Tommy John, whose name lives on with every pitcher who ever felt an elbow pop, died on Saturday at age 83, leaving behind a legacy that goes way beyond his incredible 26-year big league career. This guy wasn’t just a great pitcher; he was a pioneer, the first to undergo the groundbreaking surgery that literally carries his name, a procedure that has since saved countless careers.
Before the Legend Was Born
Before the surgery, John’s resume was already stacked. He played in 26 major league seasons, a feat matched in the modern era only by the legendary Nolan Ryan. Think about that longevity! John is one of only eight pitchers to ever make 700 starts, and he absolutely grinded for a mind-boggling 4,710 1/3 innings in his career. With the Dodgers, he was a force, leading the National League in winning percentage in his first two seasons. In 1974, he went 13-3 for a pennant-winning team before an elbow injury sidelined him on July 17. That could’ve been it, right? A solid career, but over at 31 years old. But John, already with a dozen major league seasons under his belt, was about to become baseball history.
The Surgery That Saved A Sport
In September 1974, Dr. Frank Jobe took a chance. He tried a new elbow reconstruction surgery, replacing the ulnar collateral ligament in John’s left elbow. Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten hit it right on the head, saying, “Tommy was an exceptional pitcher throughout his career… and his courageous role in becoming the first to have surgery that would go on to bear his name can’t be overstated.” John rehabbed through 1975, then came back like a man possessed. He made at least 30 starts for his next seven full seasons, with only the strike-shortened 1981 season interrupting that incredible run. Get this: he pitched until he was 46 years old. Even crazier? John ended up with more starts, more innings, and more wins *after* the surgery than he had before it. He was an All-Star once before, and then three more times *after* his elbow procedure, even finishing second in Cy Young voting twice. That’s not just a comeback; that’s a whole second career.
His Impact Lives On Every Time a Pitcher Steps On the Mound
John pitched in three World Series, two for the Dodgers against the Yankees in 1977-78 and one for the Yankees against the Dodgers in 1981. He posted a rock-solid 2.65 ERA in 14 postseason games, including 13 starts and 88 1/3 innings. Who could forget him clinching the 1977 NLCS pennant with a complete-game win in Philadelphia in Game 4, striking out Bake McBride to seal it? That’s clutch, plain and simple. What John did was bigger than any one game, though. That procedure is commonplace now, with hundreds of pitchers undergoing Tommy John surgery every single year. His success didn’t just save his own career; it opened up doors for countless other pitching careers to keep going. So, next time you see a guy back on the mound after a long rehab, remember Tommy John. That’s his legacy, etched into the game forever.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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