Phil Stephenson

Baseball America’s “College Player of the Century,” Phil Stephenson still holds NCAA career and single-season records.

Stephenson came to Wichita State in 1979, a year after his brother Gene revived the Shocker program.  In 1981, he hit in record 47 consecutive games.  In 1982, he hit .399 with 30 doubles and 87 stolen bases and was named Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA Player of the Year as WSU finished runner-up in the College World Series.

Stephenson still holds NCAA career records for hits, runs, total bases, stolen bases and walks.  He maintains NCAA single season records in hits, doubles, runs, walks and stolen bases.

Drafted in the third round by Oakland in 1982, Stephenson was traded to the Chicago Cubs and made his major league debut with the Cubs in 1989.  During the 1989 season, the Cubs sent him to San Diego.  After three seasons with the Padres, Stephenson retired from his playing career.

Stephenson spent four years coaching in professional baseball.  His 1996 Abilene Prairie Dogs won the Texas-Louisiana League championship and Stephenson was named Manager of the Year.  He spent two years as a hitting coach for the Double-A Wichita Wranglers.

In 2001, Stephenson became head coach at Dodge City Community College.  He coached the Conqs for 16 years, leading them the NJCAA World Series in 2015.

Stephenson has been active in radio in Wichita for many years.

He was elected to the National College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.