NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedAugust 16, 2026Miami-Dade
Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John dies at 83
Tommy John, a professional baseball pitcher 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 WPLG Local 10 – Main FeedWhy It Matters
The passing of Tommy John marks the end of a career that fundamentally changed sports medicine through the development of the ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction procedure.
Key Facts
- Tommy John died at the age of 83.
- He recorded 288 career wins in Major League Baseball.
- His professional career spanned 26 years.
- He was the first pitcher to successfully return to professional play following a specific elbow surgery that was subsequently named after him.
Who's Mentioned
personJustin Verlander“Professional baseball player who underwent the surgery.”personFrank Jobe“Dodgers team physician who performed the first UCL reconstruction on Tommy John.”organizationSmithsonian Institution“Recipient of John's original surgical cast.”personShohei Ohtani“Professional baseball player who underwent the surgery.”personTommy John“Professional baseball pitcher and namesake of UCL reconstruction surgery.”personBryce Harper“Professional baseball player who underwent the surgery.”locationBradenton“Location of Tommy John's death.”organizationNew York Yankees“Major League Baseball team for which John played.”