Baseball: Kline Part Of A World Series Team
October 27, 2004 03:53 PM | General
By Tim Goodenow for MSNsportsNET.com
October 26, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Despite a strong season in 2004, injuries have forced West Virginia baseball alumnus Steve Kline to be left off the St. Louis Cardinals’ active roster for the World Series.
The ninth-year pro battled injuries throughout the season, including a recent torn tendon in his left index finger. The gutsy veteran played through the pain and even pitched in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.
“He was as fierce as a competitor, as you’ll ever see here,” says WVU head coach Greg Van Zant. “Add that to the great stuff he throws and its clear to see why he’s a major league pitcher. We are saddened that he can’t pitch in the World Series because he’s hurt. But he’s a competitor and we are all proud of him.”
A free agent after the season, Kline tallied a 1.79 ERA in 67 appearances for the Cardinals, who amassed the best record in baseball. Kline was scheduled to see a hand specialist in St. Louis on Wednesday afternoon to determine the severity of his injured finger.
Kline, a Sunbury, Pa., native was the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year for West Virginia in 1993. The lefty was drafted in the eighth round by the Cleveland Indians. He made his major league debut with the same team in 1997.
“Having Steve Kline in major league baseball is good for both him and this university,” said current Mountaineer Stan Posluszny. “It’s guys like Kline that put West Virginia baseball on the map. It’s neat to see a Mountaineer on a World Series team.”
