Jackson Todd
Encyclopedia
Jackson A. Todd is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played for the New York Mets
and Toronto Blue Jays
from 1977 to 1981. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs
in the 11th round of the 1970 amateur draft out of high school, but did not sign with the team. Todd opted instead to attend college, and played college baseball
at the University of Oklahoma
.
, a member of the now defunct Big Eight Conference
, he was named to the All-Conference second team in 1971, and the All-Conference first team in 1972 and 1973. In 1972 and 1973, Todd was also a third team All-American. Todd pitched 13 complete game
s during the 1973 season, a university record which still stands today. During the 1972 College World Series
, Todd pitched 14 innings in two games without allowing an earned run
. After three seasons at Oklahoma, Todd was selected in the second round with the 38th pick of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets, and decided to forego his senior season and sign with the Mets.
. During the 1973 season, Todd has a 2.84 ERA
and a 6–5 record over 14 games. He played for Victoria and Jackson of the Texas League the following two seasons. With the Victoria Toros in 1974, he went 11–8 with a 3.23 ERA, and with the Jackson Mets
in 1975 he went 3–4 with a 3.17 ERA. In 1976, Todd played for the Tidewater Tides of the International League
and pitched in 26 games, going 13–9 with a 2.91 ERA. He played part of the 1977 season in Tidewater, and made his major league debut on May 5, 1977. He made his debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers
, pitching an inning of relief for Tom Seaver
and allowing one hit and no runs. He finished the season having pitched in 19 games and starting 10 of them, winning three and losing six. On March 27, 1978, Todd was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
for Ed Cuervo, and spent the season playing for the minor league Oklahoma City 89ers, where he pitched in 16 games. He was released by the Phillies at the start of the 1979 season, and signed on with the Toronto Blue Jays shortly afterward. During the 1979 season, he played 12 games for the Blue Jays and started one, earning a 5.85 ERA. He started 12 games during the 1980 Toronto Blue Jays season
, and played in 21 more during the 1981 Toronto Blue Jays season
. Despite a career-best 3.96 ERA in 1981, he was demoted to the Syracuse Chiefs, the Blue Jays' minor league team, where he spent the 1982 season. He played minor league baseball in 1983 and 1985, but did not see any more major league action.
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...
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...
who played for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
from 1977 to 1981. He 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 11th round of the 1970 amateur draft out of high school, but did not sign with the team. Todd opted instead to attend college, and played college baseball
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
.
College career
During his time as a member of the Oklahoma Sooners baseball teamOklahoma Sooners baseball
Oklahoma Sooners baseball is the NCAA Division I collegiate baseball team of the University of Oklahoma based in Norman, Oklahoma.The Oklahoma Baseball tradition is long and storied, with two National Championships in 1951 and 1994, along with numerous All-Americans...
, a member of the now defunct Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
, he was named to the All-Conference second team in 1971, and the All-Conference first team in 1972 and 1973. In 1972 and 1973, Todd was also a third team All-American. Todd pitched 13 complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s during the 1973 season, a university record which still stands today. During the 1972 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, Todd pitched 14 innings in two games without allowing an earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
. After three seasons at Oklahoma, Todd was selected in the second round with the 38th pick of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets, and decided to forego his senior season and sign with the Mets.
Professional career
Todd began his minor league career as a member of the Memphis Blues of the Texas LeagueTexas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
. During the 1973 season, Todd has a 2.84 ERA
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...
and a 6–5 record over 14 games. He played for Victoria and Jackson of the Texas League the following two seasons. With the Victoria Toros in 1974, he went 11–8 with a 3.23 ERA, and with the Jackson Mets
Jackson Mets
The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they are the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area...
in 1975 he went 3–4 with a 3.17 ERA. In 1976, Todd played for the Tidewater Tides of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
and pitched in 26 games, going 13–9 with a 2.91 ERA. He played part of the 1977 season in Tidewater, and made his major league debut on May 5, 1977. He made his debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, pitching an inning of relief for Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
and allowing one hit and no runs. He finished the season having pitched in 19 games and starting 10 of them, winning three and losing six. On March 27, 1978, Todd was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Ed Cuervo, and spent the season playing for the minor league Oklahoma City 89ers, where he pitched in 16 games. He was released by the Phillies at the start of the 1979 season, and signed on with the Toronto Blue Jays shortly afterward. During the 1979 season, he played 12 games for the Blue Jays and started one, earning a 5.85 ERA. He started 12 games during the 1980 Toronto Blue Jays season
1980 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 7th in the American League East with a record of 67 wins and 95 losses. The season represented a turning point as Bobby Mattick became the second field manager in franchise history...
, and played in 21 more during the 1981 Toronto Blue Jays season
1981 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 7th in the American League East with a record of 37 wins and 69 losses...
. Despite a career-best 3.96 ERA in 1981, he was demoted to the Syracuse Chiefs, the Blue Jays' minor league team, where he spent the 1982 season. He played minor league baseball in 1983 and 1985, but did not see any more major league action.