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Longtime MLB pitcher Tommy John has passed away at age 83, according to his agent, Mike Maguire. John reportedly passed away peacefully at his home in Lakewood Ranch, surrounded by family.
John, who was in hospice care following his battle with bladder cancer, recently penned a thank-you and goodbye letter to fans through the New York Yankees.
The former pitcher thanked the doctor who revolutionized elbow surgery, allowing John to continue pitching and tally a 26-year career. "Tommy John" surgery is now a very common procedure for pitchers, helping them extend their careers.
John made it to the big leagues in 1963 with the Cleveland team. Eleven years later, he suffered an elbow injury that was considered career-ending. Dr. Frank Jobe performed ligament replacement surgery, which caused John to be sidelined for the entirety of the 1975 season.
The pitcher returned in 1976, becoming the first player to return to the game after surgery. John went on to pitch another 13 seasons, finishing up his career in New York in 1989.
He was a four-time All-Star and spent time with the Cleveland Guardians (then-Indians), Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankees, Los Angeles Angels (then-California Angels), and Athletics between 1963 and 1989.
John finished his lengthy career with a 288-231 record over 760 appearances. He had a career 3.34 ERA and threw 162 complete games, with 91 of them coming after his elbow surgery.
Continue reading...
John, who was in hospice care following his battle with bladder cancer, recently penned a thank-you and goodbye letter to fans through the New York Yankees.
The former pitcher thanked the doctor who revolutionized elbow surgery, allowing John to continue pitching and tally a 26-year career. "Tommy John" surgery is now a very common procedure for pitchers, helping them extend their careers.
John made it to the big leagues in 1963 with the Cleveland team. Eleven years later, he suffered an elbow injury that was considered career-ending. Dr. Frank Jobe performed ligament replacement surgery, which caused John to be sidelined for the entirety of the 1975 season.
The pitcher returned in 1976, becoming the first player to return to the game after surgery. John went on to pitch another 13 seasons, finishing up his career in New York in 1989.
He was a four-time All-Star and spent time with the Cleveland Guardians (then-Indians), Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankees, Los Angeles Angels (then-California Angels), and Athletics between 1963 and 1989.
John finished his lengthy career with a 288-231 record over 760 appearances. He had a career 3.34 ERA and threw 162 complete games, with 91 of them coming after his elbow surgery.
Continue reading...
