Tommy John, the namesake and first recipient of baseball's most important surgery, died on Sunday, the New York Yankees announced. He was 83 years old.
John was reported to be entering hospice in early August, two years after he announced a battle with bladder cancer. He took the occasion to pen a goodbye letter to fans and other acquaintances on the day of the New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day, where he was a frequent participant.
"While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes and trajectory of countless athletes around the world, it also overshadowed his excellence as a pitcher, which included consecutive 20‑win seasons with the Yankees," the team's statement read. "We pause to remember the totality of his legacy — his competitiveness and skill, his penchant for conversation, his kind and gracious nature, and his stature as an athletic and medical pioneer."
Thanks to the surgery, John's career spanned 27 years, appearing for six different teams and racking up 288 wins. Only 25 pitchers in MLB history have more wins, and only two — known steroid user Roger Clemens and dead-ball era star Bobby Matthews — are not enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
John remains a notable exclusion from Cooperstown, between his successful career and presence in the operating room that changed baseball.
#announced
John was reported to be entering hospice in early August, two years after he announced a battle with bladder cancer. He took the occasion to pen a goodbye letter to fans and other acquaintances on the day of the New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day, where he was a frequent participant.
"While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes and trajectory of countless athletes around the world, it also overshadowed his excellence as a pitcher, which included consecutive 20‑win seasons with the Yankees," the team's statement read. "We pause to remember the totality of his legacy — his competitiveness and skill, his penchant for conversation, his kind and gracious nature, and his stature as an athletic and medical pioneer."
Thanks to the surgery, John's career spanned 27 years, appearing for six different teams and racking up 288 wins. Only 25 pitchers in MLB history have more wins, and only two — known steroid user Roger Clemens and dead-ball era star Bobby Matthews — are not enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
John remains a notable exclusion from Cooperstown, between his successful career and presence in the operating room that changed baseball.
#announced
2 months ago
