Riggs Stephenson
Born: 1/5/1898 in Akron, AL, USA
Died: 11/15/1985 in Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
MLB Debut: 1921-04-13 | Final Game: 1934-09-24
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'10" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Jackson Riggs Stephenson
Biography
Riggs Stephenson was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball during the early 20th century, playing from 1921 to 1934. Born in 1898, he made a significant impact on the game with his exceptional hitting skills, finishing his career with a remarkable batting average of .336 over 1,310 games. Stephenson accumulated 1,515 hits, 63 home runs, and 773 RBIs, showcasing his ability to consistently produce at the plate. His offensive contributions were complemented by his speed, as he successfully stole 53 bases throughout his career, adding a dynamic element to his playing style.
Stephenson's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball history, which saw the transition from the deadball era to a more offensively charged game. His prowess as a hitter placed him among the elite players of his time, and he was known for his ability to drive in runs and maintain a high batting average. Riggs Stephenson's legacy as a skilled offensive player remains a notable chapter in the annals of baseball history, reflecting the evolution of the game in the early 20th century.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1310 | 4508 | 714 | 1515 | 321 | 54 | 63 | 773 | 53 | 494 | 247 | 0.336 | 0.407 | 0.473 | 0.880 | 17548.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | CLE | AL | 65 | 206 | 45 | 68 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 34 | 4 | 23 | 15 | 0.330 | 671.3 |
| 1922 | CLE | AL | 86 | 233 | 47 | 79 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 32 | 3 | 27 | 18 | 0.339 | 1137.7 |
| 1923 | CLE | AL | 91 | 301 | 48 | 96 | 20 | 6 | 5 | 65 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 0.319 | 628.4 |
| 1924 | CLE | AL | 71 | 240 | 33 | 89 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 44 | 1 | 27 | 10 | 0.371 | 1291.9 |
| 1925 | CLE | AL | 19 | 54 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0.296 | 94.2 |
| 1926 | CHC | NL | 82 | 281 | 40 | 95 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 44 | 2 | 31 | 16 | 0.338 | 954.0 |
| 1927 | CHC | NL | 152 | 579 | 101 | 199 | 46 | 9 | 7 | 82 | 8 | 65 | 28 | 0.344 | 2893.6 |
| 1928 | CHC | NL | 137 | 512 | 75 | 166 | 36 | 9 | 8 | 90 | 8 | 68 | 29 | 0.324 | 2171.1 |
| 1929 | CHC | NL | 136 | 495 | 91 | 179 | 36 | 6 | 17 | 110 | 10 | 67 | 21 | 0.362 | 3456.5 |
| 1930 | CHC | NL | 109 | 341 | 56 | 125 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 68 | 2 | 32 | 20 | 0.367 | 1089.5 |
| 1931 | CHC | NL | 80 | 263 | 34 | 84 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 1 | 37 | 14 | 0.319 | 727.9 |
| 1932 | CHC | NL | 147 | 583 | 86 | 189 | 49 | 4 | 4 | 85 | 3 | 54 | 27 | 0.324 | 1539.8 |
| 1933 | CHC | NL | 97 | 346 | 45 | 114 | 17 | 4 | 4 | 51 | 5 | 34 | 16 | 0.329 | 1266.9 |
| 1934 | CHC | NL | 38 | 74 | 5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 0.216 | -373.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 37 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0.378 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | WS | CHN | 4 | 18 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.444 |
| 1929 | WS | CHN | 5 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0.316 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 203 | 0 | 485 | 613 | 48 | 105 |
| 3B | 44 | 0 | 45 | 80 | 7 | 9 |
| OF | 913 | 0 | 1759 | 68 | 42 | 18 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | CLE | 2B | 54 | 0 | 122 | 153 | 17 | 30 |
| 1921 | CLE | 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1922 | CLE | 2B | 25 | 0 | 44 | 67 | 6 | 6 |
| 1922 | CLE | 3B | 34 | 0 | 31 | 69 | 5 | 5 |
| 1922 | CLE | OF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1923 | CLE | 2B | 66 | 0 | 205 | 214 | 13 | 49 |
| 1923 | CLE | 3B | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1923 | CLE | OF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1924 | CLE | 2B | 58 | 0 | 114 | 179 | 12 | 20 |
| 1924 | CLE | OF | 7 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1925 | CLE | OF | 16 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1926 | CHN | OF | 74 | 0 | 126 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1927 | CHN | 3B | 6 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| 1927 | CHN | OF | 146 | 0 | 297 | 18 | 8 | 5 |
| 1928 | CHN | OF | 135 | 0 | 268 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| 1929 | CHN | OF | 130 | 0 | 245 | 9 | 4 | 4 |
| 1930 | CHN | OF | 80 | 0 | 132 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| 1931 | CHN | OF | 66 | 0 | 134 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1932 | CHN | OF | 147 | 0 | 298 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 1933 | CHN | OF | 91 | 0 | 187 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 1934 | CHN | OF | 15 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 203 |
| Third Base | 47 |
| Left Field | 885 |
| Right Field | 26 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa | AL | 1918, 1919, 1920 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 5th | 32.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1929 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 23th | 1.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1927 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 20th | 3.0 | 80 | 0 |