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RIGGS (OLD HOSS) STEPHENSON  HAS THE 20^TH HIGHEST BA IN THE HISTORY OF THE MAJOR LEAGUES. WHY ISN’T HE IN THE HALL OF FAME?  Sometimes  a fleeting  moment  can change the destiny of things to come:  it’s  a windy  afternoon  at the  University of Alabama.  Riggs Stephenson, at his quarterback position, takes a snap from the center, cuts to his left, rears back to throw, and is blindsided by two linebackers who smash him to the earth.

He  lands on his shoulder, something snaps, & what could have been a HOF  baseball career ends at that moment. 

   Baseball was his first love. Realizing his football days were over, he concentrated on being  a first baseman  in the Minors, which wasn’t such a good idea. His throwing arm was so weak that when he came up to the Majors he was quickly converted to the outfield, which also wasn’t such a good idea. It was his hitting though that kept him  in the Majors. With Cleveland,

because of his poor throwing arm, he was mostly a part time player. Could he hit though! In five years with the Indians his averages were: 1921/330  1922/339  1923/319  1924/371  1925/296.

   In 1926 Cleveland traded Riggs to the Cubs where in 281 times at bat he hit.338. The best was yet to come. Playing full time for Chicago he got up 527 times and hit.344 with 82 RBIs & 46 doubles. He followed that with .324 & in 1929 he had his best year, hitting .362 with 110 RBIs, 17 HRs, & 36 doubles. That year was the only time any outfield in ML history had all 3 members getting 100 or more RBIs in the same season. Riggs, Wilson, & Ki Ki Cuyler. It wasn’t until his last year in baseball that his average dipped below.300.

   He played in two WS and had a total of 14 hits in 37 times at bat for a .378 BA.

   Ah that football injury! With a decent throwing arm who knows what he could have achieved. His .336 lifetime BA is the 20^th best in the history of the game. All 19 players ahead of him are in the HOF. A case should be made for “Old Hoss” as well, bad arm and all. Here are the names of Hall of Famers who have BAs far inferior to his:

   ROGER BRESNAHAN/279   FRED CLARKE/312   JIMMY COLLINS/294  FRANK CHANCE/ 296   RABBIT MARRANVILLE/258   RAY SCHALK/253   MAX CAREY/285   CHICK HAFEY/ 317   HARRY HOOPER/281   BABE HERMAN (also a poor fielder)324  BROOKS ROBINSON/ 267   RICK FERRELL/281   JOE MORGAN/271.

   Recent newcomer are not much better!

   DAVE WINFIELD/283   KIRBY PUCKETT/308   GEORGE BRETT/312   ROBIN YOUNT/290  

BILL MAZEROSKI/261 etc. A lot of the aforementioned players made it solely for their glove, so why not old Hoss for his bat.

   It seems to me that the 20 th highest batting average in the history of the game that has had over 16,000+ participants should be good enough to qualify for inclusion! You’ll notice Riggs is ahead of Dimaggio, Aaron, Mays, both Waner’s, Eddie Mathews, Frank Robinson, Hack Wilson, Pee Wee Reese, Rizzutto, Eddie Collins, Bobby Doer, etc.

   Old Hoss batted .319 or better in 12 of his 14 years. A forgotten player!

   RIGGS STEPHENSON: 14 YEARS: 1,310 GAMES:  63 HRs:  773 RBIs:  .336 BA: