Tommy John, the longtime major league pitcher who was the first to undergo the eponymous surgery that revolutionized baseball, has passed away, it was announced today, having battled bladder cancer for some time. He was 83.
John was originally signed by Cleveland and pitched briefly in the majors for them before being sent to the Chicago White Sox in a three team deal. John spent six seasons with the White Sox, including three 5+ bWAR seasons from 1968-70, before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
after the 1971 season for Dick Allen.
John spent three seasons as a fixture in the Dodgers’ rotation, leading the league in winning percentage in 1973 and 1974, although a damaged UCL cut his 1974 season short. Facing an injury that was potentially career-ending, he opted to undergo an experimental surgery in September of 1974, with Dr. Frank Jobe replacing his damage UCL with a tendon from his forearm. It was the first time the surgery had been performed on a pitcher’s elbow, and when John successfully returned to action in 1976, “Tommy John surgery” entered the sport’s vernacular.
John spent 14 seasons in the majors post-surgery, finishing second in the N.L. Cy Young voting in 1977, advancing to the World Series with the Dodgers in 1978, finishing second in the A.L. Cy Young voting in 1979 in his first season with the New York Yankees, and ultimately accumulating 288 career wins. John’s 61.6 career bWAR is 58th all time among major league pitchers.
