Who is the man: Steve Kline had just completed his first season in the major leagues, going 6-6 in 1970 in 15 starts for the Yankees.
Can ya dig it: Kline is often referred to as "the right-handed Steve Kline" to avoid confusion with the left-handed Steve Kline, a reliever with the Expos, Cardinals and other teams from 1997-2007.
Right on: Rookie card!!
You see this cat Kline is a bad mother: Kline is mentioned in the cartoon of his 1974 Topps card as "one of the A.L.'s most eligible bachelors." I'm not entirely sure what that means, but it's completely bad-ass.
Shut your mouth: Kline was a promising starter for the Yankees, pitching more than 200 innings in 1971 and 1972. But arm problems hit and Kline was dealt to the Indians in a trade that New York fans hated. But then Kline recorded a 5.07 ERA in 1974 for Cleveland and one of the player the Yankees got in return was Chris Chambliss. Kline was promptly forgotten.
No one understand him but his woman: Kline worked as a lumber broker for many years after his playing career. I had to look up what a lumber broker is. I'm told he is "a professional who facilitates the sell of timber between growers, saw mills, lumber yards and consumers." OK, that doesn't clear it up much.
(A word about the back): "Moundsman" is not a word you hear in baseball anymore.
A few things:
ReplyDelete"one of the A.L.'s most eligible bachelors." I wonder if, back before interleague play and free agency, if there was a segment of women who wouldn't date outside of their league?
A lumber broker breaks already broken pieces wood with his bare hands. It's right there in the name. Duh.
And "moundsman" sounds like a euphemism for something quite dirty. I am glad it has been phased out. Of course, it has been replaced by a few others, like "slide piece" and "split-finger" and "left handed specialist"
I was thinking moundsman might have something to do with him being an eligible bachelor.
ReplyDelete