 19 Series' at-bats. The Mets regained the lead in the top of the ninth; Koosman got two outs in the bottom of the frame, then walked the next two batters. He was relieved by Ron Taylor, who induced Robinson to ground out to end the game.
With the Series shifting from Memorial Stadium to Shea Stadium for the next three games, the Mets won Games Three and Four, and Koosman took the mound for Game Five. He fell behind 3–0 in the third inning after giving up home runs to his mound opponent, Dave McNally, and Frank Robinson. The Mets, however, cut into the Oriole lead on Donn Clendenon's two-run home run in the sixth, then tied the game in the seventh on a homer by Al Weis, who had hit only six career homers at that point—none of which had been in a home game. The Mets scored two runs in the eighth to take the lead, and after walking Frank Robinson to lead off the ninth, Koosman retired the next three hitters to end the game and complete the Mets’ improbable World Series win.
Game ball for game 5
After catching Davey Johnson's fly ball for the final out of the World Series, left fielder Cleon Jones gave the game ball to Koosman. That ball, as well as the game ball from Game 2, was stored in a safe in Koosman's residence. In the early 1990s, Koosman sold the ball from Game 5. The Game 5 ball's current whereabouts are unknown.[3]
"Ya Gotta Believe!" and "It Ain’t Over 'til It's Over"
In 1970 Koosman posted a 12–7 record with a 3.14 ERA. Over the next two seasons, however, he posted losing records: 6–11 in 1971 (a season in which he was beset by arm woes) and 11–12 in 1972 with a 4.14 ERA—more than a run and a half above his career ERA to that point. In 1973 he went 5–0 in his first six starts, but ended the season 14–15. In late August/early September of that year, he set a Mets' record by pitching 312⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings (R. A. Dickey broke his mark by pitching 322⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings in 2012). As in 1969, the Mets unexpectedly won the NL East title—once again overtaking the Cubs, whom they had trailed this time by as many as nine games—on the strength of the pitching of Koosman, Seaver and the previous year's NL Rookie of the Year, Jon Matlack. This comeback gave rise to two slogans: Tug McGraw's "Ya Gotta Believe!" and manager Yogi Berra's "It ain’t over 'til it's over."
In Game Three of the NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds, Koosman pitched a complete game for a 9–2 victory in a game that was headlined by Pete Rose's altercation with Mets' shortstop Bud Harrelson. The victory gave the Mets a 2–1 lead in the NLCS; they won the pennant two days later in five games.
Koosman was the winning pitcher in Game Five of the World Series against the defending champion Oakland Athletics, holding Oakland scoreless for 61⁄3 innings. This victory gave the Mets a 3–2 lead in the Series; however, Oakland won the next two games to repeat as World Champions.
Later Met years
Koosman posted a 15–11 record in 1974 and 14–13 record in 1975. In 1976 he had possibly his best season ever, establishing career bests with 21 wins (against 10 losses) and 200 strikeouts. He also finished runner-up to Randy Jones for the National League Cy Young Award. In 1977, the Mets traded Seaver to the Reds. The remainder of the team deteriorated, especially Koosman who slumped to 8–20, finishing tied with Phil Niekro for most losses in the NL. After a 3–15 season in 1978 Koosman, seeing no imminent improvement to the team, was traded to the Minnesota Twins at his request. His departure left Ed Kranepool as the last remaining member of the 1969 Miracle Mets (although Seaver returned to the Mets for the 1983 season).
The Mets acquired Jesse Orosco in the trade that sent Koosman to the Twins. (Orosco had been the player to be named later who went to the Mets to complete the deal, which had been made two months earlier, in December 1978.)
Later career
Koosman on September 28, 2008Jerry Koosman's number 36 was retired by the New York Mets in 2021.
Koosman rebounded in 1979 to post a 20–13 record, and went 16–13 in 1980. On August 30, 1981, less than a month after the 1981 players' strike ended, the Twins traded Koosman to the Chicago White Sox. He went 4–13 on the season, again finishing tied for his league lead in losses.
Koosman posted identical 11–7 records in 1982 and 1983. In the latter year, the White Sox won the American League West title to make their first post-season appearance since the 1959 World Series; however, the Baltimore Orioles defeated the White Sox in four games. After the season Koosman was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies; he went 14–15 in 1984 his last productive season.
On April 13, 1984 Koosman gave up a double to Pete Rose for his 4000th hit.
The Mets retired Koosman's number 36 on August 28, 2021, making him the third Mets player (after Tom Seaver and Mike Piazza) to have his number retired.[5] Koosman has since been joined by Keith Hernandez and Willie Mays in getting their numbers retired
Federal tax conviction
In May 2009, Koosman pleaded guilty to misdemeanor federal tax evasion after failing to pay up to $90,000 in federal income taxes for 2002, 2003, and 2004. Koosman admitted to being "suckered" by anti-tax rhetoric.[6][7] On September 3, 2009, he was sentenced to six months in prison. He was released from Federal Prison Camp, Duluth on June 30, 2010.[8]
↑ Todd Richmond, May 22, 2009, "Jerry Koosman pleads guilty to tax evasion", Associated Press
↑ Plea Agreement, May 22, 2009, docket entry 7, United States v. Jerome M. Koosman, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin (Madison), case #: 3:09-cr-00051-bbc-1.
↑ Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Dep't of Justice, Inmate Locator for Jerome M. Koosman, inmate # 06864-090, at [permanent dead link].
Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr., nicknamed "the Ryan Express", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Ryan pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. After his retirement in 1993, Ryan served as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Texas Rangers and an executive advisor to the Houston Astros. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest MLB pitchers of all time. Ryan was a right-handed pitcher who consistently threw pitches that were clocked above 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). He maintained this velocity throughout his pitching career. Ryan was also known to throw a devastating 12–6 curveball at exceptional velocity for a breaking ball.
Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was an American professional baseball relief pitcher and long-time Major League Baseball (MLB) player, often remembered for coining the phrase "Ya Gotta Believe", which became the rallying cry for the 1973 New York Mets.
George Thomas Seaver, nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "the Franchise", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, and Boston Red Sox from 1967 to 1986. Commonly described as the most iconic player in Mets history, Seaver played a significant role in their victory in the 1969 World Series over the Baltimore Orioles.
Miguel Ángel Cuellar Santana was a Cuban professional baseball player. He played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher in 1959 and from 1964 through 1977, most prominently as a member of the Baltimore Orioles who won the American League (AL) pennant in each of Cuellar's first three seasons with the team. During that time, Cuellar and the Orioles won the 1970 World Series. Cuellar also played for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros and California Angels.
Gary Edward Gentry is an American former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher.
Gerald Wayne Grote is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1963 through 1981, most prominently as a member of the New York Mets where he was a two-time All-Star player and was a member of the team that became known as the Miracle Mets for their upset victory over the powerful Baltimore Orioles in the 1969 World Series. Grote was considered to be one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
The 1973 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1973 season. The 70th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Oakland Athletics and the National League (NL) champion New York Mets. The Athletics won the series in seven games for their second of three consecutive World Series titles and their seventh championship overall.
The 1969 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 1969 season. The 66th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff between the American League (AL) champion Baltimore Orioles and the National League (NL) champion New York Mets. The Mets won the series, four games to one, to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles team was considered to be one of the finest ever. The World Series win earned the team the sobriquets "The Amazin' Mets" and "The Miracle Mets". This was the first World Series of MLB's divisional era.
The 1969 National League Championship Series was a best-of-five match-up between the East Division champion New York Mets and the West Division champion Atlanta Braves. In what was the first ever NLCS, the Mets defeated the Braves three games to none. They did not sweep a playoff series again until 2006 as they swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series in three games.
David Arthur McNally was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1962 through 1975, most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that won four American League pennants and two World Series championships between 1966 and 1971. A three-time All-Star, McNally won 20 or more games for four consecutive seasons from 1968 through 1971. He was one of four 20-game winners for the 1971 Orioles, currently the last team as of 2022 to have four 20-win pitchers on the same roster.
John Joseph Murphy was an All-Star American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who later became a front office executive in the game.
Jonathan Trumpbour Matlack is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1971 through 1983 for the New York Mets and the Texas Rangers.
Myron Walter Drabowsky was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, and Chicago White Sox. A noted practical joker, Drabowsky engaged in such antics as leaving snakes in teammates' lockers or phoning the opposing team's bullpen to tell a pitcher to warm up. He batted and threw right-handed.
Thomas Virgil Sturdivant, nicknamed "Snake", was an American pitcher who played for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and New York Mets of Major League Baseball. He threw a curveball and a knuckleball, among other pitches. He batted left-handed but threw right-handed.
Donald Eugene Cardwell was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed pitcher who played for five National League (NL) teams from 1957 to 1970. He was the first pitcher in major league history to pitch a no-hitter in his first game after being traded. He pitched a no-hit, 4–0 winning game for the Chicago Cubs on May 15, 1960, just two days after being traded from the Philadelphia Phillies. After winning 15 games for the Cubs in 1961, he won 13 games twice for the Pittsburgh Pirates before helping the New York Mets win the 1969 World Series title.
Albert John Weis is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an infielder from 1962 to 1971 for the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets. A light-hitting batter with only seven career home runs, he is notable for hitting a dramatic home run in Game 5 of the 1969 World Series. He was a switch hitter until the end of the 1968 season, after which he batted exclusively right-handed.
The 1973 New York Mets season was the 12th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Manager Yogi Berra led the team to a National League East title with an 82–79 record and the National League pennant, though they were defeated by the Oakland Athletics in the World Series. Their .509 winning percentage is the lowest of any pennant-winner in major league history. Having won only 82 games during the regular season, they, along with the 2005 San Diego Padres, qualified for the postseason with the fewest regular season wins since Major League Baseball expanded to a 162-game season in 1961, and the fewest of any team since 1885. The season was well known for pitcher Tug McGraw's catchphrase "Ya Gotta Believe!!!"
The 1969 New York Mets season was the team's eighth as a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise and culminated when they won the World Series over the Baltimore Orioles. They played their home games at Shea Stadium and were managed by Gil Hodges. The team is often referred to as the "Amazin' Mets" or the "Miracle Mets".
Ronald Wesley Taylor is a retired Canadian physician and former professional baseball player; he is a member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. Born in Toronto, he was a relief pitcher over all or parts of 11 seasons (1962–1972) in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, New York Mets and San Diego Padres. He was a key contributor to two World Series-winning teams: the 1964 Cardinals and the 1969 Mets.
The 1984 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 84th season in the major leagues, and their 85th season overall. They finished with a record of 74-88, good enough for fifth place in the American League West, 10 games behind the first place Kansas City Royals.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
