Terre Haute legend Tommy John, who's been battling illness for quite some time, wrote a letter to the fans that the New York Yankees posted on social media Saturday as part of their 78th Old-Timers' Day.
John, 83, was unable to attend the live festivities at Yankee Stadium. He has lived in Florida with his wife Cheryl for the last few years.
"A Letter from Tommy John" started with "I want to thank the Yankees organization & the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends & fans who followed me throughout my 26-year career."
A two-sport standout at Terre Haute Gerstmeyer in the late 1950s and early 1960s — once scoring a school-record 47 points in a basketball game as a senior — the 6-foot-3 John signed with the Cleveland Indians' organization as a pitcher in 1961.
Although young adults may know of John from the elbow surgery named after him — performed by the late Dr. Frank Jobe on John's left arm in September 1974 — he enjoyed a 26-year Major League Baseball career that included four All-Star Game selections and stints with six different teams.

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