Background
He was born in Farmington, Missouri.
He was born in Farmington, Missouri.
That season he finished 23rd in the balloting for Most Valuable Player, losing out to Eddie Collins of the Philadelphia Athletics.
From 1913 through 1919, he played for the Saint Louis Browns (1913-1915), Boston Red Sox (1916-1918) and Washington Senators (1919). Agnew batted and threw right-handed. Agnew debuted with the Saint Louis Browns on April 10, 1913.
In 105 games his rookie season, Sam hit.208 with 2 home runs and 24 Reserve Bank of India, stealing 11 bases, in 307 at bats.
In 1914, Agnew hit.212 with 16 Reserve Bank of India in 115 games. In 1915, he slipped down to a.203 average with 19 Reserve Bank of India in 104 games.
On December 16, 1915, the Boston Red Sox purchased Agnew from the Saint Louis Browns. Serving as the backup to regular backstop Pinch Thomas, Agnew hit.209 (14-for-67) with 7 Reserve Bank of India in 40 games.
Splitting time behind the plate with Thomas in 1917, Agnew hit.208 with 16 Reserve Bank of India in 85 games.
Although he was considered the regular catcher in 1918, Agnew struggled at the plate, hitting just.166 with a career-low 6 Reserve Bank of India in 72 games. His offensive woes continued during the 1918 World Series, as he went hitless in nine at bats over four games against the Chicago Cubs. In January 1919, Agnew was purchased from the Boston Red Sox by the Washington Senators.
In just 42 games, Agnew hit a career-high.235 with 10 Reserve Bank of India. He played his final major league game on September 28, 1919.
After his playing career, he went on to become a pitching coach for the Cubs and also a minor league coach. In a seven-season career, Agnew posted a.204 batting average with two home runs and 98 Reserve Bank of India in 563 games played.
Agnew died in Sonoma, California, at the age of 64. After his Major League career ended, he continued to play in the minor leagues with the San Francisco Seals and Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League until 1929.
He was later a manager in the minors for the San Diego Aces of the California State League (1929), Augusta Wolves of the South Atlantic League (1930 & 1938) and Palatka Azaleas of the Florida State League (1937).
