Vern Stephens
Born: 10/23/1920 in McAlister, NM, USA
Died: 11/4/1968 in Long Beach, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1941-09-13 | Final Game: 1955-06-30
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Vernon Decatur Stephens
Biography
Vern Stephens was a prominent American professional baseball player, born in 1920, who made a significant impact in Major League Baseball from 1941 to 1955. Primarily a shortstop, Stephens was known for his powerful bat and reliable fielding, which contributed to his selection as an All-Star on eight occasions throughout his career. He played a total of 1,720 games, accumulating 1,859 hits, 247 home runs, and 1,174 RBIs, with a commendable batting average of .286. His ability to drive in runs and deliver in clutch situations established him as a key player during his time.
Playing in an era that saw the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-driven game, Stephens was instrumental in the offensive output of his teams. He showcased a balanced skill set, with 25 stolen bases highlighting his speed on the basepaths. His career spanned a transformative period in baseball, and he is remembered not only for his individual achievements but also for his contributions to the success of the teams he played for, including the St. Louis Browns and the Boston Red Sox. Vern Stephens left a lasting legacy as one of the standout shortstops of his generation.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 1.111 | 1.444 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0.200 | 0.200 | 0.200 | 0.400 |
| 1945 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.500 | 2.250 | 2.750 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1720 | 6497 | 1001 | 1859 | 307 | 42 | 247 | 1174 | 25 | 692 | 685 | 0.286 | 0.355 | 0.460 | 0.815 | 19212.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | SLA | AL | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.500 | 0.0 |
| 1942 | SLA | AL | 145 | 575 | 84 | 169 | 26 | 6 | 14 | 92 | 1 | 41 | 53 | 0.294 | 1456.8 |
| 1943 | SLA | AL | 137 | 512 | 75 | 148 | 27 | 3 | 22 | 91 | 3 | 54 | 73 | 0.289 | 2376.1 |
| 1944 | SLA | AL | 145 | 559 | 91 | 164 | 32 | 1 | 20 | 109 | 2 | 62 | 54 | 0.293 | 2282.6 |
| 1945 | SLA | AL | 149 | 571 | 90 | 165 | 27 | 3 | 24 | 89 | 2 | 55 | 70 | 0.289 | 2189.0 |
| 1946 | SLA | AL | 115 | 450 | 67 | 138 | 19 | 4 | 14 | 64 | 0 | 35 | 49 | 0.307 | 1456.1 |
| 1947 | SLA | AL | 150 | 562 | 74 | 157 | 18 | 4 | 15 | 83 | 8 | 70 | 61 | 0.279 | 916.3 |
| 1948 | BOS | AL | 155 | 635 | 114 | 171 | 25 | 8 | 29 | 137 | 1 | 77 | 56 | 0.269 | 1671.8 |
| 1949 | BOS | AL | 155 | 610 | 113 | 177 | 31 | 2 | 39 | 159 | 2 | 101 | 73 | 0.290 | 3611.4 |
| 1950 | BOS | AL | 149 | 628 | 125 | 185 | 34 | 6 | 30 | 144 | 1 | 65 | 43 | 0.295 | 2028.3 |
| 1951 | BOS | AL | 109 | 377 | 62 | 113 | 21 | 2 | 17 | 78 | 1 | 38 | 33 | 0.300 | 1365.9 |
| 1952 | BOS | AL | 92 | 295 | 35 | 75 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 44 | 2 | 39 | 31 | 0.254 | 275.6 |
| 1953 | CHW | AL | 44 | 129 | 14 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 | 13 | 18 | 0.186 | -672.4 |
| 1953 | SLA | AL | 46 | 165 | 16 | 53 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 18 | 24 | 0.321 | -672.4 |
| 1954 | BAL | AL | 101 | 365 | 31 | 104 | 17 | 1 | 8 | 46 | 0 | 17 | 36 | 0.285 | -236.7 |
| 1955 | BAL | AL | 3 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.167 | 0.0 |
| 1955 | CHW | AL | 22 | 56 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 11 | 0.250 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.227 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | WS | SLA | 6 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0.227 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 322 | 111 | 327 | 674 | 32 | 68 |
| OF | 11 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 1330 | 0 | 2385 | 4150 | 269 | 853 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | SLA | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1942 | SLA | SS | 144 | 0 | 290 | 415 | 42 | 82 |
| 1943 | SLA | SS | 123 | 0 | 220 | 339 | 34 | 51 |
| 1943 | SLA | OF | 11 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | SLA | SS | 143 | 0 | 239 | 480 | 35 | 71 |
| 1945 | SLA | 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 2 |
| 1945 | SLA | SS | 144 | 0 | 256 | 439 | 28 | 69 |
| 1946 | SLA | SS | 112 | 0 | 224 | 343 | 30 | 71 |
| 1947 | SLA | SS | 149 | 0 | 283 | 494 | 24 | 113 |
| 1948 | BOS | SS | 155 | 0 | 269 | 540 | 24 | 113 |
| 1949 | BOS | SS | 155 | 0 | 257 | 508 | 27 | 128 |
| 1950 | BOS | SS | 146 | 0 | 258 | 431 | 13 | 115 |
| 1951 | BOS | 3B | 89 | 0 | 105 | 207 | 7 | 19 |
| 1951 | BOS | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | BOS | 3B | 29 | 0 | 21 | 73 | 5 | 8 |
| 1952 | BOS | SS | 53 | 0 | 89 | 154 | 11 | 40 |
| 1953 | CHA | 3B | 38 | 0 | 30 | 67 | 1 | 7 |
| 1953 | CHA | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | SLA | 3B | 46 | 0 | 54 | 91 | 7 | 9 |
| 1954 | BAL | 3B | 96 | 95 | 102 | 186 | 10 | 19 |
| 1955 | BAL | 3B | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | CHA | 3B | 18 | 14 | 13 | 37 | 0 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Third Base | 322 |
| Shortstop | 1329 |
| Left Field | 9 |
| Right Field | 3 |
Awards & Honors
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Beach City College | Long Beach | CA | 1938 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 24th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1949 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 7th | 100.0 | 336 | 1 |
| 1948 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 121.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 31th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 19th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 6th | 94.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 3rd | 193.0 | 336 | 4 |
| 1943 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 49.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 4th | 140.0 | 336 | 1 |