Tommy John, namesake for a pioneering elbow surgery that saved his career, dies at 83
The left-handed MLB pitcher was 31 years old when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow in 1974, an injury that had been a death knell for pitchers' careers up to that point.
The left-handed MLB pitcher was 31 years old when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow in 1974, an injury that had been a death knell for pitchers' careers up to that point.
This article was originally published at: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/16/g-s1-138941/tommy-john-elb...