Steve Kline (right-handed pitcher)
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Steven Jack Kline (born October 6, 1947 in Wenatchee, Washington) is a former starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1970 through 1977. Kline batted and threw right-handed. He is not related with Steve Kline, a left-handed pitcher.
Kline was 22 years old when he reached the majors in 1970 with the New York Yankees, spending four and a half years with them before moving to the Cleveland Indians (1974) and Atlanta Braves (1977). In his rookie season for the Yankees he went 6-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 15 starts, and won 12 games a year later, including career-numbers with 81 strikeouts and 15 complete games. His most productive season came in 1972, when he recorded career-highs in wins (16), ERA (2.40), starts (32), shutouts (4), and innings pitched (236⅓). He declined after that and was sent to Cleveland in the 1974 midseason. He missed two years after developing arm problems, and made 16 relief appearances for Atlanta in 1977, his last major league season.
In a six-season career, Kline posted a 43-45 record with 240 strikeouts and a 3.26 ERA in 750⅓ innings.
