Lefty O'Doul: Difference between revisions
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'''<font face = arial light> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Unfinished History</font></font> </font>''' | '''<font face = arial light> <font color = maroon> <font size = 3>Unfinished History</font></font> </font>''' | ||
[[Image:Lefty O'Doul and Mayor Rossi in front of stands filled with kids c 1930 wnp28.1363.jpg|800px]] | |||
'''Left O'Doul and [[Mayor Angelo Rossi|Mayor Angelo Rossi]] in front of stands c. 1930.''' | |||
''Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp28.1363'' | |||
[[Image:basebnew$o_doul-opening-day.jpg]] | [[Image:basebnew$o_doul-opening-day.jpg]] | ||
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One of San Francisco's most famous and enduring baseball legends was Francis "Lefty" O'Doul. His name graces the [[3rd St Bridge 1990s |3rd Street Drawbridge]] which crosses Mission Creek next to the site proposed for the new Giants ballpark. His restaurant is still open on Geary Street near Union Square. | One of San Francisco's most famous and enduring baseball legends was Francis "Lefty" O'Doul. His name graces the [[3rd St Bridge 1990s |3rd Street Drawbridge]] which crosses Mission Creek next to the site proposed for the new Giants ballpark. His restaurant is still open on Geary Street near Union Square. | ||
O'Doul was born in 1897 in old [[ | O'Doul was born in 1897 in old [[Butchertown's Beginnings|Butchertown]] on the edge of the Islais Creek marshes. He starred for the [[Seals Are Born|San Francisco Seals]] in their heyday, and went on to a respectable 11-year major league career for the Phillies, Dodgers, Yankees and Giants, posting a lifetime batting average of .349, fourth best in history (his fielding was always suspect). After his playing days were over, he managed the SF Seals in the '40s and '50s, dominating San Francisco baseball like no one else ever has. O'Doul gained fame as an ambassador of baseball, helping to spread its popularity in [[Masanori Murakami--First Japanese Player for SF Giants|Japan]] before and after WWII. | ||
[[Image:Lefty-ODoul-with-Japanese-players-April-8-1935 AAD-3205.jpg]] | |||
'''Lefty O'Doul with Japanese players, April 8, 1935.''' | |||
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library'' | |||
As a San Francisco native, O'Doul had a nonconformist streak which led him to always dress in all green: green suits, ties, socks, even a green Cadillac. He died in 1969 and his tombstone says: "He was here at a good time and he had a good time when he was here." | As a San Francisco native, O'Doul had a nonconformist streak which led him to always dress in all green: green suits, ties, socks, even a green Cadillac. He died in 1969 and his tombstone says: "He was here at a good time and he had a good time when he was here." | ||
— ''Chris Carlsson'' | |||
[[Image:basebnew$odoul_itm.jpg]] | [[Image:basebnew$odoul_itm.jpg]] | ||
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[[Post WWII Demise | Prev. Document]] [[1958-1994: The Giant Years | Next Document]] | [[Post WWII Demise | Prev. Document]] [[1958-1994: The Giant Years | Next Document]] | ||
[[category:Baseball]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:Famous characters]] | [[category:Baseball]] [[category:1940s]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:1960s]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1930s]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:57, 2 June 2023
Unfinished History
Left O'Doul and Mayor Angelo Rossi in front of stands c. 1930.
Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp28.1363
Mayor Elmer Robinson throws out the first ball of the 1948 season at Seals Stadium under the watchful eye of Seals Manager Lefty O'Doul and others...
One of San Francisco's most famous and enduring baseball legends was Francis "Lefty" O'Doul. His name graces the 3rd Street Drawbridge which crosses Mission Creek next to the site proposed for the new Giants ballpark. His restaurant is still open on Geary Street near Union Square.
O'Doul was born in 1897 in old Butchertown on the edge of the Islais Creek marshes. He starred for the San Francisco Seals in their heyday, and went on to a respectable 11-year major league career for the Phillies, Dodgers, Yankees and Giants, posting a lifetime batting average of .349, fourth best in history (his fielding was always suspect). After his playing days were over, he managed the SF Seals in the '40s and '50s, dominating San Francisco baseball like no one else ever has. O'Doul gained fame as an ambassador of baseball, helping to spread its popularity in Japan before and after WWII.
Lefty O'Doul with Japanese players, April 8, 1935.
Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library
As a San Francisco native, O'Doul had a nonconformist streak which led him to always dress in all green: green suits, ties, socks, even a green Cadillac. He died in 1969 and his tombstone says: "He was here at a good time and he had a good time when he was here."
— Chris Carlsson
Lefty O'Doul
Photos: Private Collection, San Francisco, CA