The New York Mets announced Tuesday that they will retire the No. 36 jersey of pitcher Jerry Koosman during the 2020 season.
It’s a rare honor bestowed on the southpaw as he will join Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver, and Mike Piazza as the only Mets in franchise history to have their jersey numbers retired.
For a younger generation that never saw Koosman pitch, he was the No. 2 man behind the Hall-of-Famer Seaver — and one of the best pitchers the organization has ever had.
He ranks third in franchise history in wins (140) and strikeouts (1,799), as well as sixth in ERA (3.09).
Koosman also ranks second in innings pitched (2,544.2), games started (346), complete games (108), and shutouts (26) over 12 seasons with the club.
The 76-year-old will best be remembered for his performance in the clinching Game 5 of the 1969 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles when he pitched a complete game in which he allowed three runs on five hits in 5-3 victory.
Koosman was 2-0 in that Fall Classic, posting a 2.04 ERA in 17.2 innings pitched. He was 4-0 in his postseason career with the Mets, winning an additional game in the 1973 NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds before a Game 5 gem against the Oakland Athletics in the World Series.
The decision by the Mets to retire Koosman’s number came with a promise from team COO Jeff Wilpon that he will look into easing up on their number retirement policy — potentially opening the door for the likes of Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter, and David Wright to see their digits adorned atop Citi Field.
In time, they absolutely deserve that honor.
But not before Ed Kranepool and his No. 7 jersey.
The original Mr. Met, Kranepool made his MLB debut with the club as a 17-year-old and proceeded to spend all 17 years of his career with the organization.
By no means do his numbers make him a star considering he played a franchise-record 1,853 games with the team. He ranks third in hits (1,418), third in total bases (2,047), fourth in doubles (225), fifth in RBI (614), and ninth in runs scored (536).
But Kranepool was THE original Met.
And it’s something that the organization can’t really boast too often.
For example, the crosstown Yankees have 15 players in franchise history that have appeared in more games with the club than Kranepool as a Met. Eight of them are Hall of Famers while Derek Jeter will soon be the ninth.
The Mets simply don’t have that.
Wright’s career was ransacked by injuries or he would have been the guy.
Jose Reyes was traded away.
Seaver was traded away.
Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry’s careers were derailed by drugs.
Carter and Keith Hernandez were acquired by the Mets via trade, played integral roles as veterans in winning the 1986 World Series, and still didn’t finish their careers with the club.
Ed Kranepool came up a Met, stayed a Met, won as a Met, lost as a Met, and retired as a Met.
He was there for four 100-plus-loss seasons in five years from 1963-1963-1967.
He socked a three-run home run in Game 3 of the 1969 World Series. He played in the 1973 World Series and played under six managers.
He was one of the most recognizable and beloved faces of an organization that has little celebrate in their 57 years of existence.
And he was the one who implored the Mets back in late-June at Citi Field to not give up on a 2019 season that had gotten off the rails.
“They can do it like we did,” the 74-year-old said. “You have to believe in yourself . ‘You’ve Gotta Believe’…”
He’s a Met for life. You don’t see that too often.
Before any other number receives the royal treatment in Queens, Ed Kranepool’s is the next man up.
