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Koosman Gets His Stripes

Edgy DC Sep 04 2009 08:01 AM

Jerry Koosman, a key pitcher for the 1969 Miracle Mets who shocked the baseball world by defeating the highly-favored Orioles in a five-game World Series, was sentenced to six months in prison on Thursday for not paying his federal taxes. The decision was handed down in Madison, Wis. Federal prosecutors accused Koosman, 66, of not paying his federal income taxes for 2002, '03 and '04, costing the government as much as $90,000. Koosman contended that he had researched tax laws and concluded they applied only to federal workers, corporate employees and District of Columbia residents. He pleaded guilty in May to misdemeanor tax evasion for '02 in a deal with prosecutors. Koosman played in the Majors for 19 seasons, from 1967-85, his first 12 with the Mets. He had a 222-209 record and a 3.36 ERA. Koosman was 17-9 on the '69 Mets team that also included Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan on its pitching staff. Koosman and Seaver also pitched for the '73 Mets, who lost a seven-game World Series to the A's. Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Damn.

Benjamin Grimm Sep 04 2009 08:06 AM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

It seems that it may not be a good idea to do your own legal research. I've always liked Jerry, and I'm sorry he's going to jail, but... what a dope.

metirish Sep 04 2009 08:09 AM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

Did Jerry do all this on his own or did he fall in with an anti tax crowd? The Daily News has this " Koozman apologized as he was read his fate, saying he got suckered by the anti-tax fringe movement." Is that a big movement , was Jerry conned into it...

Ashie62 Sep 04 2009 09:25 AM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

I guess Kooz is a Minnewhacky Libertarian.. Fine by me, but the taxes do pay for the soldiers that defend your freedom

Benjamin Grimm Sep 04 2009 09:27 AM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

The soldiers only defend the freedom of federal workers and residents of the District of Columbia.

metirish Sep 04 2009 09:34 AM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

[quote="Ashie62":3a5in681]I guess Kooz is a Minnewhacky Libertarian.. Fine by me, but the taxes do pay for the soldiers that defend your freedom[/quote:3a5in681] When you say it like that I want to man up and pay more taxes and put Toby Keith on the turntable.

SteveJRogers Sep 04 2009 09:59 AM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

[quote="Benjamin Grimm":25ejqyxs]The soldiers only defend the freedom of federal workers and residents of the District of Columbia.[/quote:25ejqyxs] .

Kong76 Sep 04 2009 12:42 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

What's the old saying? Anyone who hires themselves as their attorney has an idiot for a client. Poor Kooz, I hope they go easy on him inside.

The Second Spitter Sep 04 2009 12:52 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

This really sucks. Koosman may be close to my favorite Met from the era before I started supporting the Mets.

TransMonk Sep 04 2009 01:04 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

So this means 60% of our Top 5 ranked Mets players of all time will have served jail time. Bad Ass.

Edgy DC Sep 04 2009 01:18 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

That's also 67% of our top three pitchers. Plus Ron Darling, Rick Aguilera, and Bob Ojeda know what a Houston holding cell look like.

Valadius Sep 04 2009 01:21 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

I really hate people who try to duck their taxes.

metirish Sep 04 2009 01:23 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Sep 04 2009 01:54 PM

Val hates Koosman.......probably one of the sweetest people ever and Val hates him.....

Edgy DC Sep 04 2009 01:31 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

It's a tough room.

Valadius Sep 04 2009 01:53 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

Well not Koosman in particular. Just people who claim absurd legal arguments to duck their taxes and make everyone else pick up the slack for their selfishness.

Edgy DC Sep 04 2009 02:16 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

Well, to be fair, a lot of the publicity around this reads as if Koosman has been maintaining his (weak) position to the bitter end, when, in fact, that was his initial defense. And he's long been cooperating. Everybody wrestles with the tax man. While we're bringing the hate, how about we bring some at Congressman Rangel --- tax man and tax cheat? Think he'll get six months?

Gwreck Sep 04 2009 02:24 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

Most tax issues can be resolved by paying the IRS rather than forcing criminal action, however. How cooperative Koosman was is debatable.

Nymr83 Sep 04 2009 02:50 PM Re: Koosman Gets His Stripes

[quote="Edgy DC"]Well, to be fair, a lot of the publicity around this reads as if Koosman has been maintaining his (weak) position to the bitter end, when, in fact, that was his initial defense. And he's long been cooperating. Everybody wrestles with the tax man. While we're bringing the hate, how about we bring some at Congressman Rangel --- tax man and tax cheat? Think he'll get six months?

Rangel was the first thing i thought of when i saw that Koosman got 6 months, Koos some time but its gotta hurt to know that Rangel is out there, guiltier than OJ, and un-indicted.

Most tax issues can be resolved by paying the IRS rather than forcing criminal action, however. How cooperative Koosman was is debatable.

to the best of my knowledge the IRS' policy is no jail if you come to them looking to settle up (even if you cant afford it at the time), but once they go after you its not gauranteed that you can get off.