James Richard Todd Jr. “Toddy”, “JT”, age 77

Passed away on February 3rd, at his home located in Parker, Colorado

Born on September 21, 1947 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Parents - James R Todd Sr. and Lois (Cushman) Todd

Jim grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with his siblings Cynthia (Todd) Gebhard and Donald Todd

As a child his dream was to play professional baseball.

Jim attended McCaskey High School where he was a three sport varsity athlete in football, basketball, and baseball.  He graduated High School in 1965

Jim attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa on an athletic scholarship where he continued his athletic journey in both basketball and baseball.

Jim transferred to Millersville State College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1967, where he played basketball and excelled in baseball.  This lead to a professional baseball contract in which he was drafted to be a pitcher with the Chicago Cubs organization in 1969.

While attending Millersville he met the love of his life Elsie C. Tomlinson, who he later married in 1970

Elsie laid eyes on Jim for the first time in 1967 standing at the juke box in the Student Union Building, also known as The Rat Race.  They formally met at a Martha and The Vandellas concert a few days later, where they were both on dates with someone else.  After finding out they shared the same birthday, their love story began.

Jim requested Elsie’s hand in marriage from Elsie’s father, Harry Tomlinson. Jim went to Harry and said, “Mr. Tomlinson I would like to become engaged to your daughter.”  Harry’s response was, “No, I always imagined Elsie would marry someone that is quiet and thinks a lot.”  Jim responded, “Aww, come on Har.”  While Alma, the future mother in law chimed in and said, “This is serious business Harry.”  After some “thinking” arrangements were agreed upon, and Jim and Elsie were married on September 19th 1970.

Jim’s minor league baseball career with the Chicago Cubs began in 1969 in Huron, South Dakota.  He progressed through the minor leagues playing in Quincy, Illinois; San Antonio, Texas; Tacoma, Washington; and Wichita, Kansas.  

Jim spent 3 off seasons pitching for Los Tigres De Aragua in Venezuela, where his team won the Venezuelan World Series.  Jim and Elsie had champagne with the Venezuelan president in the White House.  

In 1974 he finally got the call to play at Wrigley Field in the Big Leagues.  He made his major league debut on April 29th, 1974 

In 1975 he was traded to the Oakland A’s where he had his greatest success as a relief pitcher.  In 1975 he was part of the best bullpen in baseball with Rollie Fingers and Paul Lindblad.  He posted his career bests with 8 wins, 12 saves, and ERA of 2.29.  He received votes on the MVP ballot for the American League West Division Champion A’s.  He pitched briefly in each of the three games of the American League Championship series where Oakland lost to the Boston RedSox.

In 1977 he was traded back to the Chicago Cubs, where he played one season.  

In 1978 he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for one season

In 1979 he returned to the Oakland A’s for his final season

His career stats are 270 games, 511 innings pitched, 25 wins, 23 losses, 8 saves, 194 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.23

Some of Jim’s other accomplishments included being inducted into the McCaskey Athletic Hall of Fame as well as the Lancaster County Hall of Fame.  You can also find Jim’s name in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Both of Jim’s daughters were born during his major league career.  Natalie was born in Chicago in 1977 and Ashley was born in Mesa, AZ in 1979.

After Jim hung up his cleats he went to work with a company located in Phoenix, Arizona.  Soon after he started they decided to open an office in Denver, Colorado.  The company relocated the Todd family to Denver in 1981.  The family moved to Parker in 1982 and Colorado became their home.

Jim joined a men’s fastpitch team where the family made many new, lifelong friends.

His daughters attended all the games growing up.  One day the girls went up to Jim after many years of ballet, jazz and piano and said, “Dad, we want to play softball.”  We know that Jim had long awaited this day and without delay he was looking for the best opportunities for his girls to play competitively.  Coaching girls softball became his new passion.

He continued to offer baseball pitching, hitting and catching lessons for local boys.  One of his students went on to pitch for the Philadelphia Phillies, where they won the World Series in 2008.  

His main focus was girls competitive softball and he coached his own daughters as well as many other girls for 15 years.  He provided many opportunities for young women to obtain college scholarships.  He was a very influential figure in many young women’s lives and he is the reason some of his players coach today.

You could never take the coach out of Coach Todd.  He always looked for any opportunity to work with his daughters and grandchildren as they pursued their athletic endeavors.

After many different careers Jim discovered Real Estate Appraising and established a successful Appraisal business from which he retired in 2023.

Elsie retired from teaching in 2013 and after that they both enjoyed golf, beach vacations, dancing, listening to music, and watching their grandchildren grow, but most of all they enjoyed each other's company.  Elsie and Jim shared a true love for over 54 years.  Their love for life and one another is admired by many.  

Survived by

• Spouse -  Elsie C. Todd of Parker, Colorado

• Children - 

  • Daughter - Natalie D. Odette-Baxley and Spouse, William B. Baxley

  • Daughter - Ashley L. Buttshaw

• Grandchildren - 

  • Grant Buttshaw, Hailey Buttshaw, Makayla Odette, Michael Odette III, and James Baxley

• Siblings - Cynthia (Todd) Gebhard and Donald Todd

Predeceased by

• Parents - James Richard Todd Sr. (3/22/2020) and Lois (Cushman) Todd (9/3/2001)

In Lieu of flowers please send donations in his honor to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.