Baseball pitching great Tommy John dies at 83

Tommy John, who won 288 games over a 26-year MLB career died at the age of 83.

John played for six teams from 1963-89. He spent eight years with the Yankees, seven with the White Sox, and six with the Los Angeles Dodgers. John won 91 games as a Yankee, 87 for LA and 82 with the White Sox.

He is also known as the namesake of a pioneering surgery after suffering a torn UCL in 1974. The procedure where a tendon was taken from the wrist and placed in the elbow, gave John his career back and has become commonplace in saving pitchers from having their baseball runs end.

“The New York Yankees mourn the passing of Tommy John, who was a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans. While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes and trajectory of countless athletes around the world, it also overshadowed his excellence as a pitcher, which included consecutive 20‑win seasons with the Yankees. We pause to remember the totality of his legacy — his competitiveness and skill, his penchant for conversation, his kind and gracious nature, and his stature as an athletic and medical pioneer. The Yankees extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends, including wife, Cheryl, daughter, Tamara, and sons Tommy III and Travis. We also keep his son Taylor in our hearts.”

Tommy John

Tommy John

Tommy John

Tommy John

Tommy John

Tommy John

Tommy John

Tommy John

STATEMENT FROM THE NEW YORK YANKEES:

“The New York Yankees mourn the passing of Tommy John, who was a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans. While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes… pic.twitter.com/p6ndlBxUTb

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

Tommy John, the durable left-hander whose name became synonymous with one of the most transformative medical procedures in sports history, has died at age 83. https://t.co/ramlMwgdCYpic.twitter.com/Ax93WGgWxm

— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

Rest in peace, Tommy John. 🤍⚾️

Baseball lost a man today whose impact on the game reaches far beyond the numbers he put up.

Tommy John pitched 26 seasons in Major League Baseball, was a four-time All-Star and finished his career with 288 wins and a 3.34 ERA.

In 1974, John… pic.twitter.com/RwVsyKeQnY

— JP_YankeesGirl (@90syankskid) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

Tommy John

Rest in peace, Tommy John 💙 pic.twitter.com/N6AWPESrxU

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

The Hall of Fame remembers Tommy John, who passed away Saturday at the age of 83.

John won 288 games over his 26-year career, and the UCL surgery that bears his name extended countless careers – including his own.

He was honored at the 2013 Awards Presentation in Cooperstown. pic.twitter.com/1cPwm2rX4r

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

The Los Angeles Dodgers would like to express our sadness over the passing of Tommy John, who died Saturday at the age of 83. Thanks in no small part to the pioneering surgery that bears his name, Tommy’s extraordinary career encompassed 26 seasons and 288 career victories. We… pic.twitter.com/gRr4JpWaVj

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

#BREAKING: Legendary Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John, whose remarkable comeback from a once-career-threatening elbow injury gave his name to one of the most consequential surgeries in sports, has died. He was 83. https://t.co/lr05Pw4Tybpic.twitter.com/33bf3sRjHo

— KTLA (@KTLA) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

RIP Tommy John ❤️ we will miss you! pic.twitter.com/5S5bbMbx7C

— Olivia Garvey (@OliviaNBCLA) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

For 50 years his name is mentioned nearly everyday when people talk MLB.

Tommy was a wonderful person who competed to the utmost and did what no player had ever done to save his career, in conjunction with the esteemed Dr. Frank Jobe.

The HOF is missing Tommy John. https://t.co/RFJY5K46x5

— Ned Colletti (@realnedcolletti) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

The Angels join the baseball community in mourning the loss of former pitcher Tommy John.

His remarkable career and enduring impact on the game will be felt for generations, as the groundbreaking surgery that bears his name has helped prolong the careers of countless players… pic.twitter.com/0vJA0fWm9q

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

Only Nolan Ryan & Cap Anson played more seasons than Tommy John. John was on the 1960 Indians, as was Early Wynn, who started his career in 1939. Lou Gehrig was still active in ‘39!

When John was finally released in 1989, his spot on the roster was taken by Deion Sanders. pic.twitter.com/hHLFNViQT1

— Rocco Constantino (@OfficialMLBRFC) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

RIP to Hoosier native Tommy John, who earned Hart Schafner & Marx suits from Eddie Stanky for pitching complete games with 20 ground ball outs for the 1967 #whitesox -- before he needed a new elbow. pic.twitter.com/4WTwgMHftA

— RealRickBozich (@realrickbozich) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

RIP to Tommy John, the standout MLB pitcher who also saw his name become synonymous with an operation that has saved countless other careers. He has died at age 83.
John worked for the Charlotte Knights in the late 1990s, both in community relations and in the broadcast booth. pic.twitter.com/LwEJQnxcRK

— Scott Fowler (@scott_fowler) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tommy John, a veteran of 26 MLB seasons who helped revolutionize recovery from pitching injuries in the 1970s.

John broke in with Cleveland as a 20-year-old in 1963 and made his last appearance for the Yankees at age 46 in 1989, also… pic.twitter.com/z4bB9I31vL

— MLB (@MLB) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

Former MLB pitcher Tommy John, the namesake of a revolutionary elbow surgery that extended his career, has died at 83, according to the New York Yankees. https://t.co/vVCIJ7TQUHpic.twitter.com/WTTR3KLF3O

— CNN (@CNN) August 16, 2026

Tommy John

RIP Tommy John 🕯️

A four-time All-Star pitcher who won 288 career games, Tommy's name became one that would be mentioned on virtually every baseball telecast for eternity.

In his twelfth season (1974), after suffering a potentially career-ending elbow injury, John underwent an… pic.twitter.com/0j0pKqcve3

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) August 16, 2026

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Baseball pitching great Tommy John dies at 83