Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy John has issued a heartfelt message to the New York Yankees and their supporters, unable to attend the team's Old-Timers' Day ceremony due to undisclosed health problems. John, 83, who became the first professional athlete to undergo the elbow surgery now bearing his name, expressed his deep gratitude for his time with the Yankees and the fans who followed his career.

John played for the Yankees for eight seasons across two stints between 1979 and 1989, appearing in 214 games and achieving 91 wins. His absence from the Saturday ceremony, held before the Yankees' game against the Atlanta Braves, was noted, with the team releasing his farewell statement. According to Reuters, John is at his home in Bradenton, Florida, where he is reportedly in hospice care.

"I want to thank the Yankees organization & the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends & fans who followed me throughout my 26-year career," John wrote in his statement. "Thank you to all the fans who supported me & my teammates for 26 years. I will never forget you."

John's career was dramatically altered in 1974 when he injured his UCL in his elbow while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. At the time, the injury was widely considered career-ending. However, Dodgers team physician Dr. Frank Jobe performed the groundbreaking surgery, allowing John to continue pitching for another 14 years. This procedure, now known as Tommy John surgery, has since enabled countless other pitchers to preserve and extend their careers.

"Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm & made it possible for me to continue pitching," John added. "That surgery has since gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game today."

During the Old-Timers' Day ceremony, former Yankees teammate Ron Guidry paid tribute to John, highlighting his nearly 300 career wins and his extensive baseball knowledge. "It was great having him on the team," Guidry recalled. "He was so knowledgeable. When we were together, we were pretty much 1-2 on the staff and having him around gave me great comfort. He could talk and it was nice to have him around because he would answer any question you had and he did so much in the game."

John previously battled bladder cancer and other health issues in recent years, though it remains unclear if these are connected to his current condition.