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Former Major League Baseball Pitcher Tommy John Dies at Age 83
Just the facts
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John died at the age of 83. John accumulated 288 career pitching victories across 26 seasons in the major leagues, playing for teams including the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. In 1974, he became the first professional athlete to undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, a surgical technique that subsequently became known as "Tommy John surgery." The procedure transformed sports medicine, allowing hundreds of baseball players to recover from career-threatening elbow injuries.
Why this is news
The death of former Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher Tommy John was announced by family members and team representatives on August 16, 2026. John was widely recognized for his 26-season career and pioneering medical history.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.