John spent 26 seasons in the major leagues and won 288 games, the second-most among Modern Era pitchers not inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He pitched for six franchises from 1963 to 1989, including two stints with the Yankees, where he became one of the most dependable starters of his era.
John did not attend the New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day last weekend. In a lengthy social media post released by the Yankees that did not detail an exact health issue, the 83-year-old wrote that he wanted to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends and fans who followed him throughout his 26-year career, saying "I will never forget you."
Acquired by New York as a free agent before the 1979 season, John immediately made an impact in the Bronx. He earned All-Star selections in each of his first two years with the club, going 21-9 with a 2.96 ERA in 1979 and 22-9 with a 3.43 ERA in 1980. He remains the last Yankee and one of only two Yankees since 1952 to win at least 20 games in consecutive seasons.
John also played a key role in the Yankees' run to the 1981 World Series, posting a 0.69 ERA over three appearances against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Across eight seasons in pinstripes, he compiled a 91-60 record with a 3.59 ERA, throwing 53 complete games and 12 shutouts.
After returning to the Yankees for a second stint from 1986-89, John made history on Opening Day in 1989. At 45 years old, he became the oldest pitcher in Major League Baseball history to start and win an Opening Day game, a record that still stands.
While John was one of baseball's winningest pitchers, his greatest legacy may be the groundbreaking elbow ligament reconstruction surgery he underwent in 1974. The procedure, later known simply as "Tommy John surgery," saved his career and went on to extend the careers of countless pitchers and other athletes. After missing the entire 1975 season, John returned to win 164 more games.
In announcing his death, the Yankees called John "a bedrock of our rotation" and "a longtime favorite of Yankees fans," praising not only his achievements on the mound but also his lasting impact on generations of athletes.
"The New York Yankees mourn the passing of Tommy John, who was a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans," the team said in a statement. "While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes and trajectory of countless athletes around the world, it also overshadowed his excellence as a pitcher."
John has battled bladder cancer and other ailments in recent years, though it was unclear if any of them were related to his current health problems.
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