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Jerome Martin Koosman (born December 23, 1942) is an Americans former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies between and . Koosman is best known as a member of the Miracle Mets team that won the 1969 World Series.
After leading all International League pitchers in in , Koosman broke into the Mets’ rotation in . 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.
In Game Two of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, Koosman was shelled for six runs in 4 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.
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 6 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.
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.)
Koosman posted identical 11–7 records in and . 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 his last productive season.
On April 13, 1984 Koosman gave up a double to Pete Rose for his 4000th hit.
With 222 wins, he is tied (with Hooks Dauss) at #72 on the all-time win list. He ended his career with a 222–209 record and a 3.36 ERA in 612 games. He strike out 2,556 batters in 3,839 innings pitched.
Koosman has the third most wins in Mets history (140) behind Tom Seaver (198) and Dwight Gooden (157).
Koosman was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame in . He attended the 40th anniversary reunion of the 1969 Miracle Mets at Citi Field on August 22, 2009.
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. Koosman has since been joined by Keith Hernandez, Willie Mays and Dwight Gooden in having their numbers retired.Najarian, Joe (Jan 17, 2024) Mets Reveal Jersey Retirement Dates for Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry Sports Illustrated FanNation. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
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