Tommy John, the former Major League Baseball pitcher whose name became synonymous with a groundbreaking elbow surgery, has died at the age of 83. He passed away in his home in Bradenton, Florida, following hospice care for a recurrence of bladder cancer.
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, two teams with which John had a notable history, expressed their sorrow over his death. Dodgers president Stan Kasten praised John's contributions to the sport.
We are saddened to hear the news of Tommy John's passing today. Tommy was an exceptional pitcher throughout his career in Major League Baseball, and his courageous role in becoming the first to have surgery that would go on to bear his name can't be overstated. His impact both on and off the field has been felt by ballplayers of all ages and will be for generations to come.
Stan Kasten, Dodgers President
- Influenced current MLB stars like Shohei Ohtani
- Saved careers of pitchers such as Justin Verlander and Chris Sale
On July 17, 1974, while playing for the Dodgers, John experienced a severe injury that would alter his career trajectory. He sustained a tear to his ulnar collateral ligament while throwing a fastball, an injury that was considered career-threatening at the time.
After conventional treatments failed, Dr. Frank Jobe performed a revolutionary surgical procedure on September 25, 1974, where he used a tendon from John's right forearm to reconstruct the damaged ligament in his left elbow. This surgery, now known as Tommy John surgery, has since saved the careers of many pitchers.
Despite a long recovery, John defied the odds and returned to the mound in 1976, achieving a 10-10 record with a 3.09 earned-run average. His remarkable comeback earned him the nickname 'Bionic Man' and he went on to finish second in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 1977.