Buzz Stephen
{{Short description|American baseball player (1944–2024)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Buzz Stephen
|image=Buzz Stephen.jpg
|position=Pitcher
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1944|7|13}}
|birth_place=Porterville, California, U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|2024|5|9|1944|7|13}}
|death_place=
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 20
|debutyear=1968
|debutteam=Minnesota Twins
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=September 25
|finalyear=1968
|finalteam=Minnesota Twins
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Win–loss record
|stat1value=1–1
|stat2label=Earned run average
|stat2value=4.76
|stat3label=Strikeouts
|stat3value=4
|teams=
- Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|1968}})
}}
Louis Roberts "Buzz" Stephen (July 13, 1944 – May 9, 2024) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born in Porterville, California, which is where he resided. He ended up choosing to attend Fresno State University.
Stephen, who was {{height|ft=6|in=4}} tall and who weighed about 205 pounds, was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 25th round of the amateur entry draft in 1965. Opting not to sign, he waited until 1966 to be drafted again. This time, he was first drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round of the June Secondary Phase of the draft. He did not sign that time, but again in 1966 he was drafted by the Twins in the second round of the January Secondary Phase of the draft. He chose to sign after being drafted in that instance.
In his one year in the majors, Stephen's salary was $5,400 and he wore number 42. He also committed one error.
On October 15, 1968 the Seattle Pilots selected Stephen in the expansion draft. Stephen was dealt along with Dick Baney from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Baltimore Orioles for Dave May before the trade deadline on June 15, 1970.{{cite news |last1=Durso |first1=Joseph |title=Drabowsky Back in Oriole Fold |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/06/17/archives/drabowsky-back-in-oriole-fold-royals-obtain-floyd-from-baltimore.html |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=17 June 1970}}
Stephen, who both threw and hit right-handed, only pitched in two major league games, making his debut on September 20, 1968. His last game was on September 25, 1968. In 3 career at-bats, his batting average was .000.
Stephen died on May 9, 2024, at the age of 79.{{cite news |last1=Whisnand |first1=Charles |title=Buzz Stephen, former Big Leaguer, Porterville Monument Works owner, dies |url=https://www.recorderonline.com/gallery/buzz-stephen-former-big-leaguer-porterville-monument-works-owner-dies/article_357b3b78-120c-11ef-9ebe-279ffaba77ee.html |access-date=15 May 2024 |publisher=The Porterville Recorder |date=14 May 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats |mlb=122742 |espn= |br=s/stephbu01 |fangraphs=1012489 |brm=stephe001lou |retro=S/Pstepb104}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephen, Buzz}}
Category:Baseball players from Tulare County, California
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Minnesota Twins players
Category:Fresno State Bulldogs baseball players
Category:Sportspeople from Porterville, California
Category:Arizona Instructional League Pilots players
Category:Charlotte Hornets (baseball) players
Category:Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs players
Category:Florida Instructional League Twins players
Category:Jacksonville Suns players
Category:Portland Beavers players
Category:Rochester Red Wings players
Category:Santa Barbara Dodgers players
Category:St. Cloud Rox players
Category:Vancouver Mounties players
Category:American expatriate baseball players in Canada
Category:Porterville High School alumni
Category:Junior college baseball players in the United States