Remembering Mets History (1968) Jerry Koosman Tosses Back to Back Shut Outs As Mets Win 1st Home Opener

Thursday April 11th, 1968: The 1968 Mets opened the season with optimism as their new manager Gil Hodges was now at he helm. The former Met & Brooklyn Dodger great was a popular figure in New York & he would soon to become a legendary manager.

The Mets brought over Tommie Agee to play center as well as Al Weis from the White Sox. They also added Art Shamsky & J.C. Martin to the team.

Most important, the Mets had two of the most exciting young arms in the league in Tom Seaver & Jerry Koosman. In the Mets first game of the season, they took a 5-4 loss t the Giants in San Francisco. In the bottom of the 9th, Danny Frisella came in relief of Seaver who had just given up an RBI single to Jim Ray Hart bringing the Giants to within a run. With two men on Jesus Alou delivered the walk off two run single.

In the second game of the season, the Mets went down the coast to Dodger Stadium, Gil Hodges sent Jerry Koosman to the mound. 

In April 1967 Kooz debuted pitching in five games, all in relief before getting sent back down to the minors to fine tune. He returned in September going 0-2 in four games.

A small crowd of 16,372 came to Dodger Stadium for the night game as Kooz went up against Bill Singer.

In the 2nd & 3rd innings, Koosman walked batters but did not give up a run or a hit. In the top of the 5th, Tom Haller singled with the Dodgers first hit of the game.

In the top of the 5th, Ed Kranepool singled & with two outs Jerry Grote was intentionally walked. Jerry Koosman drew a walk himself to load the bases but Bud Harrelson struck out to end the inning.

Bill Singer matched zeroes with Kooz until the 6th inning, when Ken Boswell led off with a triple. After striking out Tommie Agee, Singer walked Ron Swoboda & Ed Kranepool to load the bases. Singer walked four batters on the night. Art Shamsky then delivered a two-run single giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the 8th, Tommie Agee got all the way to third base on an outfield error by Al Ferrara to lead off the inning. Ferrara was injured on the play & replaced by Len Gabrielson. Ron Swoboda then singled scoring Agee for the Mets third run of the game.

In the top of the 9th inning, Jerry Grote led off with a single, advanced on a fielders choice & scored on Ken Boswell's sac fly to center field giving New York their fourth & final run. 

Jerry Koosman earned his first career win, tossing a four-hit complete game shutout, striking out three while walking four.

The next day Don Drysdale beat the Mets & Don Cardwell in a 1-0 effort, splitting the two game series.

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Wednesday April 17th, 1968: At the time no one in New York could have possibly known that the Mets were one season away from winning a World Series but there were early signs in the 1968 season. The 1968 home opener featured most key players for the Miracle Champions of 1969. 

On Opening Day at Shea, Gil Hodges Mets hosted the former New York National League team, the now San Francisco Giants, managed by Herman Franks. This year 1968, marked the Giants tenth year on the West Coast.

The Giants always drew well returning to New York & on this day 52,079 were on hand at Shea Stadium. Hodges sent his young lefty, Jerry Koosman to face the Giants' Mike McCormick. McCormick was the NL leader in victories the previous year, posting a 22-10 mark with a 2.85 ERA.

Jerry Koosman had a shaky 1st inning, as former Met Ron Hunt led off with a base hit, Jim Davenport reached on a Bud Harrelson error & then he walked Willie McCovey. 

Koosman took a deep breathe & struck out Willie Mays. He then got Jim Ray hart to pop up & ended the inning striking out Jim Hiatt.

In the home 2nd it was Cleon Jones who got the Mets off to a 1-0 lead with his first HR of the season. Cleon would be second on the club to Ed Charles with 14 HRs on the season.

In the top of the 3rd, Ron Hunt collected his second hit of the day with another single. In the top of the 5th after retiring seven in a row, the pitcher Mike McCormick singled into left field.

In the top of the 6th, Willie McCovey led off with the Giants  fourth hit of the game. He was left stranded as Kooz retired Willie Mays, Jim Ray Hart & Jack Hiatt on fly ball outs.

The score remained 1-0 Mets as Mike McCormick also held the scoreless thru five innings.

In the bottom of the 6th, Ken Boswell led off the inning with a base hit. After Tommie Agee flew
out Boswell advanced on Ron Swoboda's fielder's choice. "The Glider" Ed Charles then doubled to left field bringing in Boswell with the Mets second run. Charles would drive in 53 runs that year, third most on the low scoring team.

In the top of the 7th, Koosman struggled a bit giving up a one out a hit to pinch hitter Nate Oliver. He then struck out "Downtown" Ollie Brown but walked Ron Hunt. With two on Koosman ended the inning by striking out Jim Davenport for the third time on the day.

In the bottom of the 7th, Giants reliever Bobby Bolin came in & surrendered a leadoff double to catcher Jerry Grote. Bolin then booted a grounder hit by Koosman putting two men on for the Mets with no outs. Al Weis would then single to left field bring home Grote to top off the 3-0 win.

As for Koosman, he was had a fantastic afternoon, scattering seven hits, walking two & striking out ten batters. He would strike out eleven batters in his next start as well.

Kooz Trivia: For Koosman he would start out the year at 4-0 & finish up at 19-12 on a team that was 73-89. He came in second in that year's Rookie of the Year voting to Johnny Bench.

His 19 wins were 4th best in the NL & he struck out 178 batters. More incredibly he kept his ERA under two all season until September 24th. That day he gave up five earned runs to the Atlanta Braves, putting his ERA at 2.12 the first time it was over two all season. He ended the year with a 2.08 ERA (4th best in the NL).