Sam West
Born: 10/5/1904 in Longview, TX, USA
Died: 11/23/1985 in Lubbock, TX, USA
MLB Debut: 1927-04-17 | Final Game: 1942-09-24
Bats: L | Throws: L | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 165 lbs
Full name: Samuel Filmore West
Biography
Sam West was a prominent Major League Baseball player whose career spanned from 1927 to 1942. Born in 1904, West established himself as a key figure in the game during an era marked by the transition from the deadball era to a more power-oriented style of play. Over his 15-year career, he participated in 1,753 games, amassing 1,838 hits and demonstrating his consistent offensive prowess with a career batting average of .299. He was known for his ability to drive in runs, finishing his career with 838 RBIs, and his power at the plate was evidenced by his 75 home runs.
West's contributions to the game were recognized during his career with four All-Star selections, highlighting his status as one of the elite players of his time. In addition to his offensive capabilities, he showcased speed on the bases, recording 53 stolen bases. His combination of hitting ability, speed, and all-around athleticism made him a valuable asset to his teams. As a player who thrived in a dynamic era of baseball, Sam West left a lasting legacy that continues to be honored by baseball historians and fans alike.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1753 | 6148 | 934 | 1838 | 347 | 101 | 75 | 838 | 53 | 696 | 540 | 0.299 | 0.371 | 0.425 | 0.796 | 9765.6 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | WSN | AL | 38 | 67 | 9 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0.239 | -139.3 |
| 1928 | WSN | AL | 125 | 378 | 59 | 114 | 30 | 7 | 3 | 40 | 5 | 20 | 23 | 0.302 | 265.0 |
| 1929 | WSN | AL | 142 | 510 | 60 | 136 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 75 | 9 | 45 | 41 | 0.267 | -1361.9 |
| 1930 | WSN | AL | 120 | 411 | 75 | 135 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 67 | 5 | 37 | 34 | 0.328 | 769.5 |
| 1931 | WSN | AL | 132 | 526 | 77 | 175 | 43 | 13 | 3 | 91 | 6 | 30 | 37 | 0.333 | 1527.6 |
| 1932 | WSN | AL | 146 | 554 | 88 | 159 | 27 | 12 | 6 | 83 | 4 | 48 | 57 | 0.287 | 270.9 |
| 1933 | SLA | AL | 133 | 517 | 93 | 155 | 25 | 12 | 11 | 48 | 10 | 59 | 49 | 0.300 | 1811.9 |
| 1934 | SLA | AL | 122 | 482 | 90 | 157 | 22 | 10 | 9 | 55 | 3 | 62 | 55 | 0.326 | 1859.3 |
| 1935 | SLA | AL | 138 | 527 | 93 | 158 | 37 | 4 | 10 | 70 | 1 | 75 | 46 | 0.300 | 1536.1 |
| 1936 | SLA | AL | 152 | 533 | 78 | 148 | 26 | 4 | 7 | 70 | 2 | 94 | 70 | 0.278 | 535.5 |
| 1937 | SLA | AL | 122 | 457 | 68 | 150 | 37 | 4 | 7 | 58 | 1 | 46 | 28 | 0.328 | 1496.2 |
| 1938 | SLA | AL | 44 | 165 | 17 | 51 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 0.309 | 96.0 |
| 1938 | WSN | AL | 92 | 344 | 51 | 104 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 1 | 33 | 21 | 0.302 | 96.0 |
| 1939 | WSN | AL | 115 | 390 | 52 | 110 | 20 | 8 | 3 | 52 | 1 | 67 | 29 | 0.282 | 639.2 |
| 1940 | WSN | AL | 57 | 99 | 7 | 25 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 13 | 0.253 | 21.1 |
| 1941 | WSN | AL | 26 | 37 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 0.270 | 0.0 |
| 1942 | CHW | AL | 49 | 151 | 14 | 35 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 31 | 18 | 0.232 | -29.1 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 29 | 0 | 228 | 13 | 5 | 22 |
| OF | 1573 | 0 | 4300 | 151 | 76 | 42 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | WS1 | OF | 18 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 1928 | WS1 | OF | 116 | 0 | 210 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| 1929 | WS1 | OF | 139 | 0 | 376 | 25 | 9 | 8 |
| 1930 | WS1 | OF | 118 | 0 | 310 | 8 | 9 | 1 |
| 1931 | WS1 | OF | 127 | 0 | 402 | 13 | 4 | 3 |
| 1932 | WS1 | OF | 143 | 0 | 450 | 15 | 10 | 7 |
| 1933 | SLA | OF | 127 | 0 | 329 | 14 | 4 | 3 |
| 1934 | SLA | OF | 120 | 0 | 303 | 14 | 9 | 3 |
| 1935 | SLA | OF | 135 | 0 | 449 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| 1936 | SLA | OF | 148 | 0 | 442 | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| 1937 | SLA | OF | 105 | 0 | 298 | 17 | 4 | 6 |
| 1938 | SLA | OF | 41 | 0 | 101 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1938 | WS1 | OF | 85 | 0 | 221 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 1939 | WS1 | 1B | 17 | 0 | 133 | 6 | 4 | 9 |
| 1939 | WS1 | OF | 89 | 0 | 232 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| 1940 | WS1 | 1B | 12 | 0 | 95 | 7 | 1 | 13 |
| 1940 | WS1 | OF | 9 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1941 | WS1 | OF | 8 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1942 | CHA | OF | 45 | 0 | 112 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 29 |
| Left Field | 101 |
| Center Field | 1446 |
| Right Field | 29 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | CF |
| 1933 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | OF |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 18th | 2.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1934 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 15th | 5.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1933 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 11th | 11.0 | 80 | 0 |
| 1931 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 9th | 16.0 | 80 | 0 |