Jeff Stone - SoSH | Boston Red Sox | Red Sox Rumors | Spring Training | Pawtucket Red Sox

Baseball's great disappointments: Jeff Stone

At the end of the 1984 season, the youngster from Missouri looked like the next Rickey Henderson. One year in the minors he stole 122 bases. Just to show that was no fluke, he proceeded to steal 123 in 1983. He joined the Phillies in 1984 and was spectacular in a 50-game tryout at season's end. He batted more than .360 and stole 27 bases in 32 attempts. The future was so bright he needed two pairs of shades.

And then ...

And then nothing. He kicked around the pro game for about a decade, often getting shuttled back and forth from AAA. He played for eight AAA teams and four major league organizations. His last major league hit was a big one: a walk-off single to put the Red Sox in first place with five to play in the AL East. If the Sox had lost that game to Toronto, the two teams would have finished tied for the division crown. Yup, big hit! And it was his only hit of the year.

Jeff wasn't a wash-out. In an alternate universe, some needy team would have picked him up and made him the regular left fielder. He was faster 'n lighting and he could hit a bit as well. His lifetime average in the majors was .277; in the minors .287. Pretty solid. Most of us would have killed to have his career. If he had not had that spectacular rookie season, I wouldn't be remembering him as a great disappointment. On the other hand, I probably wouldn't remember him at all, even though he's still the only guy in pro baseball history with two seasons of 120+ stolen bases.