THE 1 AND ONLY… Mets pitcher to have each gained and misplaced 20 video games in a season: Jerry Koosman
The Time: 1976 and 1977.
The Background: Koosman debuted in 1967 and didn’t take lengthy to succeed in nice heights. In his first full season, the left-hander gained 19 video games after which in 1969 he tossed an entire sport in Sport 5 to clinch the World Sequence for the Miracle Mets. They posted a successful file in 1976 for the seventh time in eight years, however 1977 marked the primary of seven straight dropping seasons.
The Skinny: After posting a career-high 21 wins to go together with a 2.69 ERA in 1976, Koosman plummeted to a career-high 20 losses the very subsequent season. It wasn’t that he bombed in 1977, although, as his ERA was solely 3.49 and he led the NL with 7.6 strikeouts per 9 innings. A scarcity of run assist was largely guilty, as any time he allowed greater than three runs, he was charged with a loss. Koosman was 8-11 on the finish of July earlier than dropping his ultimate 9 selections.
The Others Who Got here Closest: Six pitchers have gained 20 video games and 5 have misplaced 20 video games in a season for the Mets. Dwight Gooden and Frank Viola had been each 20-game winners who had one other season wherein every misplaced 15 video games. Jon Matlack additionally got here shut, dropping 16 video games in 1973 and successful 17 in 1976.
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The Quote: “We had been competing within the Nationwide League with Double-A and Triple-A ballplayers.” — Koosman on the Mets’ 1977 season.
The Aftermath: Koosman pitched yet another season for the Mets, going 3-15, however after getting traded to the Twins, bounced again with one other 20-win season in 1979 earlier than finally retiring in 1985. In 2009, Koosman was sentenced to 6 months in jail for federal tax evasion.
The Legacy: Koosman stays the final pitcher in MLB to lose 20 video games the season after successful 20 (knuckleballer Phil Niekro went 21-20 for the Braves in 1979). However his Mets tenure was remembered far more for his function on the Miracle Mets, forming a 1-2 punch atop the rotation with Tom Seaver. Final September, the franchise introduced it can retire Koosman’s No. 36.