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Tommy John, Yankees Pitching Legend, Dies at 83

8/19/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Tommy John, the former Yankees pitcher, died on August 15 at age 83.
He finished with a 288-231 record, a 3.34 ERA and four All-Star nods.
After his 1974 ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery—performed by Dr. Frank Jobe with 100-to-1 odds—he won 164 games.
A statue will stand near Tommy John Field in Terre Haute, with a service set for September 12 at Robert Toale & Sons Center in Bradenton.

History

Historical Context

After Dr. Frank Jobe performed the first ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on Dodgers pitcher Tommy John in September 1974, the operation proved viable when John returned to pitch 164 games. Over the next four decades the procedure spread worldwide, with about one-third of MLB pitchers having undergone it by 2014, reshaping career longevity across baseball.

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Story summary

Tommy John, the former Yankees pitcher, died on August 15 at age 83.
He finished with a 288-231 record, a 3.34 ERA and four All-Star nods.
After his 1974 ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery—performed by Dr. Frank Jobe with 100-to-1 odds—he won 164 games.
A statue will stand near Tommy John Field in Terre Haute, with a service set for September 12 at Robert Toale & Sons Center in Bradenton.

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