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.
