Stephen Souchock (March 3, 1919 – July 28, 2002), nicknamed "Bud," was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman and a former veteran who served in the military during World War II. His Major League Baseball career lasted a total of eight years, having served in the military for three years. Born in Yatesboro, Pennsylvania, Souchock worked on the assembly line at the Ford factory during his early life. He also played semi-pro American football for the Dearborn Club in 1938. During his baseball career, he batted and threw right-handed.

New York Yankees' scout Bill Skiff had scouted Steve Souchock, and eventually he signed with the New York Yankees in June 1939, before the 1939 baseball season. From 1939 to 1942, Souchock played baseball in the New York Yankees organization. In 1942, Souchock was the Eastern League Most Valuable Player and won the league batting title with a batting average of .315.

In 1943, the Yankees were possibly going to call-up and use Souchock as a replacement for Buddy Hassett as first baseman in Major League Baseball, but he instead entered military service that January. He served in the 691st Tank Destroyer Battalion of the 87th Infantry Division, US Army. He served in the European Theater of Operations. Serving the military for three years, he eventually earned the rank of First Sergeant. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge. His unit was attached to Patton's 3rd Army. Toward the end of his military service, Souchock earned a Bronze Star in Europe as commander of a five-man gun crew. He returned home with five battle stars in late 1945, Souchock said, "The war cost me three important years, as it did many ballplayers." On December 6, 1945, at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Souchock had been discharged from military service.

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