Tommy John's Legacy Lives On | Odessa News

Odessa News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 17, 2026 · 1m

Tommy John, the legendary pitcher who revolutionized baseball with his groundbreaking elbow surgery—now known as Tommy John surgery—has passed away at 83. His career-defining procedure in 1974, performed by Dr. Frank Jobe using a forearm tendon, saved his pitching career and has since helped over 2,600 MLB players return to the mound. John’s resilience turned a near-fatal injury into a legacy: he won 288 games, including 164 after surgery, posted a stellar 3.34 ERA, and played for six major teams. More than just a name on a procedure, he was a pioneer whose courage reshaped sports medicine…