Remembering Mets History (1975) Jerry Koosman Wins 100th Career Game

Tuesday June 24th, 1975: Entering tonight's game, Yogi Berra's Mets (32-32) were on a season worst seven game losing streak. The team was having a hard time scoring runs, having been shut out in their last three games. New York had scored just six runs in their last six games.

Trivia: On the season the Mets would come in ninth place of the twelve NL teams with 646 runs scored. 

The 1975 Mets had great starting pitching from their big three, Cy Young Winner Tom Seaver, Jon Matlack & Jerry Koosman. The three combined to go 52-34 with other starters going 17-25 & the bullpen going 13-21.

Tonight, New York hosted Red Schoendienst's fifth place St Louis Cardinals (32-33) trying to salvage one game of this three-game series after dropping the first two.

Tonight, Jerry Koosman (5-5 with a 3.84 ERA) faced off against the Redbirds' John Curtis (4-5). John Curtis had come over from Boston having won ten or more games, three straight seasons.

Kooz was going going for his 100th career win, unable to earn that win in his last three starts, taking losses in two of those games.

In the top of the 1st, with two outs Mets second baseman Felix Millan booted a Willie Davis grounder, allowing him to reach first base but Koosman retired Ted Simmons for the third out.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, Mets leadoff batter Gene Clines singled & stole second base.

Gene Clines Trivia: Clines was brought to New York for his speed & defense. From 1970 -1974 he had been a reserve outfielder for the Pirates stealing 51 bases in 73 attempts with a .345 on base %. In 82 games with the '75 Mets he stole just four bases in eight attempts with a .260 on base %.

With one out, Jesus Alou hit a fly ball to left field that Willie Davis misplayed, allowing Alou to reach second base & Clines to score the first win.

Jesus Alou Trivia: Jesus was one of the three major league Alou brothers along with Felipe & Matty. A long tome Giant (1963-1968) Astro (1969-1973 / 1978-1979) who also won two World Series with the Oakland A's (1973-1974). Alou spent just one year with Mets batting .265 in 62 games.

In the bottom of the 4th, Joe Torre collected his first of three hits in the game, with a base hit.  Dave Kingman followed with his tenth HR of the year, a two-run shot 425 feet deep into the visitor's bullpen giving the Mets a 3-0 lead. 

Mets Trivia: In the off season the Mets had brought in both the veteran Joe Torre & slugger Dave Kingman. The 34-year-old Joe Torre was in the twilight of his career, having had spent the past six seasons with the Cardinals, winning the NL MVP Award just four years earlier. 

Torre had come over in a trade for Ray Sadecki & Tommy Moore. That year Torre hit just .247 then hit .306 the following season.

Kingman had been purchased in the off season for $150k from the Giants. He would set Mets single season HR records with 36 & 37 HRs in the next two seasons.

In the top of the 5th, The Cardinals collected their first hit as Mario Guerrero singled to right field with two outs. Kooz then retired pinch hitter Dick Billings. In the 6th he retired the side in order.

In the top of the 7th, Ted Simmons led off with a base hit, Koosman then struck out Luis Melendez & got Ken Reitz to fly out. Doug Howard then singled, as the Cards had two base runners for the first time in the game. But Koosman then got Mario Guerrero to fly out to Alou in right field.

In the bottom of the 7th, Del Unser led off with a base hit. Jerry Koosman bunted him over & Gene Clines drove him in with his second base hit of the night, making it 4-0 Mets. 

The speedy Clines advanced to third on a Felix Millan then singled to right field sending Clines to third. He scored on Jesus Alou's ground ball to first base, giving the Mets a 5-0 lead.

In the top of the 8th, Koosman gave up a double to Mike Tyson, who advanced on Lou Brock's ground out to third base. Ted Sizemore hit a sharp grounder to short allowing Tyson to score the Cardinals lone run. The Mets went on to a 5-1 win.

On the night, Jerry Koosman allowed just one run on five hits, striking out seven & walking one earning the win. It was a milestone victory as Koosman eared his 100th career win.

Kooz Trivia: Jerry Koosman was the second Mets pitcher in franchise history to reach 100 victories. Tom Seaver was first & later Dwight Gooden would be just the third &only Mets pitchers to earn 100 career wins in a Mets uniform. 

The Mets would win four straight games, eight of their next eleven.