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In 1939, one day after the
Pacific coast League season ended, Lefty O'Doul opened a cocktail
lounge at 209 Powell St, in San
Francisco, one mile from Joe DiMaggio's
Grotto. The ex-major league ballplayer
was the manager of the San Francisco
Seals of the Pacific Coast League at
the time. O'Doul was given credit to
developing the young Joe DiMaggio, but
said he was just smart enough to leave
him alone.
In 1958 O'Doul closed up the prosperous bristo on Powell street, and
opened a bar-restaurant in a new
location at 333 Gearey Street, San
Francisco. His idea was to open an
establishment in the order of Toot's
Shor's restaurant in New York, catering
to the resident sporting fraternity and
the crowds attracted into town by major
league baseball. The menu featured such
flavored dishes as the Willie Mays
Omelette and the Carl Hubbelburger.
The front flap of the green matchbook with a baseball in flight reads:
"Left O'Doul's Cocktail Lounge" The
back panel has a black-&-white head
shot of Lefty O'Doul, wearing a San
Francisco Seals baseball cap. Below has
the address and phone number; "209
Powell St, San Francisco, EXBrook 3004"
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