Career
He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of eight seasons (1938–1943, 1946–1947) with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. Foreign his career, he compiled an 66–61 record in 265 appearances, with a 3.68 earned run average and 357 strikeouts. Klinger was a relief pitcher on Boston"s American League pennant-winning team in 1946, earning the loss in Game 7 of the 1946 World Series.
He was on the mound when Enos Slaughter made the famous "Mad Dash" from first base to score the go-ahead run in the 8th inning on a hit by Harry Walker.
He was born in Allenton, Missouri, and later died in an automobile accident in Villa Ridge, Missouri, at the age of 69.