Chuck Stevens

Charles Augustus Stevens

• Bats Both, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
• School University of California, Berkeley
• High School Long Beach Poly High School
• Debut September 16, 1941
• Final Game July 25, 1948
• Born July 10, 1918 in Van Houten, NM USA
• Died May 28, 2018 in Garden Grove, CA USA

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Biographical Information

First baseman Chuck Stevens played parts of three seasons in the majors. For many years after his playing career ended, he remained involved in baseball, helping provide financial assistance to former players in need.

Born in New Mexico, Stevens grew up in Southern California. He began his pro career in 1937 and reached the majors in 1941, going 2-for-13 in 4 games for the St. Louis Browns. After a season back in the minors in 1942, he joined the Air Force and missed the next three summers serving in World War II. He returned to baseball in 1946 and was the Browns starting first baseman, hitting .248 with 3 home runs. After spending 1947 with the Toledo Mud Hens, he was back with St. Louis in 1948, hitting .261 in 85 games. On July 9th of that year, he became the first batter that Satchel Paige faced in his big league debut; Stevens singled to left. However, he played his final major league game later that month and went on to spend the next several years in the Pacific Coast League.

Following his playing career and a brief stint as a minor league manager, Stevens served as longtime Secretary for the Association of Professional Ball Players of America, an organization providing financial assistance to professional baseball players, coaches, umpires, and other baseball people in need.

On November 13, 2017, with the passing of Bobby Doerr, Stevens became the Oldest Living MLB Player at the age of 99. He died in May 2018, less than two months shy of his 100th birthday.

As of 2019, he is the only major leaguer born in Van Houten, NM.

Related Sites

• Chuck Stevens at the SABR Bio Project