Former Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tommy John, the namesake of the surgery which revolutionized baseball, died aged 83 on Saturday.
John, a 26-year MLB veteran, pitched in parts of six seasons with the Dodgers from 1972-78, pitching three seasons on either side of his game-changing surgery.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers would like to express our sadness over the passing of Tommy John, who died Saturday at the age of 83,” the Dodgers wrote via X. “Thanks in no small part to the pioneering surgery that bears his name, Tommy’s extraordinary career encompassed 26 seasons and 288 career victories. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
John suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in 1974, and underwent UCL reconstruction surgery to repair it that year. Dr. Frank Jobe performed the surgery, now named after John, as the procedure solved what had previously been a career-ending injury.
After his surgery, John returned to MLB and pitched 14 more seasons, ending his career with the New York Yankees. Over the course of his career, the left-hander pitched for the Yankees, Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, California Angels, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics.
During his 26-year career, John had a 3.34 ERA and struck out 2,245 batters over the course of 4,710 innings pitched. A four-time All-Star, John posted seven 4.0-bWAR seasons, with the last one coming in his age-39 season in 1982.
How Did Tommy John Perform as a Dodger?
John came to Los Angeles for the 1972 season, and made 29 starts in his first year with the team. He threw four complete games, including one shutout, and struck out 117 batters across 186.2 innings pitched while spoting a 2.89 ERA.
The right-hander played two more years with the Dodgers before his injury, leading the National League in winning percentage in both campaigns.
In the three years after his surgery, John posted a 3.05 ERA with the Dodgers across 95 games, earning an All-Star nod in his final year with the team—the first of three consecutive selections.
Over the course of his six seasons pitching for the Dodgers, John had a 2.97 ERA across 182 appearances, and struck out 649 batters, his second-highest total with any team.
Dodgers Nation sends its condolences to John’s loved ones.
