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West was a far-ranging defensive outfielder who set a since-broken American League record with a .996 fielding percentage in 1928. A lefthanded thrower and batter, he joined the Senators in 1927 and was tutored on defense by veteran teammate Tris Speaker. He became Washington's centerfielder in 1928 and remained until his December 1932 trade to the Browns. He batted .300 or better in eight of his twelve seasons as a regular and was named to the first two AL All-Star teams. He had a string of eight consecutive hits in 1933, including a 6-for-6 game on April 13. His lifetime average dropped below .300 in his final season, 1942, when he played 49 games with the White Sox. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 14, 1932: The Senators swap Sam West, Carl Reynolds, and Lloyd Brown, along with $20,000, for former Senator Goose Goslin, lefthander Walter Stewart, and OF Fred Schulte. They also get Earl Whitehill from Detroit for Firpo Marberry and Carl Fischer. » April 13, 1933: Browns OF Sammy West goes 6-for-6 in an 11-inning victory over the White Sox. He has 5 singles and a double, all off Ted Lyons. » August 5, 1933: Browns OF Sammy West equals the major-league record with four extra-base hits in a 12-inning, 10-9 win over the White Sox. He hits one double, two triples, and a HR. » June 14, 1934: Yankee P Johnny Broaca, two weeks out of Yale University, gives up a 3rd inning single to Sammy West, the only St. Louis hit, to top the host Browns, 7–0.