he was named as one of the ten former players who began their careers before 1943 to be considered by the Veterans Committee for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009. He was not selected. Death Vern Stephens died of a heart attack in Long Beach, California at 48 years of age. Highlights 8-time All-Star (1943–44, 1945 [non-official game], 1946, 1948–51) Six times in the Top 10 in MVP voting (1942–45, 1948–49) Led the American League in home runs during 1945 Three times led the American League in RBI (1944, 1949–50) Collected 440 RBI within three consecutive seasons (1948–50) Three times in the Top 10 in batting average (1942–43, 1946) Twice led the American League in games played (1948–49) Was inducted into the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006 Only man to play for the 1944 American League Champion St. Louis Browns and the Baltimore Orioles, the team the Browns franchise became after it moved to Baltimore in 1954 Holds the MLB record for RBI in a season by a shortstop, with 159 in 1949 Became the first shortstop to hit 30 home runs in a season, with 39 in 1949 Attended Polytechnic High School, Long Beach, California (also attended by Tony Gwynn, Chase Utley, Milton Bradley, etc.) See also Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 2009 List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders List of Boston Red Sox awards List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders List of Major League Baseball career runs batted in leaders List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders List of Major League Baseball annual home run leaders References External links Baseball Almanac 1920 births 1968 deaths American League All-Stars American League home run champions American League RBI champions Baltimore Orioles players Baseball players from New Mexico Boston Red Sox players Chicago White Sox players Johnstown Johnnies players Major League Baseball shortstops Mayfield Browns players People from Quay County, New Mexico St. Louis Browns players San Antonio Missions players Baseball players from Long Beach, California Springfield Browns players Toledo Mud Hens players Long Beach Polytechnic High School alumni