Most notably, Klep became the first white American to play baseball in the Negro leagues when he pitched three innings for the Cleveland Buckeyes on May 29, 1946, in a loss against the Chicago American Giants in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Klep was the inaugural white American player in the Negro leagues, pitching three innings for the Cleveland Buckeyes on May 29, 1946, during a game lost to the Chicago American Giants in Grand Rapids, Michigan.