In 1967, Kern signed with the Cleveland Indians out of Midland High School in Midland, Michigan at eighteen years old as a free agent with an overpowering fastball. He played 6 years in the minor leagues and winter ball seasons in Mexico, then missed the 1969 baseball season serving in the United States Marine Corps. In 1974 in AAA Oklahoma City of the American Association, he won the Allie Reynolds Award as the best pitcher in the league with a 17 & 7 record, striking our 220 batters in 189 innings and 19 strike outs in a 9 inning game. During the 1973 and 1974 minor league seasons Kern was 28-14, striking out a total of 402 batters in 355 innings. He had an even 47-47 record over six seasons as a starting pitcher in the Indians\' farm system when he received a September call-up in 1974. In his major league debut, he pitched a complete game in which he held the Baltimore Orioles to just one run. The Indians were, however, held scoreless by Orioles pitcher Mike Cuellar.\n', '

Kern had a 1.82 ERA as a reliever in 1975 when he was moved into the starting rotation. He was 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA as a starter when the Indians traded Gaylord Perry to the Texas Rangers for Jim Bibby, Rick Waits, Jackie Brown and $100,000 on June 13. In order to make room on the major league roster for the two additional pitchers acquired, Kern was optioned to the triple A Oklahoma City 89ers. Recalled in late June, he strained a muscle in his shoulder in July and sat out the remainder of the season.\n', '

He returned to the Indians in 1976 as a full-time reliever, making just two spot starts, and was 10-7 with a 2.37 ERA and fifteen saves. Kern and Dave LaRoche were named as the best relief in Indian history after the 2016 season. Early in the 1977 season, the Indians traded closer LaRoche to the California Angels, opening the door for Kern to inherit the job. He was 2-3 with seven saves and a 2.84 ERA in his new job at the All-Star break and was named, along with teammate Dennis Eckersley, to his first All-Star squad, pitching a perfect inning, striking out two. For the season, he finished with a 10 - 7 record and fourth in the American League with eighteen saves.\n', '

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