May 27, 2007
You’ve seen the green and white signs in front of the “Lefty O’Doul Restaurant and Piano Bar” down on Geary Street, but who is Lefty O’Doul? Just another phony Irish name invented to sell beer?
Absolutely not! The silhouette of that left-handed slugger on the sign is a clue. Lefty O’Doul was a baseball player, and despite the fact that other boys from San Francisco went on to enjoy a brighter national spotlight, Lefty was our boy — our very own real hometown baseball hero. We cheered his ups and downs back east, watched from afar as he palled around with Babe Ruth, and when he came back from the big leagues to manage the hometown San Francisco Seals he was the most popular man in town.
That in itself would make a pretty good story, but it’s the international angle that will really surprise you. You see, “Lefty” and “the Man in the Green Suit” were only two of the nicknames O’Doul answered to in his checkered career. The most interesting one is this one: “the Father of Japanese Baseball”. It turns out that the Irish kid from Butchertown was as much a citizen of the Pacific Rim as of the baseball world — and he’s now enshrined in Japan’s Baseball Hall of Fame.
His tombstone down in Colma reads “He was here at a good time, and had a good time while he was here”. Need I say more? Even if you don’t know a thing about our “national pastime”, you’re going to love Lefty O’Doul.
Full disclosure: I wore my San Francisco Seals hat as I researched this story. So much for objective journalism!
For further edification:
» O’Doul’s lifetime statistics — Baseball Almanac
» “Lefty O’Doul Kids Day” 1938 — Virtual Museum of San Francisco
» Interview for “The Glory of Their Times” — Baseball Hall of Fame
» San Francisco Court of Historical Review — San Francisco Chronicle June 1997
» “Hall of Fame Hopes” — San Francisco Chronicle June 2006
» O’Doul Essay — The Diamond Angle
» Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
» Lefty O’Doul’s Restaurant — official site
» Lefty O’Doul’s Restaurant — GoogleMap
- #45: Frank Chu Just Shows Up
- announcement: sparkletack takes a break
- Timecapsule podcast: San Francisco, December 1-7
- #22: The China Clipper
- #40: Luisa Tetrazzini and Christmas eve
musical support:
Thanks to Recipe for Sunblock for “the Classifieds”, Devin Anderson for “Monster Symphony”, and The Season of Us for “The Season of Us”. This week’s music courtesy of PodSafeAudio.com.
printed bibliography:
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18 responses to “#61: Lefty O’Doul — The Man in the Green Suit”
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Pingback from Timecapsule podcast: San Francisco, November 24-30 » Sparkletack - the San Francisco History Podcast
November 24, 2008 at 1:01 am[…] mouth of Islais Creek. It was comprised mostly of German and Irish immigrants — ballplayer Lefty O’Doul was probably its most famous son — and it was absolutely packed with slaughterhouses, meat […]
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Pingback from San Francisco Timecapsule: 04.13.09 » San Francisco History Podcast - Sparkletack
April 13, 2009 at 1:20 am[…] competing at Seals Stadium — the DiMaggio brothers, Frank Crosetti, Babe Pinelli, and the great Lefty O’Doul, to name just a few — but though I’m wearing a Seals cap as I write this, today’s […]
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Pingback from Lefty O’Doul’s green suit — in color » San Francisco History Podcast - Sparkletack
May 29, 2009 at 1:58 am[…] you’ve heard my podcast about Lefty, you’ll have guessed that this photo was taken on one of Lefty’s famous tours of Japan […]
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Pingback from Lefty O’Doul Hall of Fame Campaign » San Francisco History Podcast – Sparkletack
January 15, 2010 at 5:55 pm[…] resist the urge to restate my entire podcast about Lefty’s colorful life here, but a couple of lines from the thrilling conclusion make the case pretty well: “For […]
May 28, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I’ve run into a litte technical difficulty with this episode – due to conflicts between two of the pieces of software that make this website work, I was compelled to release “Lefty O’Doul” at lower sound quality than is my usual custom.
If you have discerning ears, and wish to hear the show in all of its 128-bit glory, I’ve provided a direct link to the higher-fidelity file right here.
Apologies, and enjoy!
May 29, 2007 at 12:25 pm
So when I first saw this show in my download list, I was a little annoyed. I’d waited for weeks just to get a cast about baseball! Sheesh… boring. (I live in Britain, give me a break!) But in the interests of expanding my limited knowledge of the sport I put it on my iPod and set off on my morning commute
How wrong I was about this show. As always you’re thorough research, eye for interesting little tidbits and obvious love of the subject made this installment a joy.
Thanks for opening my eyes to the wonderful history of Lefty O’Doul and baseball, I might even check out a game next time I’m over there!
May 29, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Jae, I love it! That’s precisely the reaction I hoped people would have… thanks for giving ol’ Lefty a listen, and for sharing your positive experience.
(I should warn you though, if you come to a game, bring along an expert “translator” — the rules are more than a little bit obscure. I once tried to explain the inner workings of a baseball match to a friend of mine from Hong Kong, and I’m afraid he ended up more confused than when he arrived! On the other hand, an afternoon in the sun with a frosty malted beverage can be pleasant whether one follows the game on the field or not.)
May 29, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Hi Richard,
Awesome, excellent, rewarding episode!!!
He led such a fascinating life!!!
I am *not* a baseball fan (Sure I know the sport and enjoy a game now and then… but not really into it) Yet I LOVED this episode so much!
Great musical choices, excellent focus on early and later life as well as career highs, awesome about the kids :D Sounds like a GREAT man!
June 1, 2007 at 11:37 am
Richard,
Just catching up with the podcasts, as usual just when you think they can’t get better, they do!!!!!!
Fabulous episode, maybe the best ever…… THANKS
Great article on you too in 7X7…..
Thanks for your hard work,
John
June 5, 2007 at 9:06 pm
The storytelling keeps getting better and better. I loved the way you painted the picture of Lefty himself, his passion for baseball, and his overlooked role after WWII in normalizing relations with Japan.
With every episode I gain a deeper appreciation for the subject you cover. Working just a stone’s throw from the Ballpark, I will never look at the Lefty O’Doul bridge the same way again.
June 26, 2007 at 7:44 pm
Hi Richard –
I was recommended to Sparkletack by a friend from work, and I’m glad he did! After following the Barbary Coast Trail, I grew to have a greater appreciation of the city that I call home. The Lefty O’Doul podcast was the first that I’ve listened to, and I picked a great one to start with. I’m a big baseball fan, and have been to the bar on Geary before, but never really had an idea of the impact he had on the game…there’s no doubt he should be in the Hall. Thanks for your effort, it’s very enlightening.
-Travis Bryant
July 20, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Hi Richard,
I’ve been enjoying Sparkletack for some time now, and I must say this is my favorite episode. You did such a great job painting the picture of his life and it was so heartwarming to hear about someone who made so many friends and was so good hearted. Kind of a stark difference with certain modern ball players, huh?
I do enjoy a good game of baseball, and I am also somewhat of a Japanophile. I’ve been by Lefty’s restaurant many times and had no idea about it; now I’m itching to go.
Thanks so much and keep it up. And that is the cutest picture of him with the two Japanese boys.
August 24, 2007 at 1:42 am
Lefty has the coolest tombstone in all of Colma:
http://tinyurl.com/yo9u5h
August 26, 2007 at 9:07 am
I live in SF and must have eaten at Lefty O’Douls restaurant a zillion times.
Similar to Lefty’s, there is a well known restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf that has their walls lined with pictures of famous personalities. Most of the pictures were taken in venues that seemed unrelated to the restaurant and I became suspicious. Someone who worked there told me that most of the pictures weren’t taken of actual customers at all, they were purchased from some shop and just hung there. What a tourist trap!
I always thought Lefty O’Douls restaurant was pulling the same trick, until I listened to your podcast. Thanks for setting the record straight.
The next time I go to Lefty’s, not only will I bring along a big appetite, I’ll also go with a big smile and the knowledge of Lefty’s colorful life.
Thanks for spinning such a great story for all of us to enjoy!
June 9, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Richard,
Wonderful story on my cousin’s history. You did the O’Doul name proud. Your story is very factual and complete. We are hoping to get “Lefty” inducted in 2011 with the “Buck” O’Neil Award.
Best wishes,
Tom O’Doul
June 9, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Thanks, Tom! A vote of approval from somebody with the same green blood as Lefty means a lot.
Best of luck with the “Buck” O’Neil Award … I think you can count on having the support of the thousands of people who have listened to this show.
March 20, 2010 at 12:38 am
Hi, my name is Denise, I have a photo of Lefty O’Douls in his Boston red sox uniform. This photo has been pasted down through my family for years, I cannot seem to locate this actual photo any where!. Can u advise me as to where I can get it appraised or ?? Sincerely Denise
December 1, 2018 at 6:11 am
I called to Lefty’s pub and restaurant with my wife some years ago – Believe it is closed now – sad to hear. Met Lefty’s cousin who said his ancestry was French – No way Jose – he looks Irish just like my late brother’s son – I would like to know where his father came from as my grandfather and his brothers emigrated to America in the late 1800’s and feel we may be related – My late brother and I played Rugby for Ireland in the 60’s and he coached an Irish Team which toured Japan in the 80’s Not unlike Lefty
Would like to hear of Lefty’s father’s heritage – if he came from Ireland and when.
Best regards
Tom Doyle