| Phil Todt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First baseman | |
| Born:(1901-08-09)August 9, 1901 St. Louis, Missouri | |
| Died: November 15, 1973(1973-11-15) (aged 72) St. Louis, Missouri | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 25, 1924, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 25, 1931, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .258 |
| Home runs | 57 |
| Runs batted in | 453 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Philip Julius Todt (August 9, 1901 – November 15, 1973), nicknamed"Hook", was afirst baseman inMajor League Baseball who played between the1924 and1931 seasons. Listed at 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m), 175 lb., Todt batted and threwleft-handed. He was born inSaint Louis, Missouri.
A fine defensive first baseman and consistentline drive hitter, Todt entered the majors in 1924 with theBoston Red Sox, hitting .262 in 52 games as a backup forJoe Harris. Since 1925, Todt provided a solid defensive effort for a Red Sox club that finished last in theAmerican League for six straight seasons. He was considered in theAmerican League MVP vote for three consecutive years (1925–1927), and led the AL first basemen infielding percentage (.997) in 1928. His most productive season came in 1925, when he hit .278 with 62runs and 75RBI, all career-numbers.
In 1930, Todt brokeBabe Ruth's team record of 49 career home runs. Todt's record stood until 1937, whenJimmie Foxx broke it in only his second season with the club; the record subsequently passed from Foxx toTed Williams who still holds it.
Todt also appeared in 62 games with thePhiladelphia Athletics in 1931, his last major league season.
In an eight-year career, Todt was a .258 hitter (880-for-3415) with 57home runs and 453 RBI in 957 games, including 372 runs, 183doubles, 58triples, 29stolen bases, and a .305on-base percentage. In 904 games at first base, he collected 9079outs and 623assists while committing 80errors in 9782chances for a .992 fielding percentage. He also played four games in the outfield.
Todt's father was a German immigrant who worked and lived at St Peter and St Paul's Cemetery inSt. Louis, Missouri; Todt was born in a house in the cemetery. Todt died at the age of 72 in St. Louis, and is buried in the cemetery where he was born.