LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tommy John, a legendary pitcher who recorded 288 wins over a remarkable 26-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), has passed away at age 83. He died at his home in Bradenton, Florida, on Saturday night while under hospice care, as confirmed by his agent Mike Maguire.
On August 8, 2023, the New York Yankees shared a heartfelt social media post in which John said his final goodbyes to fans and friends, stating, "I will never forget you." The Yankees honored him as a "bedrock of our rotation" during his time with the team and a favorite among fans.
John's illustrious career spanned from 1963 to 1989, during which he became a four-time All-Star and achieved a record of 288-231 with a 3.34 ERA. He played for several teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics. Stan Kasten, the Dodgers' president and CEO, praised John for his extraordinary career and his groundbreaking role in the first successful ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) replacement surgery, which subsequently became known as Tommy John surgery.
At 31 years old, John faced what was once considered a career-ending injury when he tore the UCL in his pitching elbow in 1974. He opted for innovative surgery performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, who replaced the damaged ligament with a tendon from John's right forearm. This operation had previously been conducted on other parts of the body but was unprecedented for a pitcher’s elbow, yielding a success rate that was initially deemed highly unlikely.
Since John's pioneering surgery, more than 2,600 professional players and countless amateurs have undergone UCL reconstructions, benefiting many of the game's best, including stars like Shohei Ohtani, Justin Verlander, and Bryce Harper. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a Dodgers team physician, remarked that Tommy John's surgery is the "most valuable reconstructive procedure" when evaluated in financial terms.
Born on May 22, 1943, in Terre Haute, Indiana, John excelled in both baseball and basketball during his time at Gerstmeyer High School. Despite being valedictorian of his graduating class in 1961, he opted to pursue a career in baseball over a scholarship to the University of Kentucky for basketball. John recorded a total of 2,245 strikeouts; however, he never led the league in wins or strikeouts. Despite his impressive record, he is noted as having the second-most wins of any pitcher since 1900 who has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. His Hall of Fame ballot appearances from 1995 to 2009 resulted in only up to 31.7% of votes, significantly short of the required 75% for election.
John's post-surgery career saw him secure more wins than he did prior to the UCL surgery, testament to his remarkable longevity and resilience. He debuted in the major leagues on September 6, 1963, with the Cleveland Indians. His post-surgery return to the mound began in 1976 when he became the first pitcher to start a game after the UCL reconstruction surgery, marking a significant milestone in baseball history.
Throughout his career, he achieved numerous accolades, including winning 20 games in 1977 and finishing second in the National League Cy Young Award voting. A complex relationship developed around the legacy of the surgery named after him, with John expressing concern in a July 2018 tweet regarding its prevalence among younger athletes.
After retiring from pitching, John transitioned to broadcasting for the Minnesota Twins and Yankees and managed the Bridgeport Bluefish from 2007 to 2009. His health faced challenges in December 2020 due to COVID-19, followed by a bout of Guillain-Barré syndrome that left him temporarily paralyzed. John is survived by four children from his first marriage and his second wife, Cheryl, along with son-in-law Patrick Mannelly, a former NFL long snapper for the Chicago Bears.
