Lefty O'Doul

Francis Joseph "Lefty" O'Doul (March 4, 1897 – December 7, 1969) was an American professional baseball player and manager. Born in San Francisco, California, he spent eleven seasons in Major League Baseball, most notably with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies, though he is best known for his career in the Pacific Coast League, where he was a star player and a successful manager. His .349 career batting average is the sixth highest in MLB history.

O'Doul began his professional career as a left-handed pitcher with the minor-league San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League. He served in the United States Navy from 1917 to 1919, with a final duty station at Mare Island; according to his obituary in the San Francisco Examiner, he separated as a Seaman First Class (E-3).

He had some major-league success with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox from 1919 to 1923 as a relief pitcher. After developing a sore arm that forced him to give up pitching, he returned to the Pacific Coast League and transitioned into a power-hitting outfielder. He returned to the majors in 1928, playing for the New York Giants.