Former MLB pitcher Tommy John, namesake of elbow surgery, dies at 83
Tommy John, the former New York Yankees pitcher whose 1974 elbow surgery extended his career and gave rise to a common procedure, died at 83 in Florida.
Tommy John, a former major-league pitcher who became the namesake of a widely used elbow reconstruction surgery, died on Saturday at his home in Bradenton, Florida, at age 83. The New York Yankees confirmed his death, noting his long tenure with the club and his impact on the sport.
John had undergone ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction in 1974 after a career-threatening injury. The operation, performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, was later dubbed “Tommy John surgery” and has become a standard treatment for pitchers and other athletes. John returned to pitch for 14 additional seasons, finishing with a 288-231 record and a 3.34 ERA over 760 appearances.
"The New York Yankees mourn the passing of Tommy John, who was a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans," the team said in a statement.
John, a four-time All-Star, won 20 games in a season three times and appeared in three World Series, though he never captured a championship. He thanked Dr. Jobe in a social-media post after missing the Yankees’ Old-Timers Day, saying the surgery had saved his career and later helped countless other pitchers.
Medical experts estimate that about 35% of active major-league pitchers have undergone the procedure, with roughly 80% returning to their prior performance level. Both John and Dr. Jobe were honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 for their contributions to baseball.