Former major league pitcher Jim Todd passed away earlier this month at 77. A right-handed reliever, he pitched six seasons in the majors during the 1970s.
The Cubs selected Todd in the ’69 draft coming out of Millersville University in Pennsylvania. He was a starter throughout his minor league career but moved to the bullpen upon reaching the majors in 1974. Todd pitched to a 3.89 earned run average across 88 innings for the Cubs as a rookie. Chicago dealt him to the A’s that offseason.
Todd had his best season for Oakland in 1975. He recorded 12 saves while turning in a 2.29 ERA over 122 innings out of the bullpen. He received a down-ballot MVP vote in the process. Todd pitched in all three games of the ’75 AL Championship Series. Oakland was swept by the Red Sox in what would be his only career playoff action. Todd spent another four years in the majors, alternating good and bad seasons while splitting his time between the A’s, Cubs and Mariners.
Over parts of six seasons, Todd posted a 4.23 earned run average across 511 major league innings. He struck out 194 hitters, picked up 25 wins, and recorded 24 saves. He finished 119 of 270 career appearances. According to his obituary, Todd had a career in real estate after his playing days concluded. MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and former teammates.
A name I haven’t thought of in a long time, but I do remember him as a member of the A’s at the tail end of their dynasty. Very good reliever in ‘75. Condolences to family, friends and his fans.
RIP
Never trust a man with two first names
Babe Ruth: Huh? What did I do?
There’s alot of people you don’t trust. What’s your trust status on people with 3 first named. There’s a handful of baseball legends with two first names. From Tommy John to Henry Aaron.
I have a sweet PSA graded 9 1978 Topps card of him in a painted Mariners hat.
RIP Jim Todd.
those painted hats were just unacceptable
RIP! Condolences to all the lives impacted.
I remember Jim Todd well from my younger days. RIP. Condolences to all his family and friends.
RIP Jim…..
No offense to Jim Todd, but are you guys announcing every mlb player that died? Even if they sucked?
No offense to you Son but I saw Jim Todd pitch for the A’s and he definitely didn’t suck. Dude was a 10th round pick who rode buses for five years in the minors before getting to pitch over 500 big league innings and winning a World Series ring.
Some of us older fans enjoy reading these obituaries of guys we watched play as kids. It brings back fond memories of guys we haven’t thought of in years. It also demonstrates respect for the game on the part of MLBTR and I appreciate that.
well said
Nicely done except where did he win a World Series ring? At a poker game at Vic Davalillo’s hotel room?
Please don’t be insensitive and anyone who played in the majors did not suck. So hard to to be a professional athlete.
Readers get a chance to pay condolences to players’ families bc MLBTRADERUMORS.COM lets us know info we otherwise would not be aware of.
Hopefully yes. They were major leaguers and many remember them, or heard of them.
Well said Draker…… As a young Mariners fan, I cheered for Jim Todd and I love my Jim Todd Seattle Mariners cards!
I don’t know who Jim Todd is but may he rest in Paradise.
Any relation to Jeff?
I was a kid when he was on my A’s. I would see him in the box scores might have seen him on TV games too. He had a nice life after baseball from his obituary.
The pride of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Millersville University! R.I.P. Jim Todd.