Klein unexpectedly fought his way into the Cardinal lineup in 1943, playing every inning of every game, batting .287. After losing almost two years to WWII, he returned to lose second base in a three-way battle with Red Schoendienst and Emil Verban. Disgusted, he jumped to the Mexican League, was barred from organized baseball, and later signed to play in the outlaw Quebec Provincial League. Before playing an inning in Canada, he was reinstated in 1949 and became the first jumper to return to the big leagues. But he still couldn’t beat Schoendienst out of a job. Klein was one of the Cubs’ “College of Coaches,” managing in 1961-62, and again, by himself, for most of 1965.