Max West (westma02)

Max Edward West

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1½", Weight 182 lb.

• Debut April 19, 1938
• Final Game October 1, 1948
• Born November 28, 1916 in Dexter, MO USA
• Died December 31, 2003 in Sierra Madre, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Max West grew up in Southern California and made his big league debut in 1938. The following year, 1939 he had his finest season, hitting .285 with 19 home runs and 82 RBIs for the Boston Bees. He hit a game-winning three run homer in the 1940 All-Star Game in his only Midsummer Classic at bat.

West entered the Army in March 1943 and was discharged in January 1946. Since he gave up ages 26-28 to the service, he quite possibly missed his best baseball years. He had an OPS+ of at least 125 in three out of the four seasons before he went into the service. In each of those three years, he was by far the best home run hitter for Boston. Even in his last major league season, with the 1948 Pittsburgh Pirates, he was fifth on the team in home runs - and while the top four home run hitters on the team had 400+ at-bats, West was able to get 8 home runs in only 146 at-bats.

Before and after his major league career, West played ten seasons for multiple teams in the Pacific Coast League, where he batted .291 with 230 home runs. In 2003 he was elected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.

After his playing career ended, he owned a sporting good store in Alhambra, California. West died of brain cancer at age 87 in 2003.

Notable Achievements

• NL All-Star (1940)