Jerry Koosman Stats & Facts
Jerry Koosman
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Left
6-2, 205lb (188cm, 92kg)
Born: December 23, 1942 in Appleton, MN
High School: West Central School of Agriculture (Morris, MN)
School: University of Minnesota, Morris (Morris, MN)
Debut: April 14, 1967 (10,174th in MLB history)
vs. PHI 2.2 IP, 0 H, 2 SO, 2 BB, 0 ER
Last Game: August 21, 1985
vs. LAD 0.2 IP, 5 H, 0 SO, 2 BB, 5 ER, L
Full Name: Jerome Martin Koosman
Nicknames: Kooz
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Nine Players Who Debuted in 1967
Reggie Jackson
Graig Nettles
Rod Carew
Johnny Bench
Tom Seaver
Jerry Koosman
Amos Otis
Sparky Lyle
Aurelio Rodriguez
The Jerry Koosman Teammate Team
C: Carlton Fisk
1B: Ed Kranepool
2B: Juan Samuel
3B: Mike Schmidt
SS: Bud Harrelson
LF: Cleon Jones
CF: Tommie Agee
RF: Rusty Staub
DH: Harold Baines
SP: Tom Seaver
SP: Jon Matlack
SP: Geoff Zahn
SP: Rich Dotson
SP: Steve Carlton
RP: Tug McGraw
RP: Mike Marshall
M: Gil Hodges
Notable Events and Chronology for Jerry Koosman Career
Known for his control throughout his career, Koosman led the International League in strikeouts in 1967, and in 1968 emerged as the Mets’ lefthanded ace. He was NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year and runner-up to Johnny Bench for Rookie of the Year. He broke club records with 19 wins, seven shutouts, and a 2.08 ERA (all set by Tom Seaver the year before). All are still Met rookie records. He also fanned 62 times (in 91 at-bats), the most by a NL pitcher since 1900.
Seaver and Koosman became one of the league’s top righty/lefty starting combos. As a sophomore, Koosman was 17-9 for the 1969 World Champions, and he beat Baltimore twice in the Series. He overcame arm problems in 1971 and was a hard-luck 14-15 (2.84) for the ’73 pennant winners. Peaking in 1976, he recorded a 21-10 mark. But in 1977, Seaver was traded to the Reds, the Mets deteriorated, and Koosman went 8-20 to tie Phil Niekro for the league lead in losses. Koosman left the Mets as runner-up to Seaver or all-time club leader in ten pitching categories.
Jerry Koosman was on the mound for the final out of the 1969 World Series, having won both of his starts to help the New York Mets to their improbable championship. He was an excellent pitcher in the post-season, posting a perfect 4-0 record with 31 K’s in 40 1/3 innings.
Sent to the Twins in a December 1978 trade for Jesse Orosco. On the final day of the 1979 season, Koosman shut out the Milwauke Brewers, 5-0 for his 20th win. The shut out was the Brewers only one of the entire season, preventing them from joining the 1932 Yankees as the only teams to not be whitewashed during a season. In the strike-shortened 1981 season, his 13 losses for the Twins and White Sox were enough to tie for the AL lead. On August 19, 1983, in the second game of a doubleheader in Texas, Koosman won his 200th career game, pitching the White Sox to a 6-1 victory.
Koosman twice fanned 15 batters in a game: first on May 28, 1969, in ten innings against the expansion Padres; and again on June 23, 1980, against the Royals in a 4-1 victory. Koosman struck out ten or more batters in a game twenty times.
Koosman holds New York Mets franchise records for most career starts by a lefty (346), and most starts in a season by a lefty (35 in 1973 and ’74). He is also tied for most consecutive complete games (eight in 1976), and tied for most innings pitched in one season by a lefty (265 along with Jon Matlack in 1974.)
He retired with 222 wins and more than 2,500 strikeouts.
@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@
Factoids, Quotes, Milestones and Odd Facts
Played For
New York Mets (1967-1978)
Minnesota Twins (1979-1981)
Chicago White Sox (1981-1983)
Philadelphia Phillies (1984-1985)
Similar: Mickey Lolich, Jerry Reuss
Linked: Tom Seaver and Jon Matlack, who were in the Met rotation with Koosman, from 1972-1977… Jesse Orosco, for whom he was traded to the Twins… Randy Jones won the 1976 NL Cy Young Award, despite Koosman’s seemingly better season. Some speculated that Jones won because sympathetic voters did not want him to finish second in voting two years in a row. In 1975, Jones had been runner-up to Seaver… Pete Rose collected his 4,000th career hit of Koosman, on April 13, 1984.
Best Season, 1969
Koosman won 17 games during the regular season, when he fashioned a 2.28 ERA, which ranked fifth in the circuit. In the post-season, the lefty won Game Two of the LCS against the Braves, took Game Two of the World Series, and was on the mound for the final out of the Series in Game Five.
Post-Season Appearances
1969 National League Championship Series
1969 World Series
1973 National League Championship Series
1973 World Series
1983 American League Championship Series
Factoid
On the final day of the 1979 season, Koosman shut out the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-0 for his 20th win. The shutout was the Brewers only one of the entire season, preventing them from joining the 1932 Yankees as the only teams to not be whitewashed during a season.
Post-Season Notes
Koosman won twice in the ’69 Series, and once each in the ’73 Playoffs and World Series.
Feats: Koosman twice fanned 15 batters in a game: first on May 28, 1969, in ten innings against the expansion Padres; and again on June 23, 1980, against the Royals in a 4-1 victory. Koosman struck out ten or more batters in a game twenty times.
Milestones
On August 19, 1983, in the second game of a doubleheader in Texas, Koosman won his 200th career game, pitching the White Sox to a 6-1 victory.
Notes
Koosman holds New York Mets franchise records for most career starts by a lefty (346), and most starts in a season by a lefty (35 in 1973 and ’74). He is also tied for most consecutive complete games (eight in 1976), and tied for most innings pitched in one season by a lefty (265 along with Jon Matlack in 1974.)
Transactions
August 27, 1964: Signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent; December 8, 1978: Traded by the New York Mets to the Minnesota Twins for a player to be named later and Greg Field (minors). The Minnesota Twins sent Jesse Orosco (February 7, 1979) to the New York Mets to complete the trade; August 30, 1981: Traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later, Ivan Mesa (minors), Ronnie Perry (minors), and cash. The Chicago White Sox sent Randy Johnson (September 2, 1981) to the Minnesota Twins to complete the trade; November 7, 1983: Granted Free Agency; December 2, 1983: Signed as a Free Agent with the Chicago White Sox; February 15, 1984: Sent by the Chicago White Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete an earlier deal made on December 5, 1983. The Chicago White Sox sent a player to be named later to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ron Reed. The Chicago White Sox sent Jerry Koosman (February 15, 1984) to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete the trade; December 6, 1985: Released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
All-Star Selections
1968 NL
1969 NL
Replaced
“Fat Jack” Fisher as the #2 starter for the Mets, in 1968.
Replaced By
Koosman and Steve Carlton teamed as the Phillies’ fifth starter in 1985. The following season, Mike Maddux replaced Koosman in that role.
Best Strength as a Player
His curveball.
Largest Weakness as a Player
Koosman was a terrible hitter: 52% of his outs were via strikeout.
Other Resources & Links