John Klein

Induction Year: 2013

Category: Football

Location: West Islip

He was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball & baseball) at West Islip and was inducted into their school’s Hall of Fame in 1995.

Klein played football and baseball at Central Connecticut State University, where he was a 1980 All-American in football and inducted into their school’s Hall of Fame in 1991.

In 1981, he signed a three-year contract with the New England Patriots as a wide receiver, but he was injured in the second pre-season game and waived from the team.

He was picked up off waivers by the Cleveland Browns, but his injury never fully healed, and he was once again waived from the team.

He went on to have a very successful career in semi-pro baseball as a shortstop and cleanup hitter in the Stan Musial and Men’s Senior Baseball Leagues. He led the MSBL Long Island chapter in home runs for six straight years, and in 12 years, he hit 102 total home runs in just 212 games.

He earned five National Championships in his career, and his combined numbers put him at 308 home runs, the second most in Long Island history.