TTM Stats
- Sent: 7/20/2018 | Received: 1/18/2019 | 178 Days
- ’78 Topps, ’81 Fleer, ’83 Topps (kept second ’83 Topps)
- Address: Home (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Jim Kern is a former relief pitcher in the majors. He pitched from 1974 through 1986 and spent time in Cleveland, Texas, Cincinnati, Chicago (with the White Sox), Philadelphia and Milwaukee. Kern was a three-time All-Star and one-time Rolaids Relief Man of the Year.
Kern was born and raised in Michigan and signed with the Cleveland Indians as an 18-year old out of high school in 1967. He played for six years in the minors but missed the 1969 season while serving with the Marines. He made his major league debut on September 6, 1974 and pitched a complete game while holding the Orioles to just one run, but he lost as the Indians were held scoreless.
After starting to see some major time out of the bullpen, Kern excelled starting in the 1976 season. Then the next year he started a three year run as an All-Star from 1977 through 1979. He began it with his last two years in Cleveland and then his first with the Rangers. The last year with the Rangers was probably the best of his career. He went 13-5 with a 1.57 ERA and 29 saves. He won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year and received Cy Young and MVP votes.
He fought through injuries after that and was really a journeyman reliever. At one point he was in Cincinnati and hated their rule against facial hare and asked to be traded. The granted his request and sent him to the White Sox. He fought through injuries again and continued to move around until landing in Cleveland in 1986 and retiring mid season.
The Score on Jim Kern – 5.0
Jim’s got a good sized signature if you can see it. The marker he signs with is small and light. He probably signs very quickly and it doesn’t really mean for good contact with the card. So cards like the 1978 Topps card really bury the signature because of that dark jersey.
Thanks Mr. Kern! I’m giving these a 5.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.