Tommy John, Pitcher Famous for Elbow Surgery, Dies at 83
Tommy John, a former major league pitcher renowned for the elbow surgery that bears his name, has passed away at the age of 83.
Raleigh Durham, NC, August 16, 2026 —
Tommy John, the former Major League Baseball pitcher whose career was notably extended by a groundbreaking surgical procedure that now bears his name, has died at the age of 83.
The surgery, performed in 1974 by Dr. Frank Jobe, involved repairing a torn ulnar collateral ligament in John’s elbow using a tendon from his forearm. At the time, the procedure was considered experimental and many believed it would end his career. However, John not only recovered but returned to pitching at an elite level, pitching for another decade after the operation.
John’s resilience and the success of the surgery paved the way for countless other athletes, particularly pitchers, to undergo similar reconstructive procedures. The “Tommy John surgery” has since become a common term in sports medicine, signifying a second chance for athletes with elbow injuries.
Throughout his 26-year Major League Baseball career, John played for several teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees. He was a three-time All-Star and a two-time World Series champion with the Dodgers.
His career statistics include 288 wins, 231 losses, and an earned run average of 3.34.
Story summarized from the original created by ESPN on abc7.com, see more information here.
