O'Toole was a reliable starter with the Reds in the 1960's, and his 19-9 record in 1961 as their top lefthanded starter was a major contribution to their surprise NL pennant that year; his .679 winning percentage and 3.10 ERA were second in the NL, and he finished third in wins and fourth in strikeouts. He received no support in the World Series. He faced Whitey Ford in both his starts and saw his team shut out each time.O'Toole followed with seasons of 16-13, 17-14, and 17-7, the last mark in 1964 placing him third in the NL in winning percentage (.708). But he dropped off to 3-10 in 1965, and his career was ended in 1967 by a shoulder injury. His brother Denny, had brief trials with the White Sox. (SH)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » July 22, 1959: Veteran Bobby Avila, in his first game with Milwaukee, hits a 2-run 9th inning home run, of the Reds' Jim O'Toole, to help give the Braves a 5–4 win. » May 13, 1960: Philadelphia suffers its 3rd straight 1–0 shutout, losing to the Reds in Cincinnati. The Phillies, losers of back-to-back 1–0 games in San Francisco, tie the major-league record for straight 1–0 losses. Jim O'Toole's win is Cincinnati's 9th straight. The Phils announce a trade of 1B Ed Bouchee and P Don Cardwell to the Cubs for 2B Tony Taylor and C Cal Neeman. » May 20, 1960: Love that home cooking. The Cards, 2–17 on the road, win their 10th in 13 decisions at home, beating the Reds and starter Jim O'Toole, 6–1. With the bases loaded, Stan Musial hits a line drive back at Cincy reliever Joe Nuxhall, who deliberately drops the ball in order to start a DP. The umps rule Nuxhall did it on purpose and Musial is out. The runners return to their bases. Larry Jackson is the winner. » July 3, 1960: A day after his wedding in Chicago, Jim O'Toole pitches and loses, as the Cubs pound him for seven runs and nine hits in less than five innings. Chicago wins, 7–5. An unsympathetic manager Hutchinson says, "It was his turn to pitch. I didn't tell him to get married." » August 16, 1961: Cincinnati takes the National League lead for good with a shutout sweep 6–0 and 8–0 at Los Angeles before 72,140, a record crowd for a NL doubleheader. Bob Purkey gives up four hits and Jim O'Toole just two in handing the Dodgers their 1st twinbill whitewash since July 18, 1935. » April 18, 1962: At Crosley Field, the Reds roll over the Dodgers, 14–0. Jim O'Toole tosses a 4-hitter for the win, while Joe Moeller, making his first ML start is kayoed in the 2nd. Pinson has five RBIs. » July 23, 1962: At Cincinnati, Reds pitcher Jim O'Toole loses his no hit bid when Bob Skinner doubles in the 8th inning. O'Toole finishes with a 3–0 one-hitter against the Pirates. » October 2, 1964: With first place on the line, the Phils win 4–3 in Cincinnati with the help of their 3rd triple play of the season, and snap their 10-game loss streak. The Phils score four runs in the 8th off Jim O'Toole with the rally starting after a routine fly ball drops between Leo Cardenas and Pete Rose. Cardenas and O'Toole exchange angry words after the game and then start swinging. The 4th-place Giants stay in the chase when Bob Bolin shuts out the Cubs, 9–0.