Joe Klein

From BR Bullpen

John Anthony Klein III

BR Minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Joe Klein played minor league baseball from 1962 to 1968. He was a first baseman in the Washington Senators minor league system. He managed in the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers chain from 1969 to 1978. He was the assistant farm director of the Rangers from 1976 to 1978 and farm director in 1979-1980. He was then the Scouting Director in 1981-1982 and General Manager in 1983 and 1984.

Klein spent 1985 as special assistant to the GM of the Kansas City Royals. He then served as general manager of the Cleveland Indians during the 1986 and 1987 seasons and was assistant GM in 1988. He returned to the Royals in player personnel in 1990 and director of player development in 1991.

Klein was the scouting director of the Detroit Tigers in 1992-1993 and GM in 1994 and 1995. He was named Executive Director of the Atlantic League in 1998 and held that position until his death on August 23, 2017. He died at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA after undergoing quadruple bypass surgery.


Preceded by
Eddie Robinson
Texas Rangers General Manager
1983-1984
Succeeded by
Tom Grieve
Preceded by
Phil Seghi
Cleveland Indians General Manager
1986-1987
Succeeded by
Hank Peters
Preceded by
Jerry Walker
Detroit Tigers General Manager
1994-1995
Succeeded by
Randy Smith

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Organization Playoffs Notes
1969 Shelby Senators Western Carolinas League 61-63 3rd (t) Washington Senators Lost League Finals
1970 Burlington Senators Carolina League 33-38 -- Washington Senators replaced by Bill Vickery (1-1) on June 26
Pittsfield Senators Eastern League 39-41 3rd Washington Senators none replaced P. J. Campbell (0-1) on June 27
1971 Pittsfield Senators Eastern League 68-69 4th Washington Senators
1972 Pittsfield Rangers Eastern League 66-73 6th Texas Rangers
1973 Pittsfield Rangers Eastern League 75-61 1st (t) Texas Rangers Lost League Finals
1974 Pittsfield Rangers Eastern League 69-70 5th Texas Rangers Lost League Finals
1975 GCL Rangers Gulf Coast League 41-12 1st Texas Rangers none League Champs
1976 GCL Rangers Gulf Coast League 38-16 1st Texas Rangers none League Champs
1977 GCL Rangers Gulf Coast League 27-27 4th Texas Rangers none
1978 GCL Rangers Gulf Coast League 33-22 1st Texas Rangers none League Champs

Related Sites[edit]