Joe Klein was a professional baseball player who played as a catcher for several teams during his career. He was born on August 9, 1941, in Mobile, Alabama, and attended the University of South Alabama. He was drafted by the Washington Senators in 1963 and made his major league debut in 1967.
Klein played for the Senators, Montreal Expos, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, and Kansas City Royals during his career. He was known for his defensive skills as a catcher and was a valuable asset to his teams. He was also a good hitter and had a career batting average of .248.
Klein's best season was in 1972 when he played for the Expos. He hit .301 with 26 home runs and 73 RBIs. He was named to the National League All-Star team that year and finished 10th in the MVP voting.
After retiring as a player, Klein became a scout and front office executive. He worked for several teams, including the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays. He was the general manager of the Texas Rangers from 1983 to 1984 and the Cleveland Indians from 1986 to 1987.
Klein is perhaps best known for his role as the general manager of the Kansas City Royals from 1990 to 1994. He was responsible for building the team that won the 1994 American League pennant and advanced to the World Series. He made several key trades and signings, including acquiring David Cone and Jeff Montgomery and signing free agent outfielder Brian McRae.
Klein's tenure with the Royals was not without controversy, however. He was criticized for trading away popular players such as Kevin Seitzer and Danny Tartabull and for his handling of the team's finances. He was fired by the Royals in 1994 and went on to work for the Detroit Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays before retiring in 2002.
Overall, Joe Klein had a successful career as a player and executive in Major League Baseball. He was a valuable player and a shrewd talent evaluator who helped build several successful teams. Despite some controversies, he is remembered as a respected figure in the game.
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