Max West

Max Edward West
Born: Nov. 28, 1916 in Dexter, MO
Died: Dec. 31, 2003 in Sierra Madre, Calif.
Debut: 1938 | Pos: OF
H: 6'1.5" | W: 182 | B: L | T: R

YR	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BA
7	824	2676	338	681	77	380	19	.254

>> Visit the Max West biography on Baseball Almanac for complete statistics.

Max West, who hit 77 home runs in his major league career, died Dec. 31, 2003, in Sierra Madre, Calif. He was 87.

According to reports, West died at an assisted living facility following a batter with brain cancer.

A Dexter, Mo., native, his family moved to California in the 1920s. He was a pitcher in high school and spent three years in the Pacific Coast League before his contract was purchased by the Boston Bees.

He played in 824 games in his 7-year career in the major leagues. West's career totals include 77 home runs and 380 RBI. His most productive season was 1939 when he hit .285 with 19 home runs and 82 RBI.

He appeared in the 1940 All-Star Game at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis as a substitute for ailing Mel Ott of the Giants. West hit a home run off the Yankees' Red Ruffing.

His career was interrupted during World War II as he served as part of a B-29 crew in the Pacific.

He returned to Boston in 1946, but was traded to the Reds that April for Jim Konstanty.

Following his career in the major leagues, West returned to the PCL and played there until the mid-1950s. He was inducted into the PCL Hall of Fame in 2003.

Following his playing career, he ran a sporting goods business that he purchased in 1950 along with high school friend and former major leaguer, Ralph Kiner. West eventually bought out Kiner and ran the store until he retired in 1980.

Source: Associated Press