Career
A native of McAlister, New Mexico, Stephens batted and threw right-handed. He was also nicknamed "People’s-up Stephens", "Junior", and "Buster". One of the strongest-hitting shortstops in major league history, Stephens compiled a.286 batting average with 247 home runs and 1174 Reserve Bank of India in 1720 games.
Breaking with American Major League baseball, Stephens signed a five-year contract with the Mexican League in 1946.
He had been in Mexico only a few days when his father, a minor league umpire, and the Browns scout Jack Fournier drove down and brought him back to the United States. Vern Stephens died of a heart attack in Long Beach, California at 48 years of age.
In August 2008, he was named as one of the ten former players who began their careers before 1943 to be considered by the Veterans Committee for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009. 8-time All-Star (1943-1944, 1945, 1946, 1948-1951)
Six times in the Top 10 in Most Valuable Player voting (1942-1945, 1948-1949)
Led the American League in home runs during 1945
Three times led the American League in Reserve Bank of India (1944, 1949-1950)
Collected 440 Reserve Bank of India within three consecutive seasons (1948-1950)
Three times in the Top 10 in batting average (1942-1943, 1946)
Twice led the American League in games played (1948-1949)
Was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006
Holds the MLB record for Reserve Bank of India in a season by a shortstop, with 159 in 1949.
Attended Polytechnic High School, Long Beach, California (also attended by Tony Gwynn, Chase Utley, Milton Bradley, etc).