Former Cubs Pitcher Passes Away

Jim Todd, a relief pitcher who spent seven seasons in the major leagues with the Chicago Cubs, Oakland A's and Seattle Mariners, has died. He was 77.

According to Colorado Community Media, Todd passed away on Feb. 3. He is survived by his wife, two siblings, two daughters, and five grandchildren.

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Todd was selected in the 10th round of the 1969 MLB Draft by the Cubs out of Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He spent the next five seasons (1969-73) climbing the Cubs' minor league ranks.

In 1973, Todd went 12-8 with a 4.56 ERA in 26 games (23 starts) over 156 innings for the Triple-A Wichita Aeros.

When the Cubs called up Todd for his major league debut in 1974, he would settle into the role that would define his major league career: as a relief pitcher.

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After debuting in April, Todd went 4-2 with a 3.89 ERA in 43 games in 1974, including 37 relief appearances. He finished nine games, recording the save in three.

In April 1975, the Cubs traded Todd to the Oakland A's for a player to be named later; they would later receive reserve outfielder Champ Summers to complete the trade. With Oakland, Todd saw his most success.

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Todd made a career-high 58 appearances for the A's in 1975, finishing 31 games and recording the save in 12.

"The difference between being here and with the Cubs is I'm working," Todd told the Associated Press in Sept. 1975. "The Cubs used me only to mop up and had no confidence in me."

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Todd pitched 122 innings out of the Oakland bullpen in the regular season, then saw action in three American League Championship Series games against the Boston Red Sox, recording three outs without allowing an earned run.

In 1976, Todd saw his ERA rise to 3.81 in 49 relief appearances, as he walked more batters (34) than he struck out (22) in 82.2 innings.

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In March 1977, Todd was traded back to the Cubs for pitcher Joe Coleman, a former All-Star. New White Sox manager Herman Franks got Todd into 20 games, and the right-hander struggled to a 1-1 record with a 9.10 ERA in 30.2 innings.

Todd was traded again in Oct. 1977, this time to the Seattle Mariners, and he responded with a much better season for the second-year franchise. Todd made 49 appearances out of the Mariners' bullpen, third on the club, totaling 106.2 innings.

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Todd was released by Seattle in Feb. 1979 and returned to Oakland for his second tour of duty with the A's. In what proved to be his final major league season, Todd went 2-5 with a 6.56 ERA in 81 innings across 51 appearances.

According to Colorado Community Media, Todd worked in the business world and started his own real estate appraisal company after his baseball career ended.

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