Wes Westrum
Born: 11/28/1922 in Clearbrook, MN, USA
Died: 5/28/2002 in Clearbrook, MN, USA
MLB Debut: 1947-09-17 | Final Game: 1957-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 185 lbs
Full name: Wesley Noreen Westrum
Biography
Wes Westrum, born in 1922, was a prominent figure in Major League Baseball during his playing career from 1947 to 1957. As a versatile position player, Westrum appeared in 919 games, achieving a total of 503 hits, 96 home runs, and 315 RBIs. His batting average stood at 0.217, reflecting the challenges many players faced during an era that was characterized by a shift towards power hitting. Westrum's contributions to the game were recognized with two All-Star selections, underscoring his status as one of the notable players of his time.
Westrum played primarily for the New York Giants, where he became known for his solid defensive skills and leadership on the field. His ability to impact games went beyond his offensive statistics, as he was respected for his baseball acumen and work ethic. In a decade that saw the evolution of the game with the rise of power hitters and the expansion of the league, Westrum's career was marked by his reliability and consistent performance, making him a significant player in the history of the Giants and a valuable asset to his teams.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 919 | 2322 | 302 | 503 | 59 | 8 | 96 | 315 | 10 | 489 | 514 | 0.217 | 0.356 | 0.373 | 0.729 | 1761.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | NY1 | NL | 6 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.417 | 0.0 |
| 1948 | NY1 | NL | 66 | 125 | 14 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 16 | 3 | 20 | 36 | 0.160 | -477.3 |
| 1949 | NY1 | NL | 64 | 169 | 23 | 41 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 28 | 1 | 37 | 39 | 0.243 | 366.4 |
| 1950 | NY1 | NL | 140 | 437 | 68 | 103 | 13 | 3 | 23 | 71 | 2 | 92 | 73 | 0.236 | 940.1 |
| 1951 | NY1 | NL | 124 | 361 | 59 | 79 | 12 | 0 | 20 | 70 | 1 | 104 | 93 | 0.219 | 1440.3 |
| 1952 | NY1 | NL | 114 | 322 | 47 | 71 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 43 | 1 | 76 | 68 | 0.220 | 860.0 |
| 1953 | NY1 | NL | 107 | 290 | 40 | 65 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 30 | 2 | 56 | 73 | 0.224 | 45.3 |
| 1954 | NY1 | NL | 98 | 246 | 25 | 46 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 27 | 0 | 45 | 60 | 0.187 | -574.0 |
| 1955 | NY1 | NL | 69 | 137 | 11 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 24 | 18 | 0.212 | -265.4 |
| 1956 | NY1 | NL | 68 | 132 | 10 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 28 | 0.220 | -34.1 |
| 1957 | NY1 | NL | 63 | 91 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 24 | 0.165 | -539.5 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 28 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0.250 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | WS | NY1 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0.273 |
| 1951 | WS | NY1 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0.235 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 902 | 220 | 3639 | 415 | 62 | 82 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | NY1 | C | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | NY1 | C | 63 | 0 | 179 | 25 | 4 | 4 |
| 1949 | NY1 | C | 62 | 0 | 224 | 18 | 5 | 4 |
| 1950 | NY1 | C | 139 | 0 | 608 | 71 | 1 | 21 |
| 1951 | NY1 | C | 122 | 0 | 554 | 62 | 8 | 9 |
| 1952 | NY1 | C | 112 | 0 | 481 | 64 | 12 | 11 |
| 1953 | NY1 | C | 106 | 0 | 441 | 53 | 9 | 9 |
| 1953 | NY1 | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1954 | NY1 | C | 98 | 83 | 419 | 45 | 7 | 8 |
| 1955 | NY1 | C | 68 | 51 | 280 | 27 | 4 | 5 |
| 1956 | NY1 | C | 67 | 45 | 297 | 27 | 6 | 7 |
| 1957 | NY1 | C | 63 | 41 | 148 | 21 | 6 | 4 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 901 |
| Third Base | 1 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 32th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |