UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1978: Pitcher Tommy John #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during an Major League Baseball game circa 1978. John played for the Dodgers from 1972-74 and 1976-78. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
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In 1974, a star Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher underwent a pioneering, four-hour operation at the hands of Dr. Frank Jobe. Soon afterward, that pitcher would return to the mound and win numerous All-Star bids and World Series championships.
As a result, he will be remembered as a legendary figure in Major League Baseball as he became synonymous with that procedure.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Tommy John Dies At 83
Tommy John, who spent seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers and became one of the defining pitchers of his generation, died Sunday at 83. His death came just days after he offered an emotional farewell message to baseball fans while in hospice care, making the timing especially poignant for those who followed his extraordinary career.
“Thomas ‘Tommy’ John, a four-time MLB All-Star who won 288 career games over 26 years in professional baseball, has died, his agent confirmed to CBS News,” Lucia I Suarez Sang reported. “John died at his home in Florida on Saturday, surrounded by his wife, Cheryl, and other family members, his agent Mike Maguire said in a statement.”
While John was a star player with every team he pitched for, he is best remembered for his recovery from that pioneering surgery which eventually became known as Tommy John surgery. Since 1974, it has allowed thousands of pitchers to return to the mound after their own devastating elbow injuries.
Former Los Angeles Dodgers Star Tommy John Sends Emotional Goodbye Before Death
John’s connection to the Dodgers remained an important part of his story, particularly because his historic surgery occurred after he had established himself as a frontline pitcher in Los Angeles.
And a farewell message that he issued from hospice care offered a final opportunity to reflect on a career that stretched across six organizations and 26 seasons.
“Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm & made it possible for me to continue pitching,” John wrote, in a message published by the Yankees. “That surgery has since gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game today.”
John also made clear how much the fans meant to him
“Thank you to all the fans who supported me and my teammates for 26 years,” he added. “I will never forget you.”
The Dodgers’ connection to John represents far more than another chapter in a legendary career, though he is perhaps best remembered as a member of the Yankees. Still, Dodgers fans will recall that Los Angeles was where he became a star in his own playing days, and the injury he suffered there ultimately helped transform the sport.