Vern Stephens

From SoSH

Vern Stephens

Born:	October 23, 1920
Birthplace:	McAlister, New Mexico
Hometown:	Long Beach, CA
Height:	5'10"
Weight:	185 lbs.
Bats:	Right
Throws:	Right
Drafted:	N/A
College:	N/A
High School:	N/A
Other Teams:	St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles
Years with Boston:	1948-52

Vern Stephens was a potent member of the Boston Red Sox lineups of the late 1940's and early 50's. His outstanding power production from Shortstop was miles ahead of his peers at the position, and he topped league lists in numerous categories at the same time.

The latter part of Vern's career was plagued by injuries, but he had a great stint with Boston. Stephens helped greatly in Sox bids for the AL Pennant in 1949 and 1950, leading the league with 159 RBI in '49 along with Ted Williams. He posted similar totals in 1950 but never matched those performances again. During the 1951 season, his defense had gotten to the point where he was swapped with Johnny Pesky at third, the spot where Stephens had originally pushed him over to. After '51, lower body injuries kept Stephens off the field more than he was on it and he was out of baseball by 1955. Unfortunately his life ended prematurely as well, dying of a heart attack at the age of 48 in Long Beach, California.

1 Overall Career
2 Awards
3 Achievements
4 Career Red Sox Records
5 Major League Records
6 Moment in the Sun
7 Career Stats
8 Trivia
9 Nicknames
10 Books
11 Quotes
12 External Links

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Overall Career

Vernon Decatur Stephens was an RBI machine for the Red Sox as soon as he got to Boston. Alreday a notable star with the St. Louis Browns, Vern was about to go through the prime of his career.

1948 kicked off a great stretch for Stephens, one where he would make his impression felt strongly in a short stint with the Sox. In '48 his power numbers were better than ever and his presence in the field forced Johnny Pesky over to third base. After setting numerous career highs in '48, Vern tore most of them down in 1949 when he clubbed a career high 39 homeruns while driving in 159.

Vern and the Red Sox battled the New York Yankees the entire '49 season for the American League Pennant, and the main cogs behind their title attempt were their RBI men. Stephens and Ted Williams for the league lead in Runs Batted In.

It was more of the same in 1950 as Vern once again led the AL in RBI, this time with 144. He also set a career mark for hits in a season with a solid 185.

In three years with Boston, Stephens had amassed 98 homeruns and 440 RBI. His power numbers were comparable to Ted Williams' during that span and he was playing a good shortstop. Unfortunately, injuries to his legs and knees over the next two seasons forced Vern into limited action, seeing about a years worth of at bats over the 1951 and 1952 campaigns combined. His career was in decline and the Red Sox knew it. Stephens was traded to the Chicago White Sox before the 1953 season.

A dismal .186 start to that year made Chicago send Vern back to where he started, St. Louis. His play picked up considerably, nearly doubling his hit total in the same amount of time he spent with the White Sox.

Stephens then moved to Baltimore with the Browns franchise and played as a Baltimore Orioles for just over a year, before he was traded back to the White Sox in 1955 where he ended his career.

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Awards

8-time All-Star (1943-44, 1945 [non-official game], 1946, 1948-51)
6 times Top 10 in MVP voting (1942-45, 1948-49)

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Achievements

3 times led league in RBI (1944, 1949-50)
Led league in home runs (1945)
Slugged 5 Grand Slams as a Red Sox
His 159 RBI campaign of 1949 is tied as the second highest single-season tally for a member of the Red Sox.

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Career Red Sox Records

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Major League Records

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Moment in the Sun

8/24/1948 vs. Cleveland - After the Red Sox scored two runs in the 8th to tie the game, they gave two runs back to the Indians in their 9th to trail 8-6. Boston plated one run before Stephens blasted a two-run shot to give the Sox the 9-8 victory and possession of first place in the American League standings.

8/24/1950 vs. St. Louis - Against his former team the Browns, Stephens stepped to plate with the bases loaded in the 9th inning after the Red Sox had already scored once in the inning to tie the game. Vern bombed a walk-off grand slam to win in spectacular fashion.

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