Thomas "Tommy" John, a four-time MLB All-Star who won 288 career games over 26 years in professional baseball, has died at the age of 83.
John died at his home in Florida on Saturday, surrounded by his wife, Cheryl, and other family members, his agent Mike Maguire said in a statement.
John's legacy to the game came in 1974 when he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament, which could have ended his career. Instead, John underwent an experimental elbow reconstruction procedure by Dr. Frank Jobe, which is now known as the "Tommy John surgery."
The surgery saved John's career and has since gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game today. In a farewell letter to fans, John wrote, "Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm & made it possible for me to continue pitching."
John was a four-time All-Star, earning selections in 1968, 1978, 1979, and 1989. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, John signed with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 18 after impressing the team with his curveball.
After three seasons in the minor leagues, he was called up to the majors for the first time in 1963. John went on to play for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels (now the Los Angeles Angels), Oakland Athletics, and the New York Yankees.
John's impressive career spanned 26 years, during which he won more than 2,200 strikeouts and finished with a 3.34 ERA before retiring in 1989. Just days before his passing, John penned an emotional farewell letter to fans that was shared by the Yankees during the 78th Old-Timers' Day earlier this month.
The team noted that John was suffering from unspecified "health issues" at the time of his letter. John thanked his former team for the opportunity to "say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends and fans who followed me throughout my 26-year-career."
As news of John's passing spreads, baseball fans and players alike are paying tribute to his legacy. The impact of the "Tommy John surgery" continues to be felt in the game today, with many pitchers crediting the procedure with extending their careers.
In the coming days, baseball teams and players will likely honor John's memory, and the game will reflect on the significant contributions he made to the sport.
Source: Yahoo Sports