West was a lefthanded hitter with power and a good outfielder with a superb arm. In the 1940 All-Star Game, he hit a first-inning, three-run homer to give the NL a 3-0 lead. The next inning, he collapsed after leaping for a line drive at the right-field wall; though assisted from the field, he was not seriously hurt. His career was shortened by three years of service in WWII. On April 25, 1948, he walked five times in a game for Pittsburgh.
