The Daily Alaska empire., 1935-03-11
 |SZANS

major league career when Frank Lefty" O'Doul was granted his unconditional release by the New York Giants so that he might go back to his home town, San Fran cisco, and manage the Seals of the Coast League.
 Coming up first in the Ameri- can League as pitcher, he was destined to make his mark in the National as batter, twice win ming honors in the senior circuit, in 1929 and 1892.
 He began his career in organ ized baseball in 1917 as pitcher for the team he is now to manage. In 1919, he had his first big league chance with the New York Yam kees. He was back in San Francis co in 1921 but returned once more to the Yankees the following year. The Boston Red Sox had him in 1923 but again he failed to stick.
 Making no great strides as a pitcher O'Doul decided to try the shoe on the other foot. In other words, he concentrated on batting and did so well he led the Coast League in batting while wearing a Salt Lake City uniform in 1924.
 It was not mere stroke of luck with Lefty He made thorough study Of batting and is recognized as one of the keenest students oi that phase of baseball.
 A Hero in '33 Series
 The New York Giants brought him back to the majors in 1928 and he made his mark as big league star. He was traded to the Phillies and thence to Brooklyn, only to be claimed once more by the Giants during the 1883 season to round out his career in New York uniform.
 He proved his worth to the Gi- ants in the role of pinch hitter. His big moment came when the Giants were battling the Senators in the world series of 1883. Tn the sixth inning of the second game his pinch single with the bases loaded drove in two runs to give the Giants lead they never lost.
 O'Doul can go back to the Coast league with plenty of fond recol- lections of his batting triumphs. He made eight straight hits in 1929 with the Phillies while setting a league record of 254 hits that sea- son. His greatest single day was when he drove out three home runs in Brooklyn-Pittsburgh dou- ble header in 1892. The first hom- CT tied the opening game while the second won it. The third circuit smash was responsible for the sec- ond Brooklyn victory of the after noon.
 He leaves the National league with a lifetime batting mark of .352.
 Always Helped the Kids
 Known as the man in the green suit he was as popular off the diamond as in uniform. A year ago an imposter arrayed in bright green suit, made the mistake of posing as the affable Lefty before a group of loyal Giant rooters in Greenwich Village tavern. When the police asked O'Doul if he wanted to press the charge against the fellow Lefty laughingly refused, commenting that at last he had attained some degree of renown.
 His interest in sand-lot young sters was no publicity seeking stunt it was a genuine feeling for the the boys who were trying to play the game he loved. It was quite the usual sight to see him stop and give the boys some pointers on batting. He even went so far as to uniform and equip, at his own expense, boys nine in Brooklyn.
 No National league player was more in demand as speaker-nor any more willing to oblige. O'Doul was always ready to talk if the subject was baseball. In Japan, only Babe Ruth enjoys greater popular ity. Tn San Francisco he IS second to none.