NewsABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsAugust 16, 2026Hillsborough
MLB pitcher Tommy John dies at age 83
Tommy John, a professional baseball player known for his 288 career wins and the pioneering elbow surgery that bears his name, has died at age 83.
Read the full story at ABC Action News (WFTS) — NewsWhy It Matters
The passing of Tommy John marks the end of the career of a player whose medical history led to a standard surgical procedure used by athletes worldwide.
Key Facts
- Tommy John died at age 83.
- He recorded 288 wins during his 26-year Major League Baseball career.
- He was the first pitcher to successfully return to professional play following a specific type of elbow surgery.
- The surgical procedure for ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction is commonly referred to as 'Tommy John surgery'.
Who's Mentioned
personMike Maguire“Agent for Tommy John.”personStan Kasten“Dodgers president and CEO.”personFrank Jobe“Dodgers team physician who performed the first UCL reconstruction on Tommy John.”personNeal ElAttrache“Dodgers team physician.”organizationSmithsonian Institution“Recipient of Tommy John's original surgical cast.”personTommy John“Professional baseball pitcher and namesake of the UCL reconstruction surgery.”