Jim Landis, considered one of the best defensive center fielders of his time and a key member of the 1959 American League champion White Sox, died Saturday in Napa, Calif., at age 83.

Landis played eight seasons with the Sox from 1957-64 and during that time won five consecutive gold gloves and made the American League All-Star team in 1962. A big contributor to the Go-Go Sox team that went 94-60 and advanced to the World Series, Landis hit .272 with 26 doubles and 60 RBIs during the '59 regular season and finished seventh in the voting for the AL Most Valuable Player award. Against the Dodgers in the World Series, Landis hit .292 with six runs in six games.

In 1963, Landis led ALoutfielders with a .993 fielding percentage and finished his career with a .989 fielding mark. Signed by the Sox as an amateur free agent in 1952, Landis was one of the 27 players named to the organization's "Team of the Century" in 2000.

Landis was traded to the Kansas City Athletics on Jan. 20, 1965 as part of a three-team deal and later went on to also play for the Indians, Tigers, Astros and Red Sox before retiring in 1967.

The Sox said Landis died surrounded by family and friends in a room that featured bobbleheads and photos of teammates such as Nellie Fox, Billy Pierce and Moose Skowron.

"Landis remained proud of his career and time with the White Sox to the very end," the Sox said in a statement.

ckuc@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @ChrisKuc