Vern Stephens would debut in 1941 for the St. Louis Browns, where he would secure the starting role at Shortstop for the club in the following season. He would instantly establish himself as one of the best hitting Shortstops in baseball. He would have at least 20 Home Runs each year from (1943-45), and he would win the AL Home Run Title in 1945, and the RBI Title in 1944.
He would later join the Boston Red Sox in 1948, where he was an All-Star each year from 1948 to 1951; and had two 30 Home Run seasons, and led the AL in RBIs in both 1949 and 1950. He finished his career with the White Sox and Orioles and had 1,859 Hits with 274 Home Runs; great numbers for a Shortstop of his era.
Stephens may have had great seasons in the forgotten Browns, and during the MLB depleted WWII years, but he was still a great player. Again, we have an eight time All-Star, who was never on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. How could this have happened? He would later make a Veteran’s Committee Ballot, but still, he deserved so much better.
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