Joe Stephenson, baseball player, 1943-1947

Joe Stephenson

Born: 6/30/1921 in Detroit, MI, USA

Died: 9/20/2001 in Fullerton, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1943-09-19 | Final Game: 1947-07-11

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Joseph Chester Stephenson

📊 Compare This Player 📈 View Career Timeline

Biography

Joe Stephenson, born in 1921, was a professional baseball player who graced the diamond during the mid-1940s. His career spanned from 1943 until July 11, 1947, a period that coincided with World War II, when many athletes left their sports to serve in the military. Stephenson played primarily as a position player, appearing in 29 games throughout his career. Though he faced stiff competition, he made his mark with a batting average of .179, recording 12 hits, 4 RBIs, and 1 stolen base. While his offensive numbers may not reflect the power and prowess often celebrated in baseball lore, Stephenson's contributions came during a turbulent time in American history and the sport itself. As Major League Baseball began to see a transition and eventual integration, players like Stephenson were part of a unique era that shaped the future of the game. Though his time in the limelight was brief, he remains a part of the rich tapestry of baseball history, representing the resilience and passion of athletes during challenging times.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
29 67 8 12 1 0 0 4 1 2 15 0.179 0.225 0.194 0.419 0.0

Career AVG .179 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 31.1% below league average.

Career OBP .225 vs. league average .329 across their career seasons — 31.5% below league average.

Career SLG .194 vs. league average .360 across their career seasons — 46.1% below league average.

Career OPS 0.419 vs. league average 0.689 across their career seasons — 39.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1943 NY1 NL 9 24 4 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 5 0.250 — — — — 0.0
1944 CHC NL 4 8 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 0.125 — — — — 0.0
1947 CHW AL 16 35 3 5 0 0 0 3 0 1 7 0.143 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
C 22 0 85 13 3 1

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1943 NY1 C 6 0 30 6 1 1
1944 CHN C 3 0 13 2 0 0
1947 CHA C 13 0 42 5 2 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 22