Jake Stephens

Jake Stephens
Jake Stephens
	Hilldale Daisies
Last appearance
	1937, for the New York Black Yankees
Teams
	Hilldale Daisies (1921–1929) ; Homestead Grays (1929–1932); Philadelphia Stars (1933–1935); New York Black Yankees (1936–1937);
Career highlights and awards
	All-Star (1935); 2× Eastern Colored League champion (1923, 1924);

Paul Eugene "Country Jake" Stephens (February 10, 1900 – February 5, 1981) was an American baseball player known for his slight stature, speed, and defense at the shortstop position. He played in the Negro leagues for 4 teams (1921–1937).

Early years

The younger brother of fellow Negro leaguer

Hilldale Daisies about a great young prospect (Stephens) in York, Pennsylvania, who happened to be Stephens. Bolden signed Stephens in 1921. He hit .263 against all levels of competition before returning to semipro ball. He spent part of 1922 in semipro ball and some with Hilldale, batting .290. In 1923, Stephens saw more playing time, backing up John Henry Lloyd at shortstop and Judy Johnson

at third base.

Eastern Colored League

In 1924, Stephens hit .183 (19 for 104) as a reserve shortstop. He asked to be taken out of game 8 of the

1924 Negro World Series; because he felt too nervous. With Stephens on the bench, catcher Biz Mackey moved to third base and Judy Johnson moved to shortstop. Unfortunately, Mackey committed a crucial error in game 8 that cost Hilldale the game and eventually the series. The Kansas City Monarchs

won the series, the first Negro World Series ever played.

In 1925,

Martin Dihigo

. Stephens left the Grays and returned to play for Hilldale, but later left the Daisies as well.

In 1930 and 1931, Stephens played for the Homestead Grays. The 1931 Grays are considered one of the best Negro league teams ever to play, compiling 136 wins and losing only 17. Stephens played alongside

Double Duty Radcliffe

, and Lefty Williams. In 1930, he hit .349 for the Grays but managed only a meager .168 batting average in the 1931 season.

In 1932 Stephens joined the Pittsburgh Crawfords, playing alongside Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. Known mostly for his defense, Stephens hit for a low average but proved his worth defensively, turning acrobatic double plays.

Philadelphia and New York

In 1934 Stephens joined the

Cum Posey

selected Stephens to the annual All-star team, an honor bestowed upon him the following season as well.

Stephens spent the 1936 and 1937 seasons with the New York Black Yankees, hitting .169 and .222 in 1936 and 1937 respectively. Although he received an offer to play for the Atlanta Black Crackers, Stephens turned them down and retired from baseball after 17 seasons in professional baseball.

Later life

Stephens moved back to York, Pennsylvania, running a taproom for two years. From 1939 to 1955, he worked for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Stephens also worked as a part-time deputy sheriff. He is a member of the Pittsburgh and York, Pennsylvania sports halls of fame. Stephens died in 1981 and is buried in York, Pennsylvania.

References

^ "With Taber on Mound Chester Beats Hilldale" Chester Times, Chester, PA, Tuesday, July 29, 1924, Page 6, Column 1
^ "Jake Stephens". seamheads.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

External links

Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference and Baseball-Reference Black Baseball stats and Seamheads
Jake Stephens at Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

[hilldale1924-1] "With Taber on Mound Chester Beats Hilldale" Chester Times, Chester, PA, Tuesday, July 29, 1924, Page 6, Column 1

[2] "Jake Stephens". seamheads.com. Retrieved October 7, 2020.

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