From 1981: Yankees pitcher Tommy John

Pitcher Tommy John, whose name became synonymous with a revolutionary surgical procedure, passed away on August 15, 2026, at the age of 83. John underwent an innovative surgery on his injured pitching arm in the 1970s, a procedure that would later bear his name and transform the treatment of elbow injuries in baseball and beyond.

This "Tommy John surgery," performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, involved reconstructing the ulnar collateral ligament, a feat previously considered career-ending for pitchers. John's successful return to the mound after the operation not only salvaged his own career but also offered hope and a viable treatment path for countless other athletes facing similar devastating injuries.

A "Sunday Morning" segment from August 16, 1981, captured John reflecting on his remarkable comeback. In the interview, he discussed the personal triumph of returning to play after the surgery. He also touched upon a broader theme in baseball at the time: the league's recovery and return to the field following a significant players' strike that had halted major league games for nearly two months. The report also featured insights from Yankee outfielder Lou Pinella and trainer Gene Monahan.

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Pitcher Tommy John, who in the 1970s underwent an innovative procedure on his injured pitching arm that would become famous as "Tommy John surgery," died on Aug. 15, 2026 at age 83. In this "Sunday Morning" story that aired Aug. 16, 1981, John talked with correspondent Heywood Hale Broun about his comeback after surgery, and about baseball's other comeback – returning to the field following the major league players' nearly two-month-long strike.