John Stephenson
Born: 4/13/1941 in South Portsmouth, KY, USA
MLB Debut: 1964-04-14 | Final Game: 1973-09-29
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: John Herman Stephenson
Biography
John Stephenson, born in 1941, was a professional baseball player who enjoyed a career spanning from 1964 to 1973. A versatile position player, Stephenson appeared in 451 games throughout his tenure in Major League Baseball. He played primarily for teams during an era characterized by a transition in the game, as the late 1960s marked the dawn of more offensive-minded strategies following the pitcher-dominated deadball era.
Over his career, Stephenson recorded 214 hits, including 12 home runs, while driving in 93 runs. His batting average stood at .216, reflecting the challenges he faced at the plate during his time in the league. Despite a low stolen base count of 0, Stephenson contributed to his teams with his defensive abilities and versatility on the field. After retiring on September 29, 1973, he left behind a legacy that highlights the grit and determination of players who navigated the complexities of professional baseball during a transformative period in the sport's history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 451 | 989 | 83 | 214 | 37 | 3 | 12 | 93 | 0 | 63 | 118 | 0.216 | 0.271 | 0.296 | 0.567 | -2165.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | NYN | NL | 37 | 57 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 0.158 | -331.5 |
| 1965 | NYN | NL | 62 | 121 | 9 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 19 | 0.215 | -209.5 |
| 1966 | NYN | NL | 63 | 143 | 17 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 28 | 0.196 | -683.1 |
| 1967 | CHC | NL | 18 | 49 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.224 | -108.1 |
| 1968 | CHC | NL | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1969 | SFG | NL | 22 | 27 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.222 | 0.0 |
| 1970 | SFG | NL | 23 | 43 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0.070 | 0.0 |
| 1971 | LAA | AL | 98 | 279 | 24 | 61 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 22 | 21 | 0.219 | -675.3 |
| 1972 | LAA | AL | 66 | 146 | 14 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 0.274 | 139.4 |
| 1973 | LAA | AL | 60 | 122 | 9 | 30 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0.246 | -297.8 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 15 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 8 | 1 |
| C | 330 | 217 | 1406 | 116 | 21 | 14 |
| OF | 12 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | NYN | 3B | 14 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 1 |
| 1964 | NYN | OF | 8 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | NYN | C | 47 | 23 | 146 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 1965 | NYN | OF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1966 | NYN | C | 52 | 31 | 187 | 30 | 6 | 4 |
| 1966 | NYN | OF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1967 | CHN | C | 13 | 12 | 67 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| 1969 | SFN | C | 9 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | SFN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1970 | SFN | C | 9 | 7 | 52 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1970 | SFN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1971 | CAL | C | 88 | 74 | 434 | 33 | 4 | 3 |
| 1972 | CAL | C | 56 | 37 | 273 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| 1973 | CAL | C | 56 | 32 | 232 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 329 |
| Third Base | 15 |
| Left Field | 7 |
| Center Field | 3 |
| Right Field | 2 |