Tommy John, namesake for a pioneering elbow surgery that saved his career, dead at 83

Tommy John, the namesake of the pioneering elbow surgery that saved his illustrious baseball career, passed away at the age of 83. The former pitcher, who enjoyed a 26-year big league journey, died peacefully at his home in Bradenton, Florida, on Saturday night, as confirmed by his agent Mike Maguire on Sunday. John had been in hospice care during his final days.

During his illustrious career, which spanned from 1963 to 1989, John compiled an impressive record of 288-231 games with a remarkable 3.34 ERA. The left-hander earned four All-Star selections throughout his tenure. John's pitching prowess was showcased across five teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics.

Tragically, John's career took an unexpected turn in 1974 when he suffered a devastating injury - a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. At the time, such an injury usually signaled the end of a pitcher's career. However, John's fortitude led him to seek the expertise of Dr. Frank Jobe, the Dodgers' team physician.

Jobe's innovative surgery, which involved replacing the torn ligament with a tendon from John's own right forearm, was deemed improbable by 100-to-1 odds. Undeterred, John confidently declared, "Dr. Jobe, if you do your job, I'll do mine."

Remarkably, John defied the odds and went on to enjoy an additional 14 seasons after the groundbreaking surgery. The baseball world fondly remembers John as "Baseball's Bionic Man," a testament to the transformative impact of that groundbreaking procedure that bears his name. In a heartfelt post on social media, John expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm & made it possible for me to continue pitching."