Tommy John was a major league pitcher whose 26-year career left an indelible mark on baseball.
Passing away at age 83 on August 15, 2026, he secured 288 wins and recorded 2,245 strikeouts while playing for six teams, including the Dodgers and Yankees.
In 1974, at age 31, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
Dr Frank Jobe performed a landmark UCL reconstruction, replacing the damaged ligament with a tendon from John's right forearm.
After missing the 1975 season, John returned in 1976 and pitched for another 14 seasons, becoming the first player to successfully return from the procedure.
Named in his honour, Tommy John surgery revolutionised elbow injury treatment, with approximately 35 per cent of active major league pitchers having undergone the operation by 2024.
Despite four career midseason honours and impressive win totals, he was never inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
