Yankees Pitcher Tommy John, Name Behind Landmark Surgery, Dies at 83

Yankees fans across New Jersey are remembering Tommy John, the pitcher whose comeback changed baseball medicine, after his death at 83.

John spent 26 seasons in the major leagues and won 288 games, including 164 after Dr. Frank Jobe repaired the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. He had been in hospice care at his home in Bradenton, Florida.

His career mattered far beyond his win total because he was the first pitcher to undergo the elbow procedure that now carries his name. John missed all of 1975, returned to the Dodgers in 1976 and later became a standout for the Yankees.

So far, his baseball legacy includes 700 starts, four All-Star selections and two separate runs with the Yankees. He also managed the Staten Island Yankees and worked in broadcasting after his playing career.

What comes next is the long-running Hall of Fame conversation around a pitcher who never won election despite his longevity and influence. His name will remain attached to the surgery that has extended the careers of generations of pitchers.