DETROIT -- Former Detroit Tigers general manager Joe Klein, who spent the last 20 years leading an independent baseball league from its inception, died Wednesday at the age of 75.
The Atlantic League announced his death from complications of heart surgery.
Klein was general manager of the Texas Rangers (1983-1984), Cleveland Indians (1986-1987) and Detroit Tigers (1994-1995).
Klein was hired by the Tigers as scouting director in 1992 and tasked with improving the farm system.
Promoted to general manager by owner Mike Ilitch before the strike-shortened 1994 season, Klein feuded with manager Sparky Anderson, who chose not to manage replacement players and took a leave of absence during spring training in 1995.