Vern Stephens, baseball player, 247 home runs, 1941-1955

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

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

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

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Third Base 322
Shortstop 1329
Left Field 9
Right Field 3

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