Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Dr. Frank Jobe across Baseball.
Tommy John’s 1974 elbow surgery not only saved his own career but sparked a medical revolution that reshaped baseball, influencing generations of pitchers from Sandy Koufax to Shohei Ohtani.
Tommy John, a four‑time All‑Star whose 288 career wins and 3.34 ERA defined a generation, died at 83. His eponymous surgery reshaped the sport, influencing over a thousand pitchers and becoming a rite of passage for modern arms.
Veteran pitcher Tommy John announced his retirement, citing gratitude for the surgery that saved his career and the support he received throughout his illness.