St. Louis Browns shortstop, Vern Stephens, was born on October 23,1920 in McAlester, New Mexico. It is a safe claim that Vern Stephens is the best shortstop that baseball history has forgotten. Over his 15-season career, he was statistically the best hitting shortstop in all of baseball. In fact throughout his baseball career, he proved t
St. Louis Browns shortstop, Vern Stephens, was born on October 23,1920 in McAlester, New Mexico. It is a safe claim that Vern Stephens is the best shortstop that baseball history has forgotten. Over his 15-season career, he was statistically the best hitting shortstop in all of baseball. In fact throughout his baseball career, he proved to be the best hitter in every level of the game he played. Vern Stephens has played more MLB games (1720) than any player born in the state of New Mexico. He also has more hits (1859), doubles (307), triples (42), RBIs (1174), and the highest batting average (.286) from the "Land of Enchantment". His 247 home runs and 46.4 WAR are second to only Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner.
The Browns signed Vern Stephens as an amateur free agent prior to the 1938 season. The 17-year old began his career with the Johnstown Johnnies and the Springfield Browns in 1938. He would quickly ascend in the Browns organization, playing with the Mayfield Browns (1939), San Antonio Missions (1940), and Toledo Mud Hens (1941).
Stephens would make his MLB debut on September 13, 1941, as a pinch runner for catcher Rick Ferrell. He would see action in two games this September, as a late-inning replacement for SS Johnny Berardino. Browns INF Marty McManus called Stephens "the best shortstop prospect I have ever seen".
Stephens became a fixture in the Browns lineup in 1942, and would play in an average of 140 games over the next six seasons. In this time he would average 156 hits, 25 doubles, 18 home runs, 88 RBIs, and a batting average .291 with the Browns. In the 1944 season, he would lead the American League with 109 RBIs, while hitting 20 homers and a .293 average.
His best season came in 1945, when he proved that he was a great all-round player. Not only did Stephens lead the league in home runs (45) and HR per AB (23.8), he also led the league in assists from the shortstop position (494) and fielding percentage (.961). He was one of the key reasons the Browns won the American League pennant in 1944.
Stephens was a three-time all-star, and finished in MVP voting four times from 1942-45.
In 1947, the cash-strapped Browns were forced to trade their best player to the Boston Red Sox in an eight-player deal. Stephens became a key figure in Boston, as he protected Ted Williams in the Red Sox lineup. He would see four more all-star games and record seasons in 1948-50.
After the Red Sox traded Stephens to the White Sox before the 1953 season, he would return to the Browns in their final season when they selected him off waivers from the ChiSox on July 30. He would only play 46 games, but batted .321 with 17 runs driven in. He finished his career with the Baltimore Orioles (1954-55), and then the Seattle Rainiers of the PCL (1955-56).
Vern Stephens became one of the best amateur golfers in the state of California after his retirement from Baseball. He also worked in sales for a gold equipment company and trucking company. He passed at the early age of 48 after suffering a heart attack while lifting heavy machinery.
Vern Stephens was the best hitting shortstop of the 1940s. The iconic shortstop of that era is Phil Rizzuto of the New York Yankees. Both players debuted in 1941, and Stephens played one less season than Rizzuto (retired in 1945 and 1946). Stephens statistics in this time are amazing compared to the Hall of Famer from the Bronx. Stephens was drastically better in every offensive category including runs scored (1001 to 877), hits (1859 to 1588), home runs (247 to 38), RBIs (1174 to 563), batting average (.286 to .273), and OPS+ (119 to 93). The only category that Rizzuto had better stats is stolen bases (149 to 25). It is safe to say that the reason why Vern Stephens is not in the Hall of Fame, is because he didn't play in New York. He deserves the honor of being in the Hall.
TOP 100 Browns Countdown
This website has the only Top 100 list of famous St Louis Browns players. Please feel free to free to visit the tab about for the complete list. Here is a brief portion of the list that recognizes some of the best players in the history of the St. Louis Browns.
Players #71-75
71) Satchel Paige, P, 1951-53 - El
TOP 100 Browns Countdown
This website has the only Top 100 list of famous St Louis Browns players. Please feel free to free to visit the tab about for the complete list. Here is a brief portion of the list that recognizes some of the best players in the history of the St. Louis Browns.
Players #71-75
71) Satchel Paige, P, 1951-53 - Elected into the MLB Hall of Fame (1971). One of the Greatest Pitchers in the History of Baseball. Two-time American League All Star (1952-53) Finished in the Top 10 in Saves in the A.L. each year with Browns.
72) Tim McCabe, P, 1915-18 - Scouted by Browns chief scout Charley Barrett. Played his entire career with the Browns.
73) Joe Gedeon, 2B, 1918-20 - Lead the American League in Sacrifice Hits (1920), Hit By Pitch (1918), Assists at 2B (1918) and Fielding Percentage. (1918-19). Known as the "Nineth Man Out" during the Black Sox Scandal
74) Sig Jakucki, P, 1936, 1944-45 - "Jack", "Yehoodie", Enthusiastic Drinker and Pitcher, "$100,000 arm with a million dollar thirst", Strongest arm on the 1944 staff and lead the team to the American League Championship. Game 3 starter in the 44 World Series
75) Dave Davenport, P, 1916-19 - "Long Dave", Jumped from the StL Terriers of the Federal League. 7/30/1916 - Started and won both games of a double-header vs Yankees. 1917 season - won 13 of the Browns final 26 games
There were no transactions that took place on this date
BROWNS BIRTHDAYS ON THIS DAY
1910 - C Billy Sullivan Jr. (1938-39)
1920 - SS Vern Stephens (1941-46)
The impact of the 1909 St. Louis Browns was not as memorable as some of the other Browns teams in history. Coming off a successful 1908 season, this team had many across the American League believing that they could contend for the pennant.
Many baseball fans in St. Louis were looking to the Browns to become the team of the city. Their N
The impact of the 1909 St. Louis Browns was not as memorable as some of the other Browns teams in history. Coming off a successful 1908 season, this team had many across the American League believing that they could contend for the pennant.
Many baseball fans in St. Louis were looking to the Browns to become the team of the city. Their National League rivals, St. Louis Cardinals, where having more difficulties than the Browns. As bad as thing s got for the Browns in 1909, the Cardinals were worse. The Browns started the season winning only four games in the month of April. They would only have one month with a winning record (17-13 in July). This team would have a 40-37 record at home, and a dismal 21-52 on the road.
Their star player, LF George Stone would miss the first half of the season due to injury, and popular 1B Tom Jones would be traded to Detroit midway through the season. The Browns pitching took at step back with Rube Waddell and Barney Pelty winning just 11 games a piece. The Browns would finish with a 61-89 record, 36 games behind the Detroit Tigers.
This production and disappointment resulted in manager James McAleer stepping down. He was the only manager the Browns had since moving to St. Louis. He would finish as the winningest manager in St. Louis Browns history with a 551-632 record.