Mets Great Jerry Koosman, Hero of the 1969 World Series, Dies at 83

Former All-Star pitcher Jerry Koosman, one of the aces of the 1969 World Series champion New York Mets, has died at the age of 83. The Mets announced his death in a social media post on Sunday. Koosman made his major-league debut with the Mets in 1967 and was an All-Star in 1968 and again in 1969, when he helped pitch the Miracle Mets to one of baseball's most famous championships. Over 19 seasons in the majors, the left-handed workhorse posted a record of 222 wins and 209 defeats with a 3.36 earned run average and 2,556 strikeouts in 3,839 and a third innings. He remains the winningest left-hander in Mets franchise history, a mark that underlines his place among the club's all-time great pitchers. Koosman is a member of the Mets Hall of Fame and had his jersey retired by the club in 2021, recognition of a career built on durability, competitiveness and big-game pitching. His death closes another chapter on the 1969 team that remains one of the most beloved in New York sports history, and tributes are expected from across baseball in the days ahead.