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'MLB 288 Wins' Tommy John, Who Extended Pitchers' Careers, Dies at 83
🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

'MLB 288 Wins' Tommy John, Who Extended Pitchers' Careers, Dies at 83

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Tommy John, the legendary left-handed pitcher whose name became synonymous with a career-saving elbow surgery, died at age 83.
  • John underwent the groundbreaking elbow ligament reconstruction surgery in 1974, allowing him to return to baseball and extend his career significantly.
  • His successful comeback and subsequent performance, including 288 career wins, revolutionized sports medicine and made "Tommy John surgery" a standard procedure for countless pitchers.

Tommy John, the legendary left-handed pitcher whose name became synonymous with a revolutionary elbow surgery, has died at the age of 83. John passed away at his home in Bradenton, Florida, after his health had recently declined, leading him to receive hospice care.

Thank you to the Yankees organization and the Steinbrenner family for giving me the opportunity to say goodbye, and to the fans and friends who watched me for 26 years of my playing career.

— Tommy JohnIn a farewell message released by the New York Yankees before his death.

John, who pitched for 26 seasons and amassed 288 wins, is celebrated for extending his career through a groundbreaking surgical procedure. In 1974, while playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he became the first patient to undergo elbow ligament reconstruction performed by Dr. Frank Jobe. At the time, such an injury was often considered career-ending for athletes.

However, John's determination and the success of the surgery allowed him to return to the mound in 1976 after a full season of rehabilitation. Remarkably, he pitched even better after the surgery, winning 164 games in the 14 seasons following his comeback, compared to 124 wins in the 12 seasons prior. He continued to pitch until the age of 46, achieving a career-high 20 wins in 1977.

Especially, I sincerely thank Dr. Frank Jobe for saving my arm and allowing me to continue throwing.

— Tommy JohnExpressing gratitude to the surgeon who performed his career-saving operation.

The success of Tommy John's comeback marked a pivotal moment in sports medicine. The procedure, now known globally as "Tommy John surgery," has since become an essential and common treatment for numerous baseball pitchers, enabling them to recover from severe elbow injuries and continue their careers. Ryu Hyun-jin, a notable Major League Baseball player, also underwent the surgery in 2022.

John changed the fate of countless players worldwide with the achievements he made after surgery.

— New York YankeesIn a statement mourning the loss of the legendary pitcher.

Dr. Frank Jobe, the surgeon who performed the life-changing operation, passed away in 2014. John, in a final farewell message released by his former team, the New York Yankees, expressed gratitude to the Yankees organization, the Steinbrenner family, fans, friends, and especially Dr. Jobe for the opportunity to continue his career.

His excellence as a pitcher had not been properly recognized until now. We will deeply remember the legacy he left as a pioneer in the fields of sports and medicine.

— New York YankeesAcknowledging John's impact beyond his playing career.
About this summary

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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