Former Red Sox pitcher and scout Jerry Stephenson was laid to rest on Friday in Anaheim, five days after dying of cancer at his Fullerton home at the age of 66.
Stephenson spent parts of seven seasons in the major leagues, five with the Red Sox, and he compiled an 8-19 record with a 5.70 ERA.
Stephenson also spent 25 years scouting for the Dodgers and 14 years scouting for the Red Sox, according to ESPN.com.
In Boston, though, Stephenson will be most remembered for his contributions to the 1967 "Impossible Dream" team that faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.
He was 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in eight games that year, six of which were starts. He picked up a big save in extra innings on Aug. 19, helping the Red Sox defeat the California Angels 12-11, and went on to win three straight decisions while the Red Sox were jockeying for first place.
Stephenson was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 1961. After being released by the Sox in 1969, he pitched for the Seattle Pilots and Los Angeles Dodgers, making his final big league appearance on Sept. 21, 1970. At that point, he remained in the Dodgers organization until he began scouting in 1974, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Close friend Peter Gammons referred to Stephenson as the first major league player with a hair dryer, and one of the funniest people and best scouts who ever lived.
Stephenson is survived by his wife, Yvonne; his son, Brian; his daughter, Shannon Smaldino; his mother, Dorothea; his brothers, Tom and Joe Jr.; his sisters, JoAnn and MaryLou; and three grandchildren.
