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217. Lefty O'Doul

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217. Lefty O'Doul
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: March 4, 1897 in San Francisco, CA USA
  • Weight: 180 lbs.
  • Height: 6'0"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: L
  • Debut: April 29, 1919
  • Final Game: September 30, 1934
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1929
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1932
  • Baseball Magazine All-Star - 1932
  • TSN All-Star - 1932
  • MVP - 1929
  • MVP - 1931
  • MVP - 1932
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
652812482280226108472 0.349
 

Lefty O'Doul had a unique career, in that he began as a struggling Pitcher, who eked out 32 Games over five years (1918-23) on the Major League level on the mound.  These games were spent as either a New York Yankee or Boston Red Sox, but he was basically a minor league player through his 20s.  O’Doul’s 30s would be much more different.

After last appearing in the Majors in 1923, he re-emerged with the New York Giants in 1928 as an Outfielder.  O'Doul batted .311 that year in 354 At Bats.  That was decent, but he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, and he had what could only be described as one of the best offensive seasons by a player "seemingly out of nowhere."  In 1929, O'Doul led the National League in Hits (254), Batting Average (.398), and On Base Percentage (.465)) while belting 32 Home Runs with 122 RBIs.  O'Doul was second in MVP voting.  Proving that he was not a one-year wonder, O'Doul batted .383 with 22 Home Runs in 1930.

O’Doul was then traded to Brooklyn, and he batted .336 in 1931 and won his second Batting Title (.368) in 1932.  O'Doul would be an All-Star on 1933 and was traded to the New York Giants during the season.  The Giants won the World Series that year, giving O'Doul a championship, a feat that must have seemed impossible in the late 1920s.

Age caught up to O’Doul, and he last played in the Majors in 1934.  He has a career Slash Line of .349/.412/.532, all of which are in the top-fifty All-Time.

O'Doul would later be a goodwill baseball ambassador of sorts in Japan, and he was a large part of helping to grow the game in that country.

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: San Francisco, California, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Monday, 01 January 1940
  • Position: Pitcher, Outfield
  • Played For: Boston Red Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, Brooklyn Robins, New York Giants, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    World Series Rings (1) (New York Giants, 1933)
    All-Star (1) (1933)
    Highest Batting Average (2) (NL) (1929 & 1932)
    Highest On Base Percentage (1) (NL) (1929)
    Most Plate Appearances (1) (NL) (1929)
    Most Hits (1) (NL) (1929)
    Most Singles (2) (NL) (1929 & 1932)
    Most Putouts by a Leftfielder (2) (NL) (1931 & 1932)
    Most Assists by a Leftfielder (1) (NL) (1929)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Leftfielder (1) (NL) (1929)

  • Other Points of Note:

    Top Ten MVP Finishes:
    (NL: 1929, 2nd) & (NL: 1932, 3rd)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Position Players)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Offensive bWAR)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Batting Average)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (On Base Percentage)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Slugging Percentage)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (OPS)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (OPS+)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Scored)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Hits)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Total Bases)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Triples)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Home Runs)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Runs Batted In)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Walks)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Stolen Bases)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Singles)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Extra Base Hits)
    1 Top Ten Finish (Power-Speed #)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)

  • Notable All Time Rankings:

    6:   Batting Average: .349
    28. OPS: .945
    32: On Base Percentage: .413
    49: Slugging Percentage: .532
    66: OPS+: 143
    98. Range Factor per Game by a Leftfielder: 1.94

  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame:

    1948: 3.3%
    1949: 2.6%
    1950: 5.4%
    1951: 5.8%
    1952: 8.1%
    1953: 4.2%
    1956: 2.8%
    1958: 10.2%
    1960: 16.7%
    1962: 8.1%

  • Should be Inducted As A: Philadelphia Phillie

Should Lefty O'Doul be in the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 85.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 0%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 14.3%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 0%
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