Jerry Stephenson – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jerry Stephenson wrapped up his seven-year Major League Baseball career in 1970, making his last appearance with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He started out as a 19-year-old righty with the Boston Red Sox in 1963, but honestly, he never really found a groove in the majors.

Stephenson finished with a career record of 8 wins and 19 losses in 67 games, playing for the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Pilots, and Los Angeles Dodgers. His stats might not jump off the page, but he did get to experience a piece of baseball history by pitching for Boston during their 1967 World Series run. He bounced between teams, never quite locking down a spot as a reliable starter or reliever.

Jerry, the son of former Major League catcher Joe Stephenson, kept his baseball journey going long after he threw his last pitch. His story isn’t just about his ups and downs on the field—it’s about his family’s baseball roots and his move into scouting. From growing up in Southern California to his final day in the majors, Stephenson’s career really shows the challenges faced by so many players trying to make it in pro baseball.

Jerry Stephenson’s Professional Baseball Career

Jerry Joseph Stephenson pitched in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1970. He put together an 8-19 record with a 5.70 ERA over 67 games.

He played for three teams during his seven-year career, starting and finishing with different franchises as the league changed in the late 1960s.

Overview of MLB Debut and Retirement

Jerry Stephenson made his MLB debut on April 14, 1963, with the Boston Red Sox at just 19. He signed a bonus contract with Boston right after finishing at Anaheim High School in June 1961.

His career stretched from 1963 to 1970. He appeared in 67 games, starting 33 of them, and pitched 238⅓ innings.

He threw his last MLB pitch on September 21, 1970, for the Los Angeles Dodgers. At just 26, he finished up with 184 strikeouts and three complete games.

Stephenson stood 6’2″ and weighed 185 pounds. He batted lefty, which is a little odd for a right-handed pitcher.

Boston Red Sox Years

Stephenson spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox from 1963 and then 1965-1968. The Red Sox signed him as a top prospect right after high school.

His most memorable moment came in Boston’s wild “Impossible Dream” season in 1967. On August 19, 1967, he picked up his only career save, getting the final two outs in a crazy 12-11 Red Sox win over the California Angels at Fenway Park.

He started out strong until an elbow injury in 1964, while pitching for the Triple-A Seattle Rainiers, really set him back. Before the injury, he’d gone 6-4 with a 1.57 ERA in 14 starts, striking out 97 and giving up just 61 hits in 92 innings.

That injury ended up being a turning point, and he never quite reached his full potential as a big league starter.

Seattle Pilots Tenure

Stephenson joined the Seattle Pilots in 1969, during their one and only season. The Pilots were an expansion team and, to be honest, struggled both on the diamond and in the front office.

Stephenson worked as both a starter and reliever for Seattle. The team didn’t last, but being part of such a short-lived franchise gave his career a unique twist.

After just one year, the Pilots moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers. Stephenson’s time with them remains a quirky footnote in his pro journey.

Los Angeles Dodgers Finale

Stephenson finished up with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1970. Landing in LA meant joining a more stable, better-resourced club than the Pilots had been.

He showed a little promise that final season, working under the Dodgers’ system. In Triple-A with the Spokane Indians, he’d previously posted an 18-5 record with a 2.82 ERA in 28 starts for Tommy Lasorda, who’d later make the Hall of Fame.

Still, his big league results stayed inconsistent. In his last MLB game on September 21, 1970, against the San Francisco Giants, he pitched 2⅔ innings and gave up 5 hits and 3 earned runs.

That year marked the end of his seven-year MLB career. After that, he shifted into a long, successful 36-year run as a scout with both the Dodgers and Red Sox.

Career Highlights and Stats

Jerry Stephenson’s MLB career ran from 1963 to 1970. He put up an 8-19 record with a 5.70 ERA in 67 games.

His best season came in 1967, going 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA for the Red Sox during their pennant-winning run.

Pitching Achievements and Records

Stephenson’s top achievement came in the 1967 season with Boston. He posted a 3-1 record and a 3.86 ERA over 39.2 innings, helping the Red Sox win the AL pennant in what fans still call the “Impossible Dream” season.

He pitched in one World Series game that year, throwing 2 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals and allowing 3 hits and 2 runs for a 9.00 ERA.

Career totals:

• 8 wins, 19 losses
• 238.1 innings pitched
• 184 strikeouts
• 3 complete games
• 1 save

His best strikeout season was 51 Ks in 1968. Stephenson threw lefty but batted righty, stood 6’2″, and weighed 185 pounds.

Notable Games and Performances

Stephenson debuted in the majors on April 14, 1963, at 19, for the Red Sox. He pitched 2.1 innings against Washington, gave up 5 hits, and struck out 3.

His most effective stretch came in 1967, pitching in 8 games, starting 6, and earning his only save. He kept his WHIP at 1.210 during that run.

In 1968, he saw the most action with 23 appearances, starting 7 games and finishing 2 of them. That year, he also struck out 51 batters, his single-season best.

His last MLB appearance came on September 21, 1970, with the Dodgers against San Francisco. He threw 2.2 innings in what ended up being his final big league game at age 26.

Major League Career Statistics

Stephenson pitched for three teams: the Boston Red Sox (1963, 1965-1968), Seattle Pilots (1969), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1970).

His most productive years came with the Boston Red Sox. He made 33 starts out of 67 appearances.

Key stats:

• Career WHIP: 1.720
• Strikeouts per 9 innings: 6.9
• Walks per 9 innings: 5.5
• Home runs allowed per 9 innings: 0.8

He struggled with control, walking 145 while striking out 184. In 1967, though, he walked just 16 in 39.2 innings—a definite improvement.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Jerry Joseph Stephenson was born on October 6, 1943, in Detroit, Michigan, just 17 days after his dad’s major league debut. Growing up in California and being around pro baseball thanks to his dad’s career set him on the path to the majors.

Family Background and Upbringing

Baseball was more than a pastime in the Stephenson home. Jerry’s dad, Joe Stephenson, had been a big league catcher with the New York Giants and Chicago White Sox in the ‘40s.

The family left Detroit for Hermosa Beach, California, when Jerry was a kid. Later, they moved to Anaheim when he hit seventh grade. Jerry was the oldest of six kids.

Joe Stephenson played a huge role in Jerry’s baseball life. “I’ve got pictures of me like six months old laying in a crib with a small bat and ball in my hand,” Jerry once said. His dad ran a Red Sox scouts team in the winters, so Jerry got some early, unusual opportunities.

Starting at 13, Jerry played in those scout team games. He faced ex-pros and college players every weekend. “I was like an eighth grader,” he remembered. “He’d put me in, he’d start me off when I was like 13 and in Little League.”

That kind of competition at such a young age paid off. Jerry actually started as a catcher, like his dad, before moving to the mound.

High School and College Experience

Jerry went to Anaheim High School, where he stood out in baseball and was named the Sunset League’s Most Valuable varsity baseball player as a senior. His high school success carried over to American Legion baseball.

The Anaheim Legion team almost felt like a minor league club. They had one of the few lighted fields around, which gave them an edge in night games. “We used to play night games. Other teams would come in who had never played night games. We used to kill them,” Jerry laughed.

Crowds could be huge—sometimes 8,000 to 10,000 fans showed up. That kind of exposure really helped Jerry get ready for pro ball.

When scouts came to check out prospects, Jerry’s dad found himself in a tricky spot. Red Sox scouting director Neil Mahoney and Ted Williams even came to Anaheim to watch Jerry and others.

Several teams wanted Jerry, with the Yankees and White Sox offering the most money. But Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey decided, “it wouldn’t look too good if the son of one of our scouts signs with the Yankees.”

Jerry signed with the Red Sox on June 17, 1961, just after high school graduation. He promised his parents he’d finish college, and he kept his word—earning a degree from Cal State Fullerton at age 33 after 14 winters of night classes.

Scouting and Post-Playing Career

After he retired from pro baseball in 1970, Jerry Stephenson jumped into a scouting career that lasted almost four decades. He worked as a major league scout and advance scout for both the Dodgers and Red Sox, helping those teams find and evaluate talent.

Transition to MLB Scout

Stephenson started scouting in 1974, just four years after his last game. He stayed connected to the Dodgers during that time, pitching in their minor league system before moving into scouting full-time.

His experience as a former big league pitcher gave him a real edge when it came to evaluating players. He understood what pro baseball demanded because he’d lived it.

The transition felt pretty natural for someone who’d “been in baseball since birth,” as he once put it to The Times in 1983. His father, Joe Stephenson, also spent years as a major league scout, so Jerry got an early taste of the profession.

Work with Dodgers and Red Sox

Stephenson spent 25 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1974 to 1994. After that, he joined the Boston Red Sox and worked there from 1995 to 2009.

He brought 39 years of scouting experience to the table, and people in baseball circles respected him for his sharp eye in talent evaluation.

With both teams, Stephenson worked as a major league scout and an advance scout. He evaluated both amateur and professional talent, and studied opposing teams’ strategies and weaknesses.

Every March, Stephenson kicked off his year by heading to spring training in Arizona. This gave him a chance to watch teams as they prepared for the season and gather useful intel for what was ahead.

He retired to part-time status after the 2009 season. His scouting career lasted longer than most players even stay in pro ball.

Personal Life and Family Legacy

Baseball ran deep in Jerry Joseph Stephenson’s life, thanks in large part to his father Joe Stephenson. Joe played in the majors and later became a longtime scout.

Jerry’s son, Brian Stephenson, kept the family tradition alive and stayed connected to the sport as well.

Relationship with Joe Stephenson

Jerry’s career in baseball really took shape because of his father, Joe Stephenson, who once caught in the big leagues. Joe later scouted for the Boston Red Sox for many years.

In 1961, Joe Stephenson signed Jerry to the Red Sox for about $85,000 after Jerry finished at Anaheim High School. That father-son contract made for an interesting start to Jerry’s pro career.

Jerry once told The Times in 1983, “I’ve been in baseball since birth. I’ve got a picture of myself at 6 weeks cradling a ball and bat.”

Joe’s influence went beyond just signing Jerry. He shared his experience as both a player and a scout, giving Jerry a fuller view of the game.

Connection to Brian Stephenson

Jerry’s son, Brian Stephenson, represents the third generation of this baseball family. There aren’t a ton of details about Brian’s own pro baseball career, but he definitely stayed involved in the sport.

When Jerry passed away in 2010, Brian was among his surviving family, along with Jerry’s wife of 43 years, Yvonne, and his daughter Shannon Smaldino.

Because Jerry spent 36 years scouting for the Dodgers and Red Sox, Brian grew up in a home where baseball was always front and center, even after Jerry stopped pitching in 1970.

Honors, Legacy, and Passing

Jerry Stephenson picked up eight championship rings during his time in baseball. He got recognized as a pitcher on the 1967 American League champion Red Sox.

His 36-year scouting run with the Dodgers and Red Sox made him a respected figure in player development before he lost his battle with cancer in 2010.

Recognition and Hall of Fame Inductions

Stephenson’s biggest honor probably came as a pitcher on the 1967 American League champion Boston Red Sox. That team made it all the way to the World Series, which was the high point of his playing days.

Over the years, Stephenson picked up eight championship rings for his work both on the field and helping develop players.

Back in high school at Anaheim High, he earned the title of Sunset League’s Most Valuable varsity baseball player as a senior in 1961. That award helped him land a pro contract with the Red Sox just days after graduation.

His dad, Joe Stephenson, had his own legacy as a big league catcher and longtime scout for Boston. The family’s name just kept popping up in baseball circles, generation after generation.

Impact on Baseball Community

Stephenson spent 36 years scouting, first with the Dodgers from 1974 to 1994, then with the Red Sox from 1995 to 2009. He played a big role in player development and helped launch a lot of professional careers.

He followed in his father Joe’s footsteps and became a respected scout for the Red Sox. His son, Brian Stephenson, kept the tradition going by working as a scout for the Dodgers.

The Stephenson family made a multi-generational mark on baseball. Joe was a catcher and scout, Jerry a pitcher and scout, and Brian a scout too, all contributing decades of knowledge and service to the game.

After pitching in the majors, Jerry moved into scouting and stayed close to baseball for almost five decades. His experience on the mound gave him a unique perspective when it came to finding and evaluating young talent.

Passing and Memorials

Jerry Stephenson died of cancer at his home in Anaheim on June 6, 2010, at age 66.

After the 2009 season, he shifted to part-time work and stepped back from his long scouting career.

Stephenson’s wife, Yvonne Osbourn Stephenson, survived him. They married in 1967.

Their 43-year marriage brought two children into the world: Shannon Smaldino and Brian.

His mother, Dorothea Stephenson, also survived him. So did his brothers Tom and Joe Jr., and his sisters Joanne and Marylou.

The family stayed rooted in the Anaheim area for his whole life.

Stephenson spent his years in baseball from 1961 to 2009. As both a player and a scout, he made a real impact on the organizations he worked with.