Vern had a fatal heart attack at the young age of 48...................
I think the fact that he died young & came from an obscure place New Mexico & an injury cut short his career are the main reasons Junior Stephens isn't in Cooperstown. The only other players as worthy as Stephens who don't have plaques in Cooperstown had one thing in common with Junior they all had brief careers. Joe Wood, Lefty O'Doul & Riggs Stephenson.
Stephens did one thing no one else ever did which is extra ordinary. For 3 straight years Stephens as a SS hit more HR's
than all the other starting SS in the American League combined, you can look it up.
Just as amazing was his RBI totals from 1948-1950. His 440 RBI in that 3 year period has not been matched since even in the video game numbers of the steroid era. His single season record for a SS of 159 RBI's still stands and was not matched by any position player until over 50 years later by I think 2 steroid cheats.
The only flaw in Stephens resume by some detractors is that he wasn't a good defensive player. If that is true why in the world did one of the greatest managers of all time Joe MaCarthy when Stephens was traded for in 1948 move Johnny Pesky the Sox SS since 1942 and a good one to 3rd Base.
I was very young and an avid Yankee fan when we got our first TV. When Stephens came up with the game on the line I almost started crying!