Tommy John, pitcher whose surgery changed baseball, dies at age of 83
Summary
Tommy John, a former baseball pitcher known for a surgery named after him that helps injured pitchers recover, has died at 83. He died at home in Florida after recently being in hospice care and battling bladder cancer. The surgery he underwent in 1974 saved his career and has since helped many other pitchers continue playing.Key Facts
- Tommy John was a major league pitcher who played for six teams, including the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers.
- In 1974, he had a torn ligament in his elbow repaired by Dr. Frank Jobe using a tendon from his forearm, a surgery that became known as "Tommy John surgery."
- The surgery had a low chance of success at the time but allowed John to pitch for 14 more seasons.
- About 35% of major league pitchers in 2024 have had Tommy John surgery, including several award-winning players.
- John had a career record of 288 wins and was a four-time All-Star but is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
- After retiring, John worked as a broadcaster for baseball teams like the Twins and Yankees.
- John expressed mixed feelings about the surgery’s legacy, especially its increasing use in young athletes.
- His oldest son became a chiropractor and wrote about injury prevention to help young athletes avoid surgery.
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