Eugene V. Klein - Sports Franchise Investments

Sports Franchise Investments

Always an avid sports fan, but an entrepreneur who recognized the potential on the U.S. West Coast, in 1960 Gene Klein unsuccessfully lobbied Major League Baseball owners to obtain an American League franchise for the city of Los Angeles.

On December 20, 1966, Gene Klein and business associate Sam Schulman, plus a group of minority investors, obtained the National Basketball Association franchise for the city of Seattle, Washington. Schulman would be the active partner, serving as president of the basketball team and head of operations. Prior to this, Klein and Schulman had already made a major investment in sports following the June 1966 announcement of the merger of the American Football League and the National Football League. On August 25 they led a group of investors who purchased the San Diego Chargers for $10 million, at the time, a record price for a National Football League franchise. The majority owner, Klein served as the team's president and head of operations.

During his time with the Chargers football club, Klein became involved in a much publicized feud with Al Davis, the then managing general partner of the Oakland Raiders. Their differences resulted in a lawsuit in which a San Diego Superior Court jury held Davis responsible for a heart attack Klein suffered in 1981. The verdict was overturned on appeal.

While he was the owner of the San Diego Chargers in the mid 1970s he hired coach Don "Air" Coryell and assembled a very interesting team that kept people fascinated with the Chargers because of the high scoring offense. During this time the Chargers offense had three future NFL Hall of Fame inductees with Dan Fouts as quarterback, Kellen Winslow at tight end, and Charlie Joiner at wide receiver. Other notable receivers were All-Pro's John Jefferson and later Wes Chandler. The town became highly engrossed in such a franchise and pro football led all professional teams in the area because the baseball team and basketball team did not compete in their respective sports nearly at the same level. The Chargers won AFC West division titles in 1979-1981 and also made the playoffs in 1982. In 1980 and 1981, they reached the AFC Championship game but lost both times and never advanced to the Super Bowl under Klein.

Klein refused to renegotiate player contracts, most notably Jefferson's and defensive end Fred Dean's contracts at the beginning of the 1981 season. The situation led to both players being dealt away by the Chargers. While Jefferson was replaced by Chandler, future Hall of Famer Dean's departure on defense coincided with the Chargers surrendering the most passing yards in the NFL in both 1981 and 1982.

In 1984, Gene Klein sold his interest in the San Diego Chargers to Alex Spanos.

On his death, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said of Gene Klein: "He made a great contribution to the league, not only in San Diego, but on the television committee, where he was a visionary" and that Klein "was a valuable and valued owner and he will be missed."