Tommy John, namesake for a pioneering elbow surgery that saved his career, dead at 83
Tommy John, who won 288 games during a 26-year big league career and became the first pitcher to successfully return following groundbreaking elbow surgery that later was named after him, has died. He was 83.
Tommy John, the namesake for a pioneering elbow surgery that helped him resume his baseball career, has passed away at the age of 83. The veteran pitcher, who recorded 288 victories over a 26-year career, died peacefully in his Bradenton, Florida home on Saturday night while receiving hospice care. John's decision to share his final thoughts came just hours earlier, as he penned a heartfelt message on the Yankees' social media platform, expressing his gratitude to fans and friends for their unwavering support throughout his illustrious career.
Born in 1939, John's illustrious big league career spanned from 1963 to 1989, during which he donned the uniforms of several teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics. It was in 1974, at the age of 31, that a devastating elbow injury left John's future in doubt.
However, under the guidance of renowned team physician Dr. Frank Jobe, John underwent a groundbreaking surgery that successfully replaced the damaged ligament with a tendon from his own forearm. Despite Dr. Jobe's initial skepticism of a mere 1% success rate, John defied the odds, going on to pitch another 14 seasons and cementing his status as a true baseball legend.
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