Tom Timmermann, a veteran of six major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians from 1969-74, died Friday. He was 85.
Timmermann’s death was confirmed on social media by his niece, Cindy.
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After signing his first professional contract with the Tigers out of Southern Illinois University in 1960, Timmermann spent parts of 10 seasons in the minor leagues before debuting in 1969.
By 1970, Timmermann was the Tigers’ primary closer, recording 27 saves in 61 appearances. After the 1970 season, the team gave him the “Tiger of the Year” award.
From 1969-73, Timmermann went 26-27 with a 3.39 ERA (105 ERA+) for Detroit, shuffling between the starting rotation and the bullpen.
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In June 1973, the Tigers traded Timmermann and journeyman infielder Kevin Collins to Cleveland for pitcher Ed Farmer. Timmermann made 33 appearances (15 starts) for the Indians over the 1973 and 1974 seasons, posting a 9-8 record and 4.96 ERA (79 ERA+).
A right-handed pitcher, Timmermann quietly retired after the 1974 season. He ended his career with for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens, a Philadelphia Phillies farm team managed by future Hall of Famer (and United States Senator) Jim Bunning.
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Although he lived the remainder of his life outside the spotlight of professional baseball, working in industrial sales, he was a frequent guest at Tigers alumni events over the years.
Timmermann was also the unlikely patriarch of a three-generation baseball family. His biological son, former California Angels pitcher Phil Leftwich, was put up for adoption as an infant and did not learn of his biological lineage until he was nearly a major leaguer himself.
Luke Leftwich, Phil’s son, also pitched professionally for seven seasons, reaching as high as the Triple-A level.
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“He lived life fully, joyfully, and on his own terms,” Cindy Timmermann wrote on Facebook in announcing her uncle’s death. “He loved his daughter Heather with his whole heart, and his son Phil just the same. Family wasn’t just important to him — it was everything. He was larger than life, steady, strong, and unforgettable.”
A native of Breese, Illinois, Timmermann has a baseball field named for him in his home town.
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