1976 Topps #221 - Jim Todd

• Jim Todd pitched for three teams from 1974-1979. He had two stints each with the Chicago Cubs and the Oakland A's. Todd was drafted by the Cubs in 1969 and pitched in their minor league organization until the beginning of the 1974 season. After starting three games for AAA Wichita in 1974 Jim was called up to the Cubs. He was used as a reliever and spot starter by the Cubs and went 4-2 with a 3.89 ERA in 43 games. After the season he was sent to the Oakland A's for cash and Champ Summers.

• Jim had his best season in 1975. He started the season in AAA but was called up in late April. Todd was 8-3 with 12 saves and a 2.29 ERA in 58 appearances. In the American League Championship Series he appeared in three games, allowing one unearned run in a total of one inning pitched. Rollie Fingers once said that he couldn't be one of the top relievers in baseball without Jim Todd as his setup man. Ralph Houk accused Jim of pitching a greaseball -- Jim called it a "super sinker."

• Todd had a rougher season in 1976 as the A's began to dismantle their championship team. He was 7-8 with 4 saves and a 3.81 ERA in 49 games. After the season he was traded back to the Cubs for Jim Coleman.

• In 1977 Todd bounced between AAA and the Cubs. For the Cubs his ERA ballooned to 9.10 and he was 1-1 in 20 appearances. After the season he was the "player to be named later" in a trade that had brought Pete Broberg to the Cubs from the Seattle Mariners.

• Todd was used by the Mariners as a spot starter and middle reliever in 1978. He was 3-4 with a 3.88 ERA in 49 games (2 starts). Before the 1979 season Jim was released by the Mariners. He signed with the A's. Todd struggled along with the rest of the 1979 A's--he was 2-5 with a 6.86 ERA in 51 games.

• Jim was released by the A's during spring training in 1980. He pitched for the AAA Phoenix Giants, where he was 0-1 with a 4.37 ERA in 11 games. That was it for his career.