Jerry Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Jerry Joseph Stephenson (October 6, 1943 – June 6, 2010) was an American
Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He pitched for the Boston Red Sox
(1963, 1966–68), Seattle Pilots
(1969) and Los Angeles Dodgers
(1970). Born in Detroit, Michigan
, and raised in Hermosa Beach
and Anaheim, California
, Stephenson was a graduate of California State University, Fullerton
. During a 7-year baseball career, Stephenson compiled 8 wins
, 184 strikeout
s, and a 5.70 earned run average
.
He was regarded as a top prospect until he hurt his elbow while pitching for the 1964 Seattle Rainiers
of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League
; until he was injured, he had won six of ten decisions, compiling an ERA of 1.57 with 97 strikeouts and only 61 hits
allowed in 91 innings pitched. Six years later, as a veteran, he won 18 of 23 decisions for the PCL's Spokane Indians
, the Dodgers' top affiliate, pitching for manager
Tommy Lasorda
.
The son of former MLB catcher
and longtime Boston scout Joe Stephenson
, Jerry Stephenson spent 36 years as a Major League scout with the Dodgers (1974–1994) and Red Sox (1995–2009) before his retirement to part-time status after the season. His son Brian Stephenson, a former minor league pitcher, is a regional crosschecker for the Dodgers — the third generation of the family to serve as an MLB scout.
Jerry Stephenson died of cancer at his home in Anaheim on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at the age of 66.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He pitched for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1963, 1966–68), Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
(1969) and Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1970). Born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and raised in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach, California
Hermosa Beach is a beachfront city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Its population was 19,506 at the 2010 census, up from 18,566 at the 2000 census....
and Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, Stephenson was a graduate of California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
. During a 7-year baseball career, Stephenson compiled 8 wins
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
, 184 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, and a 5.70 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
He was regarded as a top prospect until he hurt his elbow while pitching for the 1964 Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
; until he was injured, he had won six of ten decisions, compiling an ERA of 1.57 with 97 strikeouts and only 61 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
allowed in 91 innings pitched. Six years later, as a veteran, he won 18 of 23 decisions for the PCL's Spokane Indians
Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
, the Dodgers' top affiliate, pitching for manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda
Thomas Charles Lasorda is a former Major League baseball player and manager. marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully...
.
The son of former MLB catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and longtime Boston scout Joe Stephenson
Joe Stephenson
Joseph Chester Stephenson was a catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Giants , Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox . Stephenson batted and threw right-handed...
, Jerry Stephenson spent 36 years as a Major League scout with the Dodgers (1974–1994) and Red Sox (1995–2009) before his retirement to part-time status after the season. His son Brian Stephenson, a former minor league pitcher, is a regional crosschecker for the Dodgers — the third generation of the family to serve as an MLB scout.
Jerry Stephenson died of cancer at his home in Anaheim on Sunday, June 6, 2010, at the age of 66.