Jim Todd (baseball)
Encyclopedia
James Richard Todd, Jr. is a former professional baseball
pitcher
. He played six seasons in Major League Baseball
from until .
Todd was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs
in the 10th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft
. He pitched in their organization through his major league debut in 1974, when he went 4-2 with 3 saves. Shortly before the season, Todd was traded to the Oakland Athletics
.
In 1975, Todd posted career bests in wins (8), saves (12), and ERA (2.29), and even received votes on the MVP
ballot for the AL West
division champion A's. He pitched briefly in each of the three games of the ALCS
, which Oakland lost to the Boston Red Sox
.
The following season, Todd's performance slipped, setting a career high in losses with 8 and seeing his ERA rise by over a run and a half to 3.81. For the first time in his career, Todd also walked more than he struck out. His decline mirrored that of the team, which missed the playoffs for the first time since . The following spring, Todd was shipped back to the Cubs for veteran pitcher Joe Coleman.
In , Todd fell apart, posting an ERA over 9 in 22 games, giving up 66 baserunners in 30 2/3 innings. After July, Todd did not pitch in the majors, and in October he was sent to the Seattle Mariners
. Todd bounced back somewhat in , but he still was giving up a lot of baserunners—174 in 106 2/3 innings.
After being released by the Mariners in February, he got one last shot with the team with which he'd had his greatest success, the A's. Oakland was in the midst of losing 108 games in , and Todd contributed a 6.56 ERA, walking nearly twice as many batters as he struck out. He was released the following spring, and never returned to the major leagues. He did pitch one season for the Phoenix Giants in before retiring.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played six seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from until .
Todd was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the 10th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft
1969 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Washington Senators tabbed slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs of Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA as the nation's number one pick...
. He pitched in their organization through his major league debut in 1974, when he went 4-2 with 3 saves. Shortly before the season, Todd was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
In 1975, Todd posted career bests in wins (8), saves (12), and ERA (2.29), and even received votes on the MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
ballot for the AL West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
division champion A's. He pitched briefly in each of the three games of the ALCS
1975 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1975 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsBoston Red Sox starter Luis Tiant allowed just one run on three hits to defeat the Oakland Athletics, 7–1, in the ALCS opener....
, which Oakland lost to the Boston Red Sox
1975 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 65 losses...
.
The following season, Todd's performance slipped, setting a career high in losses with 8 and seeing his ERA rise by over a run and a half to 3.81. For the first time in his career, Todd also walked more than he struck out. His decline mirrored that of the team, which missed the playoffs for the first time since . The following spring, Todd was shipped back to the Cubs for veteran pitcher Joe Coleman.
In , Todd fell apart, posting an ERA over 9 in 22 games, giving up 66 baserunners in 30 2/3 innings. After July, Todd did not pitch in the majors, and in October he was sent to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. Todd bounced back somewhat in , but he still was giving up a lot of baserunners—174 in 106 2/3 innings.
After being released by the Mariners in February, he got one last shot with the team with which he'd had his greatest success, the A's. Oakland was in the midst of losing 108 games in , and Todd contributed a 6.56 ERA, walking nearly twice as many batters as he struck out. He was released the following spring, and never returned to the major leagues. He did pitch one season for the Phoenix Giants in before retiring.