McClure was born in Oakland, California and attended Terra Nova High School in Pacifica, California and College of San Mateo in San Mateo, California. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the January phase of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft, however chose not to sign. Instead, he signed with the Kansas City Royals, who selected him in the secondary phase of the draft that June, also in the third round.\n', '

The Royals used McClure as a starting pitcher his first professional season in the Pioneer League in 1973. He went 10–2 with a 2.11 earned run average for the Billings Mustangs. He started in 1974 as well, and was converted to a relief pitcher in 1975. He made his major league debut with the Royals on August 13, 1975 against the Baltimore Orioles, pitching one inning, striking out one and walking one. On September 23, he entered a ballgame at Kauffman Stadium against the Texas Rangers with one out and one on in the second inning. He pitched six scoreless innings to earn his first major league win. McClure spent most of 1976 with the triple A Omaha Royals, appearing in only eight games and pitching only four innings with the big league club.\n', '

On December 6, 1976, the Milwaukee Brewers sent catcher Darrell Porter and pitcher Jim Colborn to the Kansas City Royals for Jamie Quirk, Jim Wohlford and a player to be named later. On March 15, 1977, McClure was sent to the Brewers to complete the deal.\n', '

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