West, Bill

HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH KOLKEL NORGE OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY IN 1938, AND TWO YEARS LATER, JOINED THE SIXTH WARD BOOSTERS OF NEWPORT AND HURLED THEM TO THE KENTUCKY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

AFTER MILITARY SERVICE, WEST JOINED THE ZOLLNER PISTONS IN 1946 AND REMAINED WITH THE TEAM UNTIL 1954. “BIG BILL” WAS ONE OF THE FASTEST AND GREATEST PITCHERS OF ALL TIME. HIS WORKHORSE ABILITY WAS EVIDENT IN THE 1948 SEASON AS HE HURLED 256 INNINGS AND FANNED 429 BATTERS WITH A FINAL RECORD OF 34-7.

IN 1949, HE WON 36 GAMES, LOST 2, AND FANNED 452 BATTERS IN 285 INNINGS. HE GAVE UP ONLY 93 HITS AND WALKED ONLY 60 BATTERS. WITH WEST ON THE MOUND, THE PISTONS WON THREE ASA WORLD TITLES IN A ROW—1945, 1946, AND 1947.

IN THE NATIONAL FASTBALL LEAGUE , THE 6’2”, 225 POUND WEST WAS NAMED THE LEAGUE’S MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN 1948, AND TO THE ALL-STAR TEAM FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS—1946-1949. WEST, WHO PASSED AWAY OCTOBER 14, 1972 AT THE AGE OF 51, WAS ELECTED TO THE NATIONAL SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME IN 1963.

HIS NAME SHALL FOREVER BE IN THE KENTUCKY SOFTBALL HALL OF FAME