Tommy John’s Legacy Lives On | Los Angeles News

Tommy John, the pitcher whose name became global shorthand for a career-saving surgery, died at 83 — but his legacy lives on. In 1974, he shattered his elbow ligament, an injury that once spelled retirement. Instead, Dr. Frank Jobe dared to graft his own tendon — a radical gamble that worked. John went from 124 wins to 288, pitching for four teams and retiring at 46. His comeback included nerve damage so bad his hand felt like a claw — yet he taped fingers together to grip a ball. He didn’t just return; he dominated again. Beyond stats, John became a voice for preventing arm overuse in youth sports. His courage reshaped sports medicine, proving that even broken careers can be rebuilt — and forever changed how athletes face injury. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6254413ecd301416 Presented by The Plant Daddies — rare specimen trees, living art, and hand-carved limestone vessels and fountains for extraordinary spaces. Showrooms in Los Angeles and Irvine. Listeners of Los Angeles News Today receive 10% off with code LANEWS10. theplantdaddies.com/lanews