Jim Kern - Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians

In 1967, Kern signed with the Cleveland Indians out of Midland High School in Midland, Michigan at eighteen years old. He went 4-7 with a 4.93 earned run average for the Gulf Coast League and Rock Hill Indians in 1968, then missed the 1969 season serving in the United States Marine Corp. He had an even 47-47 record over six seasons as a starting pitcher in the Indians' farm system when he received a September call-up in 1974. In his major league debut, he pitched a complete game in which he held the Baltimore Orioles to just one run. The Indians were, however, held scoreless by Orioles pitcher Mike Cuellar.

Kern went 0-6 despite a modest 1.82 ERA as a reliever in 1975 before he was moved into the starting rotation. He was 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA as a starter when the Indians traded Gaylord Perry to the Texas Rangers for Jim Bibby, Rick Waits, Jackie Brown and $100,000 on June 13. In order to make room on the major league roster for the two additional pitchers acquired, Kern was optioned to the triple A Oklahoma City 89ers.

He returned to the Indians in 1976 as a full-time reliever, making just two spot starts, and was 10-7 with a 2.37 ERA and fifteen saves. Early in the 1977 season, the Indians traded closer Dave LaRoche to the California Angels, opening the door for Kern to inherit the job. He was 2-3 with seven saves and a 2.84 ERA in his new job at the All-Star break to be named to his first All-Star squad. He pitched a perfect inning, striking out two. For the season, he finished fourth in the American League with eighteen saves, one ahead of LaRoche.

He was the Indians' sole representative at the 1978 game in San Diego. After the season, he and Larvell Blanks were traded to the Texas Rangers for Bobby Bonds and Len Barker.