Tommy John dies

Key Points:

• Tommy John, a left-handed pitcher known for winning 288 MLB games over 26 seasons and pioneering a career-saving elbow surgery now named after him, has died at age 83.
• John debuted in 1963 with the Cleveland Indians and played until 1989, with notable stints on the Dodgers and Yankees; he was a four-time All-Star and finished with the second-most wins of any Modern Era pitcher not in the Hall of Fame.
• In 1974, John suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, leading to the groundbreaking surgery performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, which allowed John to return to pitching and earned him the nickname "The Bionic Man."
• Off the field, John faced personal hardships, including his young son Travis's coma in 1981 and the death of his youngest son Taylor in 2010, after which John founded the "Let’s Do It" Foundation to raise suicide awareness.
• After retiring, John worked as a broadcaster, minor league pitching coach, and manager, leaving a lasting legacy both for his pitching achievements and for transforming sports medicine with the surgery that bears his name.