Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-08
HURT LIMB TO- GET
EXAMINATION HERE
x-Ray viii Be Made When
Sam Arrives Tomorrow.
Rest Has Not Helped.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.

Wv WHETHER Sam West, hashy
NA/ young outfielder, will be
v ' of any service to the Ma
tional's in this years
base ball campaign will not be
known until an examination is
made of his one-time remarkable
throwing arm. Ordered to Wash
ington by President Clark Griffith,
West will arrive tomorrow, and no
time will be lost by DR.. Edward
Larkin, Washington club ply
stefan, in looking over the ailing
limb.
The left arm that has been so val
liable to the Nationals will be x-rayed,
and II the picture reveals that an OPP
Grafton on the limb is warranted Dr.
Larkin is expected to proceed with the
surgical work Immediately.
Un to last Spring West never had eX-
perienced any trouble with his arm. He
was accounted one Of the best throwers
in base ball, and often had thrilled the
fans with great heaveS from the depths
OF the outfeld. While the Nationals
were in training at Chattanooga, how
ever, Vests arm failed him and, though
It came back for a time, it weakened
again during September, and he was
forced to quit the. lineup for the re-
mainder of the season. +
Rest Fails to Help.
Several times last season X-rays were
made of the ailing limb, but the injury
was not regarded serious enough for an
operation. In fact, it was believed
Winters rest would bring the arm
around to its former fine condition
Instead, idleness appears to have failed
to benefit the limb and now 1t is feared
West may have to undergo surgical
treatment
The loss of West this year would be
q serious blow to the Nationals, for dur
ing the past campaign the young Texan
appeared on the verge of fulfilling the
promise of becoming the great batter he
gave while with Birmingham Of the
Southern Association, the club from
which he was bought by Washington in
1925.
With Birmingham West was not ac-
counted a brilliant fielder, but was a
notable hitter. He slammed the ball in
the Dixie circuit for fine average until
beaned by pitch fromSthe left-handed
Merle Settlemire. The blow sent West
to the hospital for weeks and when he
finally came up to the Nationals he was
woefully weak at bat, especially against
southpaw pitching.
Makes Progress at Bat.
His hy-chasing ability and his throw
Ing power were so great, however, that
he was kept in the Washington outfield,
despite his low batting marks. At the
outset OF last season Manager Walter
johnson decided to employ West only
when the opposition used a rigIlt-hand
pitcher and the young man did well
against that style of hurting.
Later when 1t was deemed Vests
fine fielding was needed as much as
strong batting, the player was ordered
TO remain in the game against left
handlers as well as right-handers.
Virtually West was told he must make
good against the Southpaws or else ex-
pect shift to the minors
This evidently spurred the young
Texan to greater effort for soon he was
hitting left-hand pitching as well as he
dubbed the right-handers and at the
time his ailing arm forced him from
the lineup he was among the 20 best
batters Of the league. He had an
average Of 1923, by far his best as a
big timer.
West is little more than 26 years old
and being of strong why build
ordinarily would have many years of
good base ball ahead Of him. He is
one Of the fastest on his feet In the
game and improving so much at bat
as he was figured to be a Stalwart in
the Nationals 1881 outfield. Should his
arm not respond favorably TO treatment
the Washington club probably would
find it exceedingly difhcult to get a
worthy replacement for West.