Tommy John, namesake of revolutionary elbow surgery, dies aged 83
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have paid tribute to the four-time All-Star whose 1974 procedure transformed sports medicine and extended careers across the globe.
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John has died at the age of 83, the New York Yankees confirmed in a statement on Sunday. John passed away at his home in Bradenton, Florida, following a period of hospice care. While no specific cause of death was provided, he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and other ailments in recent years.
John is globally recognised as the namesake of the ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery, a procedure that became commonplace in sports medicine after he underwent it in 1974. Performed by Dr Frank Jobe, the operation was initially considered a high-risk gamble with odds of success estimated at one in 100. The surgery extended John’s career by 14 years, allowing him to win 164 additional games after the procedure and finishing with a career record of 288 wins.
The New York Yankees issued a statement mourning the loss of a player who was a "bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes." The club highlighted John’s consecutive 20-win seasons with the team and noted that his post-surgery achievements often overshadowed his excellence as a pitcher. The statement praised his "competitiveness and skill," as well as his "kind and gracious nature," extending condolences to his family and friends.
Los Angeles Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten also paid tribute, describing John as an "exceptional pitcher" whose courageous role in medical innovation cannot be overstated. Kasten noted that John’s impact on and off the field has been felt by ballplayers of all ages and will continue for generations. John pitched for the Dodgers between 1972 and 1976, leading the National League in winning percentage in 1973 and 1974 before his career-ending injury.
John posted a farewell message on social media on 8 August, shortly after missing the Yankees' Old-Timers' Day. He thanked Dr Jobe for saving his arm and acknowledged that the surgery had since saved the careers of countless pitchers, including some of the game's current best players. He wrote, "I will never forget you," addressing the fans and friends who followed his 26-year career.
Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, John was a valedictorian at Gerstmeyer High School before signing with the Cleveland Indians in 1961. He played for several teams including the Chicago White Sox, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, and Oakland Athletics. In 2022, he donated the original cast from his surgery to the Smithsonian Institution, signed by his teammates, Dr Jobe, and Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully.
John is survived by his second wife, Cheryl, and son-in-law Patrick Mannelly, a retired NFL long-snapper. His first wife, Sally Simmons, and one of their children, Taylor, predeceased him. His oldest son, Tommy III, is a chiropractor who has written a book on preventing sports-related surgeries in young athletes, continuing his father’s legacy of advocacy for athlete health.
