Jackson Todd

Jackson A. Todd (born November 20, 1951 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) 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.^[1] Todd opted instead to attend college, and played college baseball at the University of Oklahoma. He represented the United States at the 1971 Pan American Games, where he won a silver medal.^[2]

College career

During his time as a member of the Oklahoma Sooners baseball team, 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.^[3] In 1972 and 1973, Todd was also a third team All-American.^[4] Todd pitched 13 complete games during the 1973 season, a university record which still stands today.^[5] During the 1972 College World Series, Todd pitched 14 innings in two games without allowing an earned run.^[6] 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,^[1] and decided to forgo 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 League. During the 1973 season, Todd has a 2.84 ERA and a 6–5 record over 14 games.^[7] 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.^[7] 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.^[7] He played part of the 1977 season in Tidewater, and made his major league debut on May 5, 1977.^[1] He made his debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching an inning of relief for Tom Seaver and allowing one hit and no runs.^[8] He finished the season having pitched in 19 games and starting 10 of them, winning three and losing six.^[1] 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.^[7] 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.^[1] He started 12 games during the 1980 Toronto Blue Jays season, and played in 21 more during the 1981 Toronto Blue Jays season.^[1] 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.^[7] He played minor league baseball in 1983 and 1985, but did not see any more major league action.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)