Rangerfans.com

  • Home
  • Uniform Numbers
    • 0
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    • 6
    • 7
    • 8
    • 9
    • 10
    • 11
    • 12
    • 13
    • 14
    • 15
    • 16
    • 17
    • 18
    • 19
    • 20
    • 21
    • 22
    • 23
    • 24
    • 25
    • 26
    • 27
    • 28
    • 29
    • 30
    • 31
    • 32
    • 33
    • 34
    • 35
    • 36
    • 37
    • 38
    • 39
    • 40
    • 41
    • 42
    • 43
    • 44
    • 45
    • 46
    • 47
    • 48
    • 49
    • 50
    • 51
    • 52
    • 53
    • 54
    • 55
    • 56
    • 57
    • 58
    • 59
    • 60
    • 61
    • 62
    • 63
    • 64
    • 65
    • 66
    • 67
    • 68
    • 69
    • 70
    • 71
    • 72
    • 73
    • 74
    • 75
    • 76
    • 77
    • 78
    • 79
    • 80
    • 81
    • 82
    • 83
    • 84
    • 85+
  • Seat Selector
  • Team Info
    • Schedule Archives
      • 2013 Season
      • 2012 Season
      • 2011 Season
      • 2010 Season
      • 2009 Season
      • 2008 Season
      • 2007 Season
      • 2006 Season
      • 2005 Season
      • 2004 Season
      • 2003 Season
      • 2002 Season
      • 2001 Season
      • 2000 Season
      • 1999 Season
    • Transactions
    • The Ballpark in Arlington
    • Minor Leagues
    • Attendance History
    • Broadcaster History
  • Other
    • Pocket Schedules
    • Links
    • Book Reviews
    • Downloads
    • Contact Me
  • Facebook
You are here: Home / Turn Back the Clock / Ranger Player from the Past: Jim Kern

Ranger Player from the Past: Jim Kern

Posted by Joe Siegler on October 27, 2000 at 11:24 am

Jim Kern played in the Major leagues for thirteen seasons. He only spent three of those seasons with the Rangers, yet he is one of the most memorable players in franchise history. He stood at 6’5” and was well known for his eccentric, intelligent behavior. He was also widely known for being a prankster. Kern was called “Emu” by his teammates because he looked and acted like a big bird. He kept his teammates and the fans on their toes throughout every game. All of this aside, Jim was a very effective reliever as well.
Kern came to the Rangers in 1979 and enjoyed the best season of his career. He had an overpowering fastball and a lunatic reputation that made him an intimidating short reliever. The Rangers used Kern in 99 games during the 1979 season and he responded with a 13-5 record, a 1.57 ERA with 29 saves and 136 k’s in 143 innings. Jim and Sparky Lyle were both in the Rangers bullpen from 1979-1980 and they were known as “Craziness, Inc.” for their antics, both, on and off-the-field. During a game at Arlington Stadium in 1980, Kern was hit in the mouth with a throw from his catcher, Jim Sundberg, while watching a foul ball. Kern fell flat on his back and suffered a concussion and had a touch of temporary amnesia.
Kern was recognized for his brilliant season in 1979 by winning Fireman of the Year co-honors with Mike Marshall. Kern suffered an elbow injury in 1980 and was never the same again. He went on to appear in a total of 86 games for the Rangers during the 1980-1981 seasons. His record during this time period was 4-13, his ERA was 4.15 and he only recorded eight saves. He then bounced from the White Sox, Reds, Brewers, Phillies and Indians over the last five year of his career.
Kern’s trademark was his scraggly beard that hung down past his collar. This became as much a part of Jim as his rising fastball. In 1982, he was traded from the White Sox to the Reds and was forced to shave his beard so that he would conform to the Reds “no facial hair” rule. Kern was so unhappy in Cincinnati that he forced the Reds to trade him by regrowing his infamous beard.
When you scan the Rangers record book, you won’t find Jim Kern’s name anywhere. In fact, if you asked the casual fan what team that Kern played for, they would more than likely answer, “The Indians.” Jim’s remarkable season in 1979, and his eccentric personality will be remembered by Rangers fans for years to come.
Click here to see Jim’s lifetime stats.
Remember the Rangers!
Jeremy Northrip
rangerhistory@hotmail.com

Filed Under: Turn Back the Clock

About Site

This is a Texas Rangers fan site run by Joe Siegler. From 1999 through 2013 I used to do daily game updates, but got burnt out on that and stopped.

The site lives on as my favorite section to update I’m still very interested in. That is the Uniform Number history pages, which I’m quite proud of. Plus Ill write the odd article here and there.

I mostly spend my time in this Facebook group talking about the Rangers these days.

If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line.

Categories

Disclaimer

Rangerfans.com is a fan site run by Joe Siegler, and is in no way affiliated with, condoned or given any notice by the Texas Rangers, who have their own website. Similarly, this website has no association with the ownership group or any businesses related to Texas Rangers Baseball LLC, or MLBAM. This is a fan based website.

Copyright © 2025 ·Agency Pro · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in