Lefty O'Doul: Baseball's Forgotten Ambassador

Dennis Snelling, author of Johnny Evers: A Baseball Life, has hit another homerun with his enjoyable study of Frank “Lefty” O’Doul. This work is grounded in contemporary newspapers, interviews of family and those who knew Lefty, secondary literature, and most impressive, archival sources, ranging from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown to university libraries and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Snelling is a talented writer, telling an interesting story with sharp, crisp prose.O’Doul was his own worst enemy. He was a talented picture until he hurt his arm, and no longer had major league ability. He was also a gifted hitter, both for average and power, but for several years refused to give up pitching for the outfield. Moreover, his carefree attitude appeared to demonstrate his lack of seriousness about the game. As Snelling convincingly shows, this perception was wrong; O’Doul was a fierce competitor who hated to lose.His last break came in 1928, at age 31, with the New York Giants, and he made the most of it. Platooning in the outfield, he hit .319. Traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, 1929 was O’Doul’s breakout year, leading the league in hitting with .398 (one hit shy of .400); he also had 32 HRs and 122 RBIs. He is the only player to hit more than 30 homeruns and strikeout less than 20 times. O’Doul repeated as National League batting champion in 1932 with the Brooklyn Robins. While a dynamic hitter, he only had four seasons with 500 at-bats or more because of his age.There are several interesting things about Lefty. First, he was one of the first “scientific hitters.” He constantly studied pictures and adjusted his stance at the plate accordingly. He also studied slow-motion films of himself hitting. Taught by Ty Cobb how to hit to left field (O’Doul was a left-hand hitter.), O’Doul showed a willingness to help others. He became one of the first hitting instructors in professional baseball, working with such future stars as Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams (He told Ted to never let anyone change his swing.), Dom DiMaggio, Gene Woodling, and Gary Cooper, star of The Pride of the Yankees. He also helped Ryan Duren gain some control over his fastball.Second, Lefty loved kids; he never had children of his own. He carried bats, balls, and gloves in the trunk of his car and freely handed them out to kids he saw playing ball. He sponsored several youth league teams, and when he returned to San Francisco to manage the Seals of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in the mid-1930s, he turned the annual “Lefty O’Doul Day” into a kids’ day at the ballpark with autographed balls and miniature bats.Third, he was an accomplished manager. He is only one of ten managers in professional baseball with 2,000 plus wins, and only one of two to do it exclusively in the minor leagues. From 1943 to 1945, he won the PCL four-team play-off with less talent than the other participants. O’Doul was also a showman as a manager. He initiated the tactic of waving a handkerchief at the opposing picture to distract him, a gesture taken up by the San Francisco fans. For a couple of years, both he and Casey Stengel managed against each other in the PCL, which must have provided great entertainment for the fans and some memorable quotes.Lastly, O’Doul has been called the father of Japanese professional baseball and an ambassador of reconciliation between the people of Japan and America in the aftermath of World War II—hence the book’s subtitle, Baseball’s Forgotten Ambassador. Lefty made several trips to Japan in the 1930s, was instrumental in getting Babe Ruth to travel there in 1934, and encouraged Japanese sports officials to create a professional baseball league. His most memorable trip was in 1949 when he accompanied the San Francisco Seals, a trip that help raise the morale of the Japanese people, a trip sanctioned and praised by General Douglas MacArthur, the head of the Allied Occupation Forces.Snelling points out that there have been several efforts to get O’Doul elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, all of which have failed. His career was too short to justify his inclusion as a player. However, if one adds in his managing success, his impact as a hitting coach, and his influence on the game in Japan, there is a case for his election. Only time will tell. However, in 2002, he was inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame, an honor that would have warmly touched Lefty, who died in 1969.

This is an excellent biography on Lefty O'Doul who was a baseball player in the early 20th century and then became a coach in the minor leagues and a great ambassador for the game in Japan in the mid 20th century. O'Doul had a brief great career as a player. He came within one hit of hitting .400 one season and a couple of other fine seasons as a hitter. He made the transition from pitcher to hitter in fine fashion too. An accomplishment not to be glossed over. But he just didn't have enough good seasons as a player to be a Hall of Famer. He went on to become a very good manager and coach in the Pacific Coast League while being overlooked as becoming a manager in the major leagues. During this time he struck a fascination with Japan. He organized a couple tours of major leaguer's in the 1930's before WWII. His biggest coup was talking Babe Ruth into coming along in 1934. After WWII he started up in earnest again with Japan and he had a big role in mending fences with them. His organizing of events in Japan made the game very popular in that country and has an effect until this day. With the game going more and more global and Japanese players coming to the USA to play in the Major Leagues he should be considered even more than ever to be a Cooperstown's Hall of Famer for being in the role of a global ambassador to the game.

The father of Japanese Baseball. Great history. Also great about O’Doul’s ability to coach.

Loved O'Doul biography. Accurate down to his preference for green sports coats. Hero in Japanese baseball.

A great read. Lefty was an amazing person. Dennis Snelling takes you through his minor and major league career. Lou was a great ambassador to Japan. They really loved him there.

Dennis Snelling has crafted a well researched biography of the man who was very instrumental in the popularization of baseball in Japan.Odoul was also a great player and manager who deserves a place in Cooperstown.

Very well written book about one of the most important, and colorfull figures in baseball history. Givin the context of US history, especially WWII, He really was a great ambassador. Great Job.

Interesting story about an interesting man. Pretty well written.