yardbarker
Jerry Koosman, a native of Appleton, Minnesota, whose left arm carried him to a World Series title and later to a 20-win season in his home state, passed away on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Osceola, Wisconsin. He was 83. Koosman had been in declining health for roughly a year and succumbed to multiple ailments, with his children at his side.
Born on December 23, 1942, in Appleton, Koosman spent his formative years in rural Minnesota and graduated from West Central School of Agriculture in Morris before serving in the U.S. Army.
He first gained national attention as a member of the New York Mets, where he and Tom Seaver formed a potent one-two punch on the 1969 "Miracle Mets" squad that captured the World Series. Koosman recorded the final out of that championship series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Following a pair of difficult seasons in 1977 and 1978, the Minnesota native asked to be traded closer to home. The Mets accommodated him in December 1978, shipping him to the Twins in exchange for minor leaguer Greg Field and a player to be named later, a deal that was eventually completed with Jesse Orosco.
Wearing Minnesota's red, white, and blue for the first time in 1979, the 36-year-old veteran turned in one of the finest campaigns of his career. Koosman compiled a 20-13 record with a 3.38 ERA over 263 innings, notching 10 complete games and two shutouts. He placed sixth in American League Cy Young voting and was honored with the Twins' Joseph W. Haynes Award as the club's Pitcher of the Year. After opening the season 7-0, he endured a midseason slump before dominating in August.
He followed that with a solid 16-13 mark in 1980 before being traded to the White Sox during the 1981 season. Over parts of three seasons with Minnesota, Koosman went 39-35 with a 3.77 ERA in 94 games.
The Twins organization acknowledged his three seasons in Minnesota while joining the rest of the baseball community in mourning.
For fans in the Upper Midwest, Koosman's return meant more than numbers: a local farm boy who had already reached the sport's pinnacle brought proven durability and a competitive edge to Metropolitan Stadium at a time when the club was rebuilding after the Rod Carew era.
Though his greatest fame remained tied to New York—where the Mets retired his No. 36 and inducted him into their Hall of Fame—his 1979 resurgence remains a memorable chapter in Twins history, a reminder of the talent the state has long produced and the veteran leadership it has welcomed home.
Koosman finished his 19-year major-league career with 222 wins, a 3.36 ERA, and 2,556 strikeouts. He is survived by sons Michael and Shawn and daughter Danielle.
Originally reported by yardbarker.