Veteran Baseball Player and Unlikely Patriarch of MLB Dynasty Passes Away at 85
Tom Timmermann, a stalwart presence in the Detroit Tigers' and Cleveland Guardians' organizations from 1969 to 1974, has left an indelible mark on baseball. The 85-year-old former player's passing was confirmed by his niece, Cindy, who paid tribute to her uncle's life, saying he "lived life fully, joyfully, and on his own terms."
Timmermann's career, which spanned six major league seasons, was marked by his impressive work as a closer. In 1970, he earned the "Tiger of the Year" award after recording 27 saves in 61 appearances for the Tigers. His time with the team saw him go 26-27 with a 3.39 ERA (105 ERA+) over three seasons.
After being traded to Cleveland in 1973, Timmermann continued to contribute to his new team, posting a 9-8 record and 4.96 ERA (79 ERA+) in two seasons. Although he retired after the 1974 season, his legacy lived on through his family.
In fact, Timmermann's biological son, Phil Leftwich, is a former California Angels pitcher who was adopted as an infant. This made Timmermann an unlikely patriarch of a three-generation baseball family. His grandson, Luke Leftwich, also pursued a career in baseball, reaching the Triple-A level before hanging up his spikes.
Timmermann may have retired from baseball years ago, but he remained active in the community, attending Tigers alumni events and leaving a lasting impact on those around him. The late baseball player's death serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of sports figures who leave their mark on generations to come.
Tom Timmermann, a stalwart presence in the Detroit Tigers' and Cleveland Guardians' organizations from 1969 to 1974, has left an indelible mark on baseball. The 85-year-old former player's passing was confirmed by his niece, Cindy, who paid tribute to her uncle's life, saying he "lived life fully, joyfully, and on his own terms."
Timmermann's career, which spanned six major league seasons, was marked by his impressive work as a closer. In 1970, he earned the "Tiger of the Year" award after recording 27 saves in 61 appearances for the Tigers. His time with the team saw him go 26-27 with a 3.39 ERA (105 ERA+) over three seasons.
After being traded to Cleveland in 1973, Timmermann continued to contribute to his new team, posting a 9-8 record and 4.96 ERA (79 ERA+) in two seasons. Although he retired after the 1974 season, his legacy lived on through his family.
In fact, Timmermann's biological son, Phil Leftwich, is a former California Angels pitcher who was adopted as an infant. This made Timmermann an unlikely patriarch of a three-generation baseball family. His grandson, Luke Leftwich, also pursued a career in baseball, reaching the Triple-A level before hanging up his spikes.
Timmermann may have retired from baseball years ago, but he remained active in the community, attending Tigers alumni events and leaving a lasting impact on those around him. The late baseball player's death serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring legacy of sports figures who leave their mark on generations to come.
That's so sad... Tom Timmermann was one of those players you forgot existed but then remembered how awesome he was when you saw some old game vids online 
. I loved reading about his career, especially that "Tiger of the Year" award in '70 - what a legend! 
It's crazy how his family kept baseball in their blood for so long. His story is an amazing example of how sports can bring people together and create lifelong connections 
. Rest in peace, Tom, you'll be missed but your legacy will live on through the Leftwich family 
85 is old for someone still kicking it, you know? 
Like, I've seen some old people at the grocery store and they're still trying to keep up with me 
. But seriously, this guy lived life on his own terms and that's something we can all learn from. His baseball career may have been a few decades ago, but it's clear he left a lasting impact on the game and his community. And I'm sure it's not easy being part of a three-gen family in sports - all those brothers and cousins playing ball must've made for some interesting dinner conversations 
. Anyway, RIP Tom Timmermann, may your legacy continue to inspire future generations... 
just saw the news about Tom Timmermann... 85 years old is still pretty young, I guess 
. Can't believe he's gone. I remember watching games with my dad and him being this huge presence on the field 
. He was like a rock, you know? And to think he was just an uncle to Phil Leftwich, who got adopted as a baby... talk about a cool family connection 
! Tom Timmermann's legacy is going to live on through his grandson Luke and that whole baseball dynasty 
.
85 is old for a baseball player, so how many games did he actually play? like, what's the average lifespan for a pro athlete anyway?
. also, triple-A level? what does that even mean? sounds like some fancy-schmancy minor league thingy.
️. I wonder what he'd say about the modern game, I mean his era was so different from ours, but it's cool that he left behind a legacy through his family 
spent 6 yrs in mlb and still managed to stay in baseball thru his fam lol what's up with phil & luke being part of a 3 gen fam tho?