vern-stephens

Vern Stephens Stats & Facts

 

VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA

Vintage Baseball Memorabilia

Vern Stephens

Positions: Shortstop and Third Baseman
Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right
5-10, 185lb (178cm, 83kg)
Born: October 23, 1920 in McAlister, NM us
Died: November 4, 1968  in Long Beach, CA
Buried: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Long Beach, CA
High School: Polytechnic HS (Long Beach, CA)
School: Long Beach City College (Long Beach, CA)
Debut: September 13, 1941 (9,122nd in major league history)
vs. BOS 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: June 30, 1955
vs. DET 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Full Name: Vernon Decatur Stephens
Nicknames: Junior, Buster or Little Slug
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

Nine Players Who Debuted in 1941

Stan Musial
Phil Rizzuto
Bob Lemon
Vern Stephens
Dave Philley
Jim Hegan
Danny Murtaugh
Dick Wakefield
Virgil Trucks

 

 

 

Notable Events and Chronology for Vern Stephens Career

Stephens drives in 7

Stephens drives in 7

Biography

Stephens was the best homer-hitting shortstop until the appearance of Ernie Banks. His glove was reliable, but his bat made him a seven-time All-Star. Hitting behind Ted Williams for five years with the Red Sox, he formed half of the best one-two punch in the AL.

Vern signed with the St. Louis Browns for a $500 bonus at age 17. By the time he was 21, he was the regular St. Louis shortstop. In 1944, when the Browns won their only pennant, he led the AL in RBI and finished third in the MVP voting behind Tiger pitcher Hal Newhouser. In 1945 Stephens led the AL in homers with 24. The next year, he narrowly missed a suspension from organized baseball. He signed a five-year, $175,000 contract to play in the outlaw Mexican League of the Pasqual brothers. He had been in Mexico only a few days when his father, a minor league umpire, and Browns scout Jack Fournier drove down and brought him back. Fearing the Pasquals might try to stop him, he exchanged clothes with his father and walked across the International Bridge. Those players who stayed behind in Mexico were suspended by Commissioner Chandler, and only a few were eventually able to pick up their careers at their presuspension level.

After the 1947 season, Stephens and pitcher Jack Kramer were traded to the Red Sox for six players and $310,000. His first three seasons in Boston were the best of his career. He smashed 29, 39, and 30 home runs and drove in 137, 159, and 144 runs, the last two marks leading the AL.

Limited in range as a shortstop, he made up for it with good hands and a strong arm. He led AL shortstops in assists three times and double plays once. In 1948 he tied a ML record for double plays by a shortstop with five in one game. From 1952 on, he played mostly third base, and, hampered by injuries, his hitting declined.

Stephens was the subject of a long article in one of Bill James’ books. James pointed out that Stephens was a shortstop who, after playing a decade, had posted offensive numbers that were equalled only by one contemporary during that period, Stan Musial.

Based on the similarity scores method, the three most similar players (as of 2006) to Stephens are all Hall of Famers.

@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@

Factoids, Quotes, Strange Things

Played For
St. Louis Browns (1941-1947)
Boston Red Sox (1948-1952)
Chicago White Sox (1953)
St. Louis Browns (1953)
Baltimore Orioles (1954-1955)
Chicago White Sox (1955)

Linked: Stephens was dealt to the Red Sox with pitcher Jack Kramer.

Best Season, 1949
Stephens led the AL with 159 RBI, also slugged 39 homers, walked 101 times, and scored 113 runs.

All-Star Selections

Post-Season Appearances
1944 World Series

 

Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
Injuries to his knees and back limited Stephens’ effectiveness after 1950. It essentially ended his career as an everyday player. At one point late in his career, Stephens was pinch-hit for by a pitcher.

Most Game-Ending Grand Slams
Alex Rodriguez… 3
Vern Stephens… 3
Cy Williams… 3
Bob Aspromonte… 2
Albert Belle… 2
Bobby Bonds… 2
Steve Finley… 2
Ruppert Jones… 2
Ralph Kiner… 2
Davey Lopes… 2
Mark McGwire… 2
Jim Presley… 2
Nomar Garciaparra… 2
David Eckstein… 2

Trivia: Who was the first player to hit two extra-inning home runs in one game?
Answer: Vern Stephens, 1943 with the Browns.

All-Star Selections
1943 AL
1944 AL
1945 AL
1946 AL
1948 AL
1949 AL
1950 AL
1951 AL

Best Strength as a Player
Power and run production.

Largest Weakness as a Player
There’s not much evidence that Stephens had poor range, but some historians claim that he did. His teammate, Bobby Doerr, called him an “excellent shortstop with a great arm.” But his defense eroded enough that by 1951, the Sox flipped him with third baseman (and former shortstop) Johnny Pesky.

Other Resources & Links