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1960s Lefty O'Doul Post Career Game Bat
Oh, could Francis "Lefty" O'Doul hit! Other than the banned Joe Jackson, O'Doul, with a lifetime batting average of .349, is the player with the highest career batting average not in the Hall of Fame. Offered is his post career game used bat. Why is O'Doul, a great hitter, not in the Hall of Fame? It's because O'Doul only became a regular Major league position player in 1928, when he was already 31 years old. Lefty started his Major league career as a relief pitcher with the New York Yankees (1919-22) and the Boston Red Sox (1923). Then, later in 1923, O'Doul hurt his pitching arm, and he went to the minors and converted into an outfielder. He returned to the Majors in 1928 with the New York Giants. He led the National League two times in batting average: .398 with the Phillies in 1929 and .368 in 1932 with Brooklyn. Later, O'Doul was a noted manager in the minors with his hometown San Francisco Seals, and he worked on hitting with both Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. Graciously, Lefty refused to take credit for helping DiMaggio's hitting. "I was just smart enough to leave him alone," said O'Doul. He was also crucial in the development of baseball in Japan, and he is in the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame. The offered Hillerich and Bradsby bat is 34.5" long, and it weighs 34.5 ounces. Burned into the barrel is "Louisville Slugger/Lefty O'Doul", with O'Doul's signature being a facsimile. Imprinted on the knob is "01". The bat shows great use, with ball marks, and various nicks. As a post-career bat, it was probably used by O'Doul in one or more Old Timers' games. Possibly adding value to the bat is that O'Doul still might make the Hall of Fame. He was on the HOF ballot from the Early Days Committee, and for the Class of 2022, he received five of the needed twelve votes.
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