Jerry Koosman

Koosman was discovered by the son of a Shea Stadium usher who caught Koosman when he pitched in the Army at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Mets offered Koosman a contract after his discharge. Koosman was about to be cut from the Mets in 1966, when Joe McDonald, the assistant farm director, requested Koosman be retained at least until his first payday, as he owed the Mets money they had wired him after his car broke down en route to spring training.\n', '

After leading all International League pitchers in strikeouts in 1967, Koosman broke into the Mets’ rotation in 1968. He posted a 19-12 record with seven shutouts, 178 strikeouts and a 2.08 earned run average. The wins, shutouts, and ERA set franchise records, breaking those set by mound mate Tom Seaver just the year before. Koosman also made the first of two All-Star teams in his career. The National League won the game 1-0 (to date, the only…