Batting average .299 Role Actor Home runs 75 | Runs batted in 838 Name Sam West | |
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Similar Carl Hubbell, Travis Jackson, Mel Ott Born October 5, 1904 Longview, Texas, U.S. Died November 23, 1985 (aged 81) Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Batted Left Threw Left MLB debut April 17, 1927, for the Washington Senators Last MLB appearance September 24, 1942, for the Chicago White Sox Teams Washington Senators (1927–1932), St. Louis Browns (1933–1938), Washington Senators (1938–1941), Chicago White Sox (1942) Career highlights and awards 4× All-Star (1933–1935, 1937) | ||
Sam West on Birdsong
Samuel Filmore West (October 5, 1904 – November 23, 1985) was a center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three different teams from 1927 to 1942. Listed at 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m), 165 lb., West batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Longview, Texas.
West entered the majors in 1927 with the Washington Senators, playing six years for them before moving to the St. Louis Browns (1933–1938), again with Washington (1938–1941), and the Chicago White Sox (1942). His most productive season came in 1931 when he posted a career-high .333 batting average and reached career highs in slugging percentage (.481), hits (175), doubles (43), triples (13), and rbi (91). In 1933, he was selected to the first All-Star Game ever played, being selected again in 1934, 1935 and 1937.
During his career, West collected a .300 average during eight seasons; led AL outfielders in putouts twice, double plays three times, and assists once, and four times was considered in the AL Most Valuable Player vote. Although he played with Washington during ten seasons, he missed the American League pennant-winning team that lost the 1933 World Series to the New York Giants after being traded to the Browns in exchange for Goose Goslin.
Over the course of a sixteen-season career, West achieved a batting average of .299 (1838 hits in 6148 at-bats), alongside 75 home runs and 838 runs batted in across 1753 games. His career statistics also include scoring 934 runs, hitting 347 doubles and 101 triples, stealing 53 bases, and achieving a .371 on-base percentage and a .425 slugging percentage. Following his playing career, West served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After discharge from the service, he spent three years as a coach with the Senators.
West died in Lubbock, Texas at age 81.