Jim Kern - Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers

Kern was dominant from the moment he arrived in Texas. He was 10-2 with a 1.48 ERA and sixteen saves at the 1979 All-Star break to earn his third consecutive selection to the AL squad. With the American League leading 6-5, Kern gave up an eighth inning home run to the New York Mets' Lee Mazzilli, allowing the National League to tie the score. Mazzilli returned to the plate an inning later with the bases loaded and two outs. AL manager Bob Lemon pulled Kern in favor of New York Yankees ace Ron Guidry. Guidry walked Mazzilli, allowing the winning run to score, and giving Kern the loss.

Despite his short-comings in the All-Star game, Kern remained hot in the second half, going 3-3 with a 1.72 ERA and thirteen saves. His 29 saves for the season were second only to the Minnesota Twins' Mike Marshall. He was selected The Sporting News and Rolaids Relief Man of the Year, as well as being named the right-handed pitcher on The Sporting News AL All-Star Team that season.

Kern pitched 143 innings over 71 games in 1979, both career highs. The heavy workload effected Kern as he struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness in 1980. Back-to-back poor performances against the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles saw his ERA reach 5.25 at the start of May. With his record sitting at 2-7 with a 4.56 ERA and just two saves, Kern made his first start in four years on June 5 against the Kansas City Royals. He was tagged for five earned runs, and was unable to get out of the fifth inning. A poor performance in his next appearance against the Milwaukee Brewers saw his ERA reach a season high 6.19.

Injuries limited Kern to just seven innings pitched in the first half of the strike shortened 1981 season. However, he returned strong in the second half, going 1-2 with a 2.74 ERA and five saves in seventeen appearances. At the 1981 Winter meetings, he was traded to the New York Mets for Dan Boitano and Doug Flynn, however, before he could make an appearance with his new club, he was packaged with Greg Harris and Alex Trevino, and sent to the Cincinnati Reds for slugger George Foster.