Eddie Klepp

Edward Joseph Klepp

• Height 5' 7", Weight 170 lb.
• Throws Left

• Born ~1919 in Erie, PA USA
• Died January 1982 in Los Angeles, CA USA

In 1946, the Cleveland Buckeyes signed Eddie Klepp, making him the first openly white player in the Negro Leagues. Klepp's presence led to some run-ins with segregationist laws in Birmingham, AL as he was not allowed to play with the team. Though he showed some promise, he was not good enough, appearing in only three games and was released in June. In September, Klepp was convicted of burglary and never returned to professional baseball. It is unclear if Klepp's signing was strictly a promotional stunt or not.

Sources: The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues by James Riley, Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester, Discrimination in Reverse from chatterfromthedugout.com