Kathmandu— Tommy John, a four-time All-Star who pitched for six different teams over 26 seasons and whose name became attached to a groundbreaking elbow surgery, died Saturday at his home in Bradenton, Florida. He was 83 years old. The left-hander underwent the first successful ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction in 1974, a procedure now commonly known as “Tommy John Surgery” and performed on thousands of athletes since. His career spanned from 1963 to 1989, during which he amassed 288 wins and a 3.34 ERA.

A Career Defined by Resilience

John recorded 288 wins and 2,245 strikeouts throughout his career with the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics. He was a four-time All-Star but notably never led either league in wins or strikeouts. Despite this, he achieved the second-most wins of any pitcher since 1900 who is not enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, appearing on the ballot from 1995 to 2009 without reaching the required 75% for induction. Former Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti lamented this oversight, stating, “The HOF is missing Tommy John.”

Known for his longevity, John was the opening day starter for both the Chicago White Sox in 1966 and the New York Yankees in 1989. Remarkably, he won 124 games before undergoing elbow surgery and an additional 164 afterward, pitching until days after his 46th birthday.

The Groundbreaking Surgery

In 1974, at age 31, John tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow – a career-ending injury for many pitchers at the time. He bravely allowed Dr. Frank Jobe, the Dodgers’ team physician, to perform an experimental procedure replacing the damaged ligament with a tendon from his right forearm. Jobe initially gave the surgery only a 100-to-1 chance of success.

The surgery, while attempted on wrists and hands previously, was unprecedented for pitchers. John became the first to undergo it on his elbow, paving the way for over 2,600 major leaguers and countless amateurs to receive UCL reconstructions since. Players like Shohei Ohtani, Justin Verlander, and Bryce Harper have all benefited from the procedure, which Dodgers team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache called “the most valuable reconstructive procedure there is.”

Beyond the Operating Table

Born Thomas Edward John Jr. in Terre Haute, Indiana, on May 22, 1943, he excelled in both baseball and basketball at Gerstmeyer High School, graduating as valedictorian despite a stutter that prevented him from delivering the commencement speech. He chose baseball over a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Kentucky after being signed by Cleveland. John often reflected on his humble beginnings, recalling his father’s advice: “Whether you make it big in the big leagues or you don’t, you’ll always just be Tommy John from Terre Haute, Indiana.”

After retiring as a player, John remained involved in baseball, working as a broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins and Yankees and managing the Bridgeport Bluefish. He faced health challenges later in life, including COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome, which temporarily paralyzed his lower extremities.

A Complicated Legacy

While grateful for the surgery that extended his career, John expressed concern about its increasing prevalence among young athletes. In a 2018 tweet, he stated, “I am sick my name is attached to a surgery happening in kids more than pros.” His oldest son, Tommy III, became a chiropractor and authored a book focused on preventing sports-related injuries in young athletes.

The impact of the procedure has been so significant that Merriam-Webster added “Tommy John Surgery” to its dictionary in 2019. In June 2022, John donated his original cast from the surgery to the Smithsonian Institution, where it was signed by teammates and Dr. Jobe.

John is survived by his second wife, Cheryl, as well as three children and several grandchildren. His legacy extends far beyond his pitching record, encompassing a pioneering spirit that revolutionized baseball medicine and offered hope to countless athletes.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.