Vern Stephens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vern Stephens |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
| Shortstop | |||
| Born: October 23, 1920 McAlister, New Mexico, U.S. |
|||
| Died: November 4, 1968 (aged 48) Long Beach, California, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 13, 1941, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 30, 1955, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .286 | ||
| Home runs | 247 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,174 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Vernon Decatur Stephens (born October 23, 1920 – died November 4, 1968) was a famous American baseball player. He played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1941 to 1955.
Vern was an All-Star eight times. He led the American League in home runs in 1945. He also led the league in RBI three times. He was a key player for the St. Louis Browns when they won their only American League championship in 1944. He was also a strong power hitter for the Boston Red Sox. People called him "Little Slug," "Junior," and "Buster." He batted and threw with his right hand. In 2006, he joined the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Contents
Vern Stephens' Baseball Journey
.jpg)
Vern Stephens was born in McAlister, New Mexico. His parents were traveling from Oklahoma to California at the time. He grew up in Long Beach, California, and went to Long Beach Polytechnic High School.
Vern was one of the best-hitting shortstops in baseball history. He had a .286 batting average during his career. He hit 247 home runs and had 1,174 RBI in 1,720 games.
Leading the St. Louis Browns
In 1944, Vern led the American League with 109 RBI. This helped the St. Louis Browns reach their first and only World Series in St. Louis. The next year, in 1945, he also led the league by hitting 24 home runs.
Around 1946, Vern had a disagreement about his salary with the Browns. He then signed a five-year contract to play in the Mexican League. He played only two games there before deciding to return to the United States. His father and a Browns scout helped him come back. This decision saved him from a five-year ban that other players faced for leaving MLB for Mexico.
Moving to the Boston Red Sox
After the 1947 season, Vern was traded to the Boston Red Sox. He played with them from 1948 to 1952. Later, he had a short time with the Chicago White Sox. He then returned to the Browns in 1953, which was their last season in St. Louis.
Vern Stephens was the only player from the 1944 championship-winning St. Louis Browns team who also played for the Baltimore Orioles. The Browns team moved to Baltimore and became the Orioles in 1954.
Playing with Ted Williams
Vern played five years with the Boston Red Sox. Ted Williams, a legendary hitter, said that Vern was the most effective player who batted after him in the lineup. In 1949, Vern had 159 RBI, which tied him with Ted Williams for the league lead. He also hit 39 home runs that year. This was the second-highest in the league, just behind Williams's 43. No other American League player hit more than 24 home runs that season.
In August 2008, Vern was considered for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He was one of ten former players from before 1943 to be reviewed by the Veterans Committee. However, he was not chosen for induction.
Later Life and Achievements
Vern Stephens passed away from a heart attack in Long Beach, California. He was 48 years old.
Career Highlights
- He was an All-Star 8 times (1943–44, 1945 [non-official game], 1946, 1948–51).
- He finished in the top 10 for MVP voting six times (1942–45, 1948–49).
- He led the American League in home runs in 1945.
- He led the American League in RBI three times (1944, 1949–50).
- He collected 440 RBI in three seasons in a row (1948–50).
- He was in the top 10 for batting average three times (1942–43, 1946).
- He led the American League in games played twice (1948–49).
- He was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006.
- He holds the MLB record for RBI in a season by a shortstop, with 159 in 1949.
- He was the first shortstop to hit 30 home runs in a season, with 39 in 1949.
- He attended Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California. Many other famous athletes also went there.
See also
- Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2009
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Boston Red Sox awards
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders
