Jerry Koosman, a pivotal pitcher for the New York Mets' historic 1969 World Series victory, has died at the age of 83. The team announced his passing on Sunday, stating that the famed left-hander had been contending with multiple illnesses.
Koosman was surrounded by family in Osceola, Wisconsin, at the time of his death. "The 1969 Mets had a multitude of heroes, but no one was bigger than Jerry Koosman, who passed away this morning after battling multiple illnesses," said Mets public relations director and team historian Jay Horwitz in a statement.
From the Mets' inception in 1962 until Koosman's arrival in 1967, the team had largely remained in last place. However, with the emergence of young pitchers like Koosman, Tom Seaver, and Nolan Ryan, the Mets developed one of baseball's most formidable rotations.
In the iconic 1969 season, Koosman earned his second consecutive All-Star selection. He posted a 2.28 earned-run average (ERA), contributing to a Mets team that held opponents to an NL-low 541 runs. Manager Gil Hodges's team went on to sweep the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series before defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.
While first baseman Donn Clendenon was named the World Series MVP, Koosman was instrumental in the five-game triumph, securing victories in Games 2 and 5. His performance in the series included a 2-0 record with a 2.04 ERA.
Although Koosman never replicated that peak success, he remained a reliable starting pitcher for the Mets until his trade to the Minnesota Twins in 1978. He also had brief stints with the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies before retiring with a career record of 222-209 and a 3.35 ERA.
In his post-playing career, Koosman briefly coached in the Mets' minor league system. He also managed Mesa Technology, Inc., a machine-design firm, in Osceola. The Mets honored Koosman by retiring his No. 36 in 2021.
Koosman faced legal issues in retirement, pleading guilty to misdemeanor federal tax evasion for $90,000 in unpaid taxes. He served a prison sentence from September 2009 to June 2010.
He is survived by his wife, Sandra Kosowski, and three children: Danielle, Shawn, and Michael. Koosman was preceded in death by former teammates and managers, including Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver, and Nolan Ryan.