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Ex-All-Star Max West Dies at 87
The Associated Press
01/05/04 20:57 EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Max
West, a major leaguer who hit a home run in his first All-Star game at-bat,
has died at 87.
West, whose three-run
homer in the first inning keyed the National League's victory in the 1940
All-Star game, died Dec. 31 of brain cancer at an assisted living facility
in Sierra Madre, said his daughter, Cindy.
West had a seven-year
career in the major leagues with the Boston Bees, Cincinnati Reds and
Pittsburgh Pirates.
His best season was 1939
for the Bees (later the Braves) when he hit .285 with 19 home runs and
82 RBIs.
In the 1940 game at Sportsman's
Park in St. Louis, West subbed for ailing New York Giants slugger Mel
Ott and hit his home run off the Yankees' Red Ruffing. The National League
won the game 4-0, the first shutout in All-Star game history.
Along with his daughter,
Cindy, of Sierra Madre, West is survived by a son, Ralph, also of Sierra
Madre; a sister, Mary Fields, of La Verne, and three grandchildren.
At West's request, there
will be no services.
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