Paul Toth
Encyclopedia
Paul Louis Toth was an American
professional baseball
player. A right-handed pitcher
, he appeared in Major League Baseball
between and for the St. Louis Cardinals
and Chicago Cubs
. He was born in McRoberts, Kentucky
, grew up in Youngstown, Ohio
, and was listed at 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) and 175 pounds (79.4 kg).
Toth was part of the famous "Brock for Broglio
" trade on June 15, 1964: he accompanied two fellow Cubs, outfielder
Lou Brock
and left-handed
relief pitcher
Jack Spring
, in a trade to the Cardinals, in exchange for starting pitcher
Ernie Broglio
, left-handed relief pitcher Bobby Shantz
and outfielder Doug Clemens
. Brock went on to a Baseball Hall of Fame career with St. Louis, helping lead them to three National League
championships and two World Series
titles — including one in 1964
— and setting a new career record, since broken, for stolen bases. Toth, who was toiling at Triple-A for the Cubs at the time of the trade, remained in the minor leagues
that season, and for the rest of his career.
The Brock trade returned Toth to his original organization. He began his professional career in the Cardinals' farm system in 1955, and made his major league debut with the Redbirds in 1962, pitching in six games, including one start, sandwiched around service with the Triple-A Atlanta Crackers
. On September 1, 1962, he was traded to the Cubs for another pitcher, Harvey Branch
, and made six more National League appearances in a Cub uniform, including four starts, before the 1962 campaign ended, with Toth winning four of five decisions
and posting an earned run average
of 4.62. Toth then spent the entire season on the Cub roster, appearing in 27 games played
, 14 as a starter, and compiling a creditable 3.10 ERA with two shutouts
. However, Toth was ineffective in two May 1964 starts and was sent to the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League
after only four total games in Chicago.
He remained in Triple-A for the rest of his active career, retiring after the 1967 baseball season. In 43 Major League games, Toth pitched 192 innings and gave up 177 hits
and 54 bases on balls with 82 strikeouts. In retirement, he became a resident of Erie, Michigan. He died in Anaheim, California
, of a heart attack during a family visit at the age of 63.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
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....
player. A right-handed 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 appeared 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...
between and for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and 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...
. He was born in McRoberts, Kentucky
McRoberts, Kentucky
McRoberts is a census-designated place in Letcher County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 921 at the 2000 census. McRoberts is located in Kentucky's Eastern Mountain Coal Fields region.-Geography:McRoberts is located at ....
, grew up in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, and was listed at 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) and 175 pounds (79.4 kg).
Toth was part of the famous "Brock for Broglio
Brock for Broglio
The phrase Brock for Broglio is sometimes used in the sport of baseball to signify a trade that in hindsight, turns out to be a ridicuously lopsided transaction....
" trade on June 15, 1964: he accompanied two fellow Cubs, outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Lou Brock
Lou Brock
Louis Clark "Lou" Brock is an American former professional baseball player. He began his Major League Baseball career with the Chicago Cubs but, spent the majority of his career as the left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Brock was best known for breaking Ty Cobb's all-time major league...
and left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Jack Spring
Jack Spring
Jack Russell Spring is an American former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The , left-hander played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators , Los Angeles Angels , Chicago Cubs , St...
, in a trade to the Cardinals, in exchange for starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Ernie Broglio
Ernie Broglio
Ernest Gilbert Broglio is a former right-handed pitcher in American Major League Baseball from 1959-66. Broglio signed with the independent Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League after he attended West Contra Costa Junior College. He was acquired by the New York Giants in 1956...
, left-handed relief pitcher Bobby Shantz
Bobby Shantz
Robert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
and outfielder Doug Clemens
Doug Clemens
Douglas Horace Clemens , is a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from 1960-1968. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
. Brock went on to a Baseball Hall of Fame career with St. Louis, helping lead them to three National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
championships and two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
titles — including one in 1964
1964 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 83rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 73rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93-69 during the season and finished first in the National League, edging the co-runner-ups Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies by one game each on...
— and setting a new career record, since broken, for stolen bases. Toth, who was toiling at Triple-A for the Cubs at the time of the trade, remained in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
that season, and for the rest of his career.
The Brock trade returned Toth to his original organization. He began his professional career in the Cardinals' farm system in 1955, and made his major league debut with the Redbirds in 1962, pitching in six games, including one start, sandwiched around service with the Triple-A Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
. On September 1, 1962, he was traded to the Cubs for another pitcher, Harvey Branch
Harvey Branch
Harvey Alfred Branch is a retired American professional baseball player. He was a left-handed pitcher who had a seven-year career in minor league baseball, but whose Major League tenure consisted of a single game in the uniform of the St...
, and made six more National League appearances in a Cub uniform, including four starts, before the 1962 campaign ended, with Toth winning four of five decisions
Decision (baseball)
A decision is a statistical credit given to a baseball pitcher.There are two types of decisions: win and loss.In order to receive a win, the starting pitcher must complete at least five innings and leave with the lead. If the pitcher's lead is preserved by the bullpen, he is credited with a win...
and posting an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 4.62. Toth then spent the entire season on the Cub roster, appearing in 27 games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, 14 as a starter, and compiling a creditable 3.10 ERA with two shutouts
Shutout (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a shutout refers to the act by which a single pitcher pitches a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a run...
. However, Toth was ineffective in two May 1964 starts and was sent to the Salt Lake City Bees of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
after only four total games in Chicago.
He remained in Triple-A for the rest of his active career, retiring after the 1967 baseball season. In 43 Major League games, Toth pitched 192 innings and gave up 177 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and 54 bases on balls with 82 strikeouts. In retirement, he became a resident of Erie, Michigan. He died in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, of a heart attack during a family visit at the age of 63.