Joe Klein

John Anthony Klein III

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lb.
• High School Baltimore Polytechnic Institute

• Born August 22, 1942 in Baltimore, MD USA
• Died August 23, 2017 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

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

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

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