Remembering Mets History (1976) Jerry Koosman Becomes Second Mets Pitcher to Win Twenty Games in a Season

Thursday September 16th, 1976: Jerry Koosman had pitched for the Mets for ten seasons. Kooz had won fifteen or more games three times, with one nineteen-win season which came in his rookie year of 1968. He had won ten or more games in a season, eight times as well. Koosman is the Mets all-time best post season pitcher with a 4-0 record, going 3-0 over two World Series appearances with a 2.39 ERA

In 1976, dating back to July 15th, Kooz was 10-2 with a 1.62 ERA with three shut outs in twelve starts. He had won his last three starts, pitching a three hit shut out & two hit one run victory, posting a 1.33 ERA in that time. He had matched his career high 19 wins & tonight was going for his 20th victory.

Joe Frazier's third place Mets (77-69) were 11.5 games out of first place & having just recently fallen out of the pennant race. Tonight, they hosted Red Schoendienst, fifth place St. Louis Cardinals (65-79) in front of a small crowd of just 5,472 at Shea Stadium. 

Brooklyn born Italian/American pitcher, Pete Falcone a distant cousin of Mets coach Joe Pignatano & a future Met, went up against Kooz on this historic night.

 

In the top of the 1st inning, Koosman issued a one out walk to Luis Alvarado then retired Keith Hernandez & Ted Simmons.

In the top of the 3rd, Vic Harris & Luis Alvarado collected back-to-back Cardinal singles, but Koosman then struck out Keith Hernandez & got Ted Simmons to ground out to Joe Torre at first base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Pete Falcone walked Felix Millan & John Milner, then an infield error by veteran short stop Don Kessinger on a Joe Torre grounder brought in Millan with the Mets first run. 

In the top of the 5th, Koosman issued a walk to Vic Harris but then retired ten batters in a row. In the top of the 6th inning he struck out the side, getting Joe Ferguson swinging, Ted Simmons & Mike Anderson both looking. 

In the bottom of the 5th, Joe Torre doubled, his tenth of the year. Joh Stearns drew a walk followed by Roy Staiger's RBI single to center field scoring Torre with the Mets second run.

In the home 7th, rookie Bruce Boisclair hit his second HR of the year making it a 3-0 Mets lead. Boisclair would collect an RBI single in the 8th inning as well to cap off the Mets scoring.

In the top of the 8th inning, after having retired ten Cardinals' in a row, 22 year old Keith Hernandez hit his seventh HR of the season, giving the Cards their only run of the night.

In the 9th inning, Koosman found that little bit extra, as he struck out the side for the second time on the night, fanning Joe Ferguson, Mike Anderson & Hector Cruz to end the game.

On the night, Koosman allowed just one run on four hits, he struck out 13 batters, with eight of them coming from the 6th inning on. He walked three batters in the 4-1 win. 

 

20 Game Winner: The win gave Koosman his twentieth victory of the year (20-8). He became the second Mets pitcher after Tom Seaver to win twenty games in franchise history. Kooz had spent his entire Mets career pitching in the shadows behind Seaver. On this night Jerry got center stage. He pitched his 15th complete game of the season & lowered his ERA to 2.76.

After the game Koosman along with his wife Lavonne & his mother, he enjoyed a toast of champagne in celebration. Earlier that year in March, Koosman had lost his father. He later said that his fathers passing gave him inspiration that entire season.

That season Kooman appreciated how new manager Joe Frazier just handed him the ball saying "take care of it"

Quotes- Kooz: "That was my best year".

Kooz ended the year at 21-10 (2nd in the NL in wins) with 200 strike outs (3rd in the NL) & a 2.69 ERA (4th in the NL) posting 17 complete games (2nd in the NL) & three shut outs. 

In 1976 he was runner up to San Diego's Randy Jones in the Cy Young voting, an honor in which Koosman may have deserved over Jones.