Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy John, whose groundbreaking elbow surgery revitalized his career and has since saved the arms of countless pitchers, has died at age 83. His agent, Mike Maguire, confirmed that John passed away peacefully at his home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, surrounded by his wife, Cheryl, and family.
John, a four-time All-Star, was the first player to undergo the elbow ligament reconstruction procedure that now bears his name. The surgery, performed by Dodgers team doctor Dr. Frank Jobe in 1974 after John injured his UCL, was considered career-ending at the time. However, John went on to pitch for another 14 seasons.
Over a 26-year Major League Baseball career, John accumulated 288 wins for teams including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Oakland Athletics, and New York Yankees.
In the week prior to his passing, John shared a heartfelt farewell message to the Yankees organization and its fans as he was experiencing health issues. Though unable to attend in person, his message was released by the team on social media during their Old-Timers' Day celebration on August 8. In the statement, he expressed gratitude for his time with the Yankees and for the support he received throughout his career.
"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. "Thank you to all the fans who supported me & my teammates for 26 years. I will never forget you."
He also acknowledged Dr. Jobe's pivotal role in his recovery and the subsequent impact of the surgery on the sport. "Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm & made it possible for me to continue pitching," John stated. "That surgery has since gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game today."