ROBERT “BOBBY” *

STEVENS

2016 MEMORIAL AWARD

 

Robert  “Bobby”  Stevens  was  born  in Stockton, attended Jackson Elementary,

Edison High School, and Stockton Junior College.

At Edison High School, Bobby played football, basketball, and baseball. He was the quarterback on the football team, but excelled in basketball, leading the team in scoring, and in baseball, where he was a pitcher and shortstop. He led his team to the Valley Oak League Championship in 1947.

In 1946, he played for the American Legion Post 16 baseball team and was selected to the San Joaquin County team in the North-South All-Star game.

At Stockton College, Bobby played halfback on the football team and was the leading ground gainer in 1947. He was 5´8˝ tall and weighed 135 pounds.

In 1948, he played softball for the Stockton Eagles Lodge team that went to the United States Softball Championships in Olympia, Washington. He anchored second base for the team.

In 1949 and 1950, Bobby played for the Stockton Ports professional baseball team. He made the Cal-League All-Star team in 1950 as a shortstop. While with the Ports he was second in home runs, second in total base hits, and second in runs batted  in.  The  fans voted him the most popular player in 1950. Frank Crocetti, former New York Yankee star, worked with him to hone his skills at second base.

Bobby also had the opportunity to meet Joe DiMaggio when they went dove hunting  together in the Delta for two days.

Bobby credited three people with helping him along the way: Bill Stevens, his brother, was his role model as a young man; Bill Gott, his football coach; and Grant Taggart, his basketball coach at Edison High School. He also credited Gene Stagnaro and Frank Boyle, who taught him about sports and were like big brothers to him.

He was also a member of the 17 Club, made up of former baseball players. Bobby had a wife, Delores, and two sons, David and Jeff.