Mets retiring 1969 World Series hero Jerry Koosman's No. 36
One of the New York Mets' World Series heroes is finally being awarded the team's highest honor.
The Mets announced Thursday that they will retire former left-hander Jerry Koosman's No. 36 jersey prior to their June 13 home game against the Washington Nationals.
📅 The date is set! 📅
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 5, 2020
We will retire Jerry Koosman’s No. 3⃣6⃣ on Saturday, June 13 in a pre-game ceremony.
🎟️👉 https://t.co/8Y9U6h6wUR pic.twitter.com/3M8wZiD360
Koosman, now 77, is best known for his starring role with the 1969 "Miracle Mets," who pulled off one of the most shocking World Series wins in history. In his two starts against the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles, he crafted a 2.04 ERA and clinched the title with a complete-game five-hitter at Shea Stadium.
His playoff heroics continued in 1973 when he stifled the Cincinnati Reds in the NLCS to help the Mets capture another surprising pennant.
Koosman was a two-time All-Star during his 12 seasons in Queens and still ranks near the top of almost every statistical category in team history. He was elected to the Mets Hall of Fame in 1989.
He's just the third former Mets player to have his number retired, following his longtime rotation mate Tom Seaver (No. 41) and Mike Piazza (No. 31) and the first non-Hall of Famer to receive the honor.
The Mets have also retired numbers for ex-managers Casey Stengel (No. 37) and Gil Hodges (No. 14).