Phil Todt

Philip Julius Todt
(Hook)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Kendrick High School, Chaminade College Preparatory School of St. Louis
• Debut April 25, 1924
• Final Game September 25, 1931
• Born August 9, 1901 in St. Louis, MO USA
• Died November 15, 1973 in St. Louis, MO USA

BR page

Biographical Information

In one of Judge Landis' first decisions, he declared Phil Todt a free agent in 1920 when the St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals were competing for Todt's contract. At the time the young outfielder was ruled a free agent and signed to play with the Tulsa Oilers of the Western League where he hit .308 with 28 home runs his initial season. Phil would spend two more seasons in the minors with the Columbus Senators and the San Antonio Bears of the Texas League before starting what would be an eight-year run in the major leagues.

Todt would sign with the Boston Red Sox in 1924 and spend the next seven seasons as their regular first sacker. 1925 would be his best year with the Red Sox, hitting at a .278 clip with 11 home runs and fielding at a .988 percentage. Said to be one of the most graceful first basemen in the game, Todt would lead the American League in 1928, appearing in 144 games, making only five errors and fielding at a .997 clip. He was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics in 1931, appeared in just 62 games and helped his Shibe Park club into the World Series with his .995 fielding percentage and timely .244 hitting average.

The Athletics would play the National League St. Louis Cardinals in the '31 World Series and Connie Mack's club woud be beaten by the Cardinals, four games to three, and Todt would appear in only one game, drawing a base on balls in his only plate appearance. 1931 would mark the end of Todt's major league time and he finished up his eight year run with a .258 hitting average and 57 home runs in 3,765 plate appearances. He also logged a .992 fielding percentage in 904 games, making only 80 errors in 9,782 chances.

Phil would drop into the minors in 1932 where he would play seven more years and hit over .300 in four of his seasons, giving him a career minor league .295 hitting average with 99 home runs, also fielding the first base position at an even .990 number. 1939 would be his last known year in pro baseball, managing the Crookston Pirates of the Northern League to a last place 43-76 finish.

Todt was 37 years old when he left the game and returned to his native St. Louis, MO, where he died at the age of 72 on November 15, 1973.

Related Sites

• Phil Todt at the SABR Bio Project