On December 7, 1969, Francis “Lefty” O’Doul, one of the most popular figures in baseball history, dies at the age of 72 in San Francisco. O’Doul won two batting titles before embarking on a long career as a manager in the Pacific Coast League and proprietor of a popular restaurant in San Francisco. He was…
1951 – Lefty O’Doul’s All-Stars, including Joe DiMaggio, Ferris Fain and Billy Martin, lose 3 – 1 to a Pacific League All-Star team. This is only the second time since 1922 that an American professional team has lost to Japan, and the first time to professional players.
1951 – Joe DiMaggio accompanies Lefty O’Doul’s All-Stars on a tour of Japan. They will win 13 of the 15 games played.
The San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League, infused with some major league players, complete an 11-game trip to American-occupied Japan, a tour that drew more than half a million spectators to the games played at Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. Lefty O’Doul, the team’s 52 year-old skipper, who had been personally asked by General Douglas McArthur to organize the first post-war peacetime cultural exchanges between the two nations due to his warm relationship with Asian nation, will be enthusiastically greeted by the Japanese fans, including Emperor Hirohito and Prince Akihito.
1936 – After spring training, the Yomiuri Giants beat the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League managed by Lefty O’Doul, 5 – 0. On March 5th, the Giants will win again, 11 – 7.
1934 – An All-Star team led by Babe Ruth and Connie Mack sails on tour to Hawaii and Japan. Players with wives include Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Charlie Gehringer, Lefty Gómez, Earl Averill and Lefty O’Doul.
Last year’s National League batting champ, Lefty O’Doul, and pitcher Watty Clark, a 20-game winner last season, are traded by the Dodgers to the Giants for first baseman Sam Leslie. Brooklyn’s newest infielder will bat .311 during his three seasons with the team, before returning to New York in 1936.
Special Memory or Event? Want to have some fun? Advertise your business? Dedicate this page October 15, 1931 – Sportswriter Fred Lieb leads an all-star squad on a barnstorming trip to Hawaii and Japan. Among those aboard ship are Lou Gehrig‚ Frank Frisch‚ Rabbit Maranville‚ Willie Kamm‚ Al Simmons‚ Lefty O’Doul‚ Mickey Cochrane‚ and…
The Cubs split a pair in Philadelphia when Lefty O’Doul pinch-hits a home run to beat the Cubs 12 – 11 in the first game. It is the second consecutive game in which O’Doul has produced a pinch-hit homer. In the second game of the day’s doubleheader, Hack Wilson hits his 50th dinger to pace the Cubs to a 6 – 4 win.
The Phillies come from behind in the last of the 9th to defeat the Giants, 5 – 4. Chuck Klein’s double off Carl Hubbell drives in Lefty O’Doulfrom second base.