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Red Sox: Former pitchers that failed to live up to expectations

By Rick McNair

Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz (11) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; (EDITORS NOTE: a star filter used in the creation of this image) Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) bats during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; (EDITORS NOTE: a star filter used in the creation of this image) Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) bats during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Jerry Stephenson’s father was a Red Sox scout so in those pre-draft days it was all about the money and Stephenson got that. Stephenson made his first Boston stop in 1963 as a 19-year-old. The right-hander return in 1965 for 15 games.

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Stephenson was on the fast track in 1964 for the Red Sox farm team in Seattle when he injured his elbow. Stephenson was 6-4, 1.57 at that point and his season was done. Stephenson spent 1965 with Boston going 1-5, 6.23.

Stephenson was an up and down pitcher for the Red Sox and later for the Seattle Pilots and the Dodgers as he spent considerable time in the minors, including an 18-5 season with Spokane in the Pacific Coast League. The MLB total was just 8-19, but Stephenson was part of the remarkable 1967 team pitching two innings in the World Series allowing a pair of runs.

Why Stephenson stalled, could be placed on being advanced too quickly, misused, the traumatic elbow injury or just not having the MLB talent level. The promise was certainly there – at least at first, but it never surfaced.

Stephenson’s son, Ben, is now in the scouting department of the Dodgers. Jerry spent his post-playing career as a scout, following in his father’s footsteps. Three generations of a baseball scout.

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