Tommy John, the former Dodgers pitcher whose career-saving elbow surgery changed baseball forever, has died at 83.
The Dodgers announced John’s death on Saturday, August 15. He spent much of his legendary career in Los Angeles. He also became forever linked to one of the most important medical breakthroughs in sports.
The former Dodgers pitcher changed baseball forever after a revolutionary elbow surgery saved his career. Decades later, the procedure still bears his name.
Tommy John’s Dodgers legacy
John joined the Dodgers in 1971. During his time with the team, he went 87-42 with a 2.97 ERA and helped the Dodgers reach back-to-back World Series.
Then, in 1974, John suffered a serious elbow injury that could have ended his career. Dodgers team doctor Dr. Frank Jobe offered him a new option. He replaced the damaged ligament in John’s elbow with a tendon from his right arm. The procedure had never been performed on a pitcher before.
John was given extremely long odds of successfully returning to baseball. But he decided to take the chance. And the surgery was successful.
After missing the 1975 season, John returned to the mound in 1976. In 1977, he won 20 games and helped the Dodgers reach another World Series.
The groundbreaking procedure eventually became known as Tommy John surgery.
A legacy beyond baseball
John went on to pitch for another 14 seasons and finished his career with 288 wins. His surgery has since helped thousands of baseball players return to the mound, including stars like Shohei Ohtani.
John later spoke out about protecting young pitchers from arm injuries and overuse. While the surgery bears his name, John always credited Dr. Jobe for giving him another chance to play.
His legacy lives on in Dodgers history and on baseball fields around the world.
