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Chester Earl Stephenson (born July 31, 1947) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. The left-hander was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 3rd round of the 1967 amateur draft and played for the Cubs (1971), Milwaukee Brewers (1972), and Baltimore Orioles (1977–1978).
He got his first big league win on May 16, 1971. In the first game of a home doubleheader vs. the San Diego Padres Stephenson entered the 7–7 contest in the top of the 10th and gave up a run, but the Cubs bailed him out with two runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a 2-run walk-off homer by Jim Hickman.
Stephenson was traded along with Jim Colborn and Brock Davis by the Cubs to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder José Cardenal on December 3, 1971. Rappoport, Ken. "Trading Still Active on Baseball Exchange," The Associated Press (AP), Saturday, December 4, 1971. Retrieved March 23, 2020 His best year in the majors was 1972 when he spent the entire season with the Brewers. He got into 35 games, most in relief, and was 3–5 with a 3.25 earned run average. In his other three big league years he spent the majority of the seasons in the minor leagues.
One highlight of the '72 season occurred at County Stadium when he earned his first win as a starting pitcher, hurling seven scoreless innings in a 2–0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in game one of a June 25 doubleheader. Another great start for Stephenson, even though he lost, was ten days later at Anaheim Stadium. His pitching opponent was future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan of the California Angels. They were locked in a 0–0 game for eight innings, but the Angels scored a run with two out in the bottom of the 9th for a 1–0 win. (walk-off single by Winston Llenas)
Stephenson was dealt along with Jim Lonborg, Ken Brett and Ken Sanders by the Brewers to the Philadelphia Phillies for Don Money, John Vukovich and Bill Champion on October 31, 1972. "Phillies Obtain Jim Lonborg In 7‐Man Deal With Brewers," United Press International (UPI), Tuesday, October 31, 1972. Retrieved April 13, 2020 He was selected by the Montreal Expos from the Eugene Emeralds in the Rule 5 draft on December 3, 1973. Durso, Joseph. "4 Trades Made at Meetings," The New York Times, Tuesday, December 4, 1973. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
Career totals for 54 games pitched include a 4–5 record, 8 games started, 1 complete game, 13 games finished, and 1 save. He allowed 45 earned runs in 113.1 innings pitched for an ERA of 3.57, strikeout 50, and walked 49. Stephenson was a good defensive pitcher but a poor hitter. He handled 24 out of 25 total chances successfully for a fielding percentage of .960, but went 0-for-20 (.000) at the plate with 13 strikeouts.
In between, Stephenson played winter ball with the Tigres de Aragua and Navegantes de Magallanes clubs of the Venezuelan League in three seasons spanning 1971–1977, pitching also for Aragua in the 1972 Caribbean Series. Pura Pelota Afterwards, he played for the Bradenton Explorers of the United States Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989. The Trading Card Database
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