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

Tommy John, the pitcher who earned his name from pioneering elbow surgery that helped him continue his career, has passed away. The 83-year-old former major league pitcher died in his Florida home on Saturday night, after being in hospice care for some time. In a social media post on August 8, John expressed his desire to say goodbye to everyone, including friends and fans who supported him throughout his 26-year career that spanned from 1963 to 1989.

The Yankees remembered John as a "bedrock of our rotation" and a permanent favorite of their fans. A four-time All-Star, John's impressive career included a 3.34 ERA and 2,245 strikeouts. His left-hander was 31 years old when he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in 1974, a career-ending injury before that time. The operation performed by Dodgers team physician Dr. Frank Jobe, which replaced the ligament with a tendon from John's right forearm, came with a 100-to-1 chance of success.

Over 2,600 big leaguers and thousands of amateurs have since undergone this procedure, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, which has transformed the careers of many baseball stars, including Shohei Ohtani, Justin Verlander, and Bryce Harper. Despite his success post-surgery, John's overall legacy includes his competitiveness, skill, and gracious nature, which left a lasting impact on the sport.