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Memories of
Jay Kleven

Jay Kleven
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 717 of 1218 players
Kleven
Jay Allen Kleven
Born: December 2, 1949 at Oakland, Cal.
Died: June 30, 2009 at San Lorenzo, Cal.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.02 Weight: 200

Jay Kleven was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on December 2, 2021.

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First Mets game: June 20, 1976
Last Mets game: June 27, 1976

Share your memories of Jay Kleven

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

John B
June 25, 2001
My friends and I attended one of the only games Jay played. We went back again the next day and for some odd reason decided to form the Jay Kleven Fan Club and made up and even made a couple of signs. We were the only four members of the club. The club broke up on the train ride home, and Jay was back to AAA a week later. But none of us will ever forget Jay Kleven!

Danny Erickson
July 26, 2001
I remember watching Jay in the Mayor's Trophy game in 1976. The guy impressed the hell out of me. I guess nobody else noticed.

Victor Santiago
May 10, 2004
I remember Jay Kleven when he was a member of the 1974 Texas League Champions Victoria Toros. I was but 10 years old and spent a whole day at a local hardware store to meet the players as they came in for a radio promotion. We talked baseball for quite awhile. I got his signature as well as that of Nino Espinosa, Nardi Contreras, Jackson Todd, Dwight Bernard, and Joe Frazier. Good to see he made it to the big leagues.

David F
October 4, 2006
I remember watching a game on TV in which Jay pinch hit against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He drove in two runs with a single up the middle. I was impressed. He never appeared in another game after that, however.

Bob P
October 5, 2006
DavidF, you have a great memory! That game was played on Sunday, June 27, 1976, and Kleven's pinch-single came off Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter. It gave the Mets a 13-0 lead in a game they would win 13-3.

The single was the only hit of Jay's major league career, which consisted of two games and five at bats.

Jory Kleven
August 5, 2009
Jay Kleven was my Uncle. He was more to me then just a baseball player. Jay was a loving Father, Husband, Brother, soon-to-be Grandfather, and a great Uncle. Jay taught me how to take "grounders" in front of his house in San Lorenzo, CA. Unfortunately, I was unable to watch him in his prime, although I feel that I got to see him in his best game, and that was as a family man. My Uncle, Jay Kleven, died at the age of 59 on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 unexpectedly. I just thought I would add a little something about my hero, Uncle Jay, and I thank you for your great memories shared. It has made me feel even more proud of him after hearing what people like yourselves thought of him, and how well he played.

Gary Kleven
August 5, 2009
I am sorry to inform of you that JAY passed away on June 30th. I know that JAY was very proud to have been a New York Met even though for just a short time.

Jay's cousin Gary

Augie Garbatini
August 5, 2009
I played with Jay in Visalia in 1973. We also were invited together to the Mets big league training camp in 1974 to help the big club get ready for the upcoming season. He was a good guy and a great defensive catcher. I can still remember sitting in the hotel room in St. Pete talking to him about how unbelieveable it was to be in major league camp.

Mike Harrison
August 5, 2009
I had read in BaseballReference.com that Jay Kleven passed away unexpectedly in early July. Funny I knew who he was despite playing only a week for the Mets. Said he was a school teacher in his early fifties. RIP.

Robert Holcomb
August 28, 2015
I just learned about Jay today. The last time I saw him was 1967 at San Lorenzo HS. But I remember him well because he was the catcher on my Little League team, US Market! We were the 1961 champs of San Lorenzo LL. I had no idea he stayed with baseball after HS. Glad he made the show.

Mike Vail
February 16, 2018
No nicer guy and teammate than Jay Bird...Wish him well ????








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