Education
After graduating from Chicago's Leo High School, O'Toole attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
After graduating from Chicago's Leo High School, O'Toole attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the and during his 10-year career. He made his Major League debut with the Reds after only one minor league season, with the 1958 Nashville Vols, where he led the AA Southern Association in wins (20), innings pitched, strikeouts and bases on balls. He was named Player of the Month for September with a 5–0 record, 2.53 ERA, and 37 strike outs.
He finished 10th in MVP voting. Though pitching effectively in the 1961 World Series, with an earned run average of 3.00, O'Toole lost his two decisions to Whitey Ford in games 1 and 4, as the New York Yankees bested the Reds in five games. In 1963, he was the starting pitcher of the National League in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game (his only appearance at the Summer Classic), pitching 2 innings and allowing 1 earned run, not involved in the decision.
O'Toole played in Cincinnati until his final season, 1967, spent with his hometown team, the , but was ineffective due to arm troubles. O'Toole tried to return with a 1969 expansion team, the Seattle Pilots, but was cut in spring training before the season began.