Tommy John, Dodgers pitcher behind namesake elbow surgery, dies at 83

Surgery has since saved careers from Smoltz to Ohtani

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 161 min read

What happened: Tommy John died Saturday, the Dodgers announced. He ruptured the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow in 1974 and underwent a then-radical reconstructive surgery that revived his career; he went on to pitch 26 seasons across the White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees and Angels.

Why it matters: The procedure that bears his name became the standard career-saving operation for pitchers, extending to Tom Candiotti, John Smoltz and Shohei Ohtani in the decades since. John's best stretch came with the Dodgers, helping the franchise to consecutive World Series appearances.

By the numbers: John finished 288-231 with a 3.34 ERA over 26 seasons. He was 124-? in his first 12 seasons before the surgery, then won 164 more over his final 14 seasons. With the Dodgers specifically he went 87-42 with a 2.97 ERA.

What to watch: Tributes are expected across MLB, with the Dodgers organization set to honor his legacy.

Sources

Yahoo MLB 2026-08-16T18:06:41.167976+00:00

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MLBBreakingLos Angeles DodgersChicago White SoxLos Angeles AngelsTommy JohnShohei Ohtani

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