Tommy John
| Birthdate | 05/22/1943 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1963 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Angels, Athletics, Dodgers, Indians, White Sox, Yankees |
| Position | Pitcher |
Tommy John has a strong case for the Hall of Fame; John won 20 or more games in a season three times and finished with 288 career wins.
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As a teenager, Tommy John had high hopes for his big league career
As a teenager, Tommy John had high hopes for his big league career
Tommy John filled out this questionnaire a month and a half after his 18th birthday. John believed in his potential and based on his past, why not?
When asked what high school sports he participated in John responds, “Baseball, Basketball, Track, Cross Country”. As if that’s not enough, the future 288-game winner added that his athletic highlight was, “SETTING CITY SCORING RECORD FOR ONE GAME IN BASKETBALL WITH 47 POINTS”.
John later declared his ultimate goals in baseball, “PLAY ON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB + BE SELECTED TO ALL-STAR TEAM”. He fulfilled the All Star quotient of the prediction in 1968, 1978, 1979, and again in 1980. Though he appeared in the post season in five different years totaling nine playoff series, and three pennants, John never played on a World Championship club.
Tommy John had his finest seasons from 1977-1980 - after the surgery that saved his career
Tommy John had his finest seasons from 1977-1980 - after the surgery that saved his career
By the time Tommy John signed this contract on March 12, 1969 he was already an All Star and the winning pitcher in 50 Major League games. The contract guarantees John a penny per ball sold as long as he was in the big leagues.
In 1974 he was off to his finest start, going 13-3 with a 2.59 ERA. Then he tore his ulnar collateral ligament. Previously the injury was career-ending. Instead John agreed to be a guinea pig for a pioneering procedure by surgeon Dr. Frank Jobe.
The left-hander sat out the rest of the season and all of 1975. The rehab was grueling. When he returned he was better than before. From 1977-1980, John averaged 20 wins and received votes in Cy Young balloting each season. He played in three All Star games and two World Series.
John pitched a total of 26 seasons in the show winning 288 contests. Because of his high win total and perhaps because of his role in the surgery that now bears his name, John remains a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame.
Frank Jobe's "Tommy John surgery" uses a tendon either from the patient's body or from a cadaver
Frank Jobe's "Tommy John surgery" uses a tendon either from the patient's body or from a cadaver
The experimental operation Dr. Frank Jobe pioneered on Tommy’s John’s elbow was revolutionary. The procedure is a surgical graft where the ulnar collateral ligament is replaced with a tendon either from another part of the patient’s body or from a cadaver.
When Jobe approached the pitcher with the possibility of trying it, John felt he had little choice. Previously the career of a pitcher with UCL tear was over. The left-hander agreed to it and together, John and Jobe revolutionized the game.
Jobe waited until two years after the experiment to perform it again. Today it’s a routine procedure that has saved countless pitching careers. The Dodgers so valued Jobe that they made him a special advisor to the team. The surgeon held the position until his death in 2014.
Jobe was also honored during Hall of Fame weekend on July 27, 2013. Jeff Idelson, the Hall of Fame president said Jobe’s work is a testament to the positive role of medicine in baseball’s growth. Tommy John attended, praising Jobe by saying, “I think there should be a medical wing in the Hall of Fame, starting with him.”
In the collection is this autographed photo of the visionary doctor who created and performed the first Tommy John surgery.
Frank Jobe's death was observed by many in the game
Frank Jobe's death was observed by many in the game
Dr. Frank Jobe again signs his name to a 5×7 photo, this image of Jobe being honored before a Spring Training game. Jobe was both admired and respected for the surgery that he pioneered. Many believe that he deserves a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
At the time of Jobe’s death, Commissioner Bud Selig said, “I was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Dr. Frank Jobe, a great gentleman whose work in baseball revolutionized sports medicine. Since 1974, his groundbreaking Tommy John surgery has revitalized countless careers, especially those of our pitchers.
TJ pitched in three Dodgers vs. Yankees World Series from 1977-1981
TJ pitched in three Dodgers vs. Yankees World Series from 1977-1981
After returning from Dr. Frank Jobe‘s experimental surgery, Tommy John began the most effective part of his career. In his first season back, the pitcher posted ten victories, six complete games, and two shutouts. Then in 1977 he won 20 games for the first time.
TJ pitched his Dodger team to the World Series where they dropped to Reggie Jackson and the Yankees. He finished second in Cy Young balloting. The following season he won 17 and the Dodgers won their second consecutive pennant. Los Angeles again faced the Yankees and again lost.
In November of ’78, TJ signed with the two-time defending champion Yankees. He made the All Star team in consecutive seasons, winning a combined 43 games in ’79, and ’80.
In 1981 the Dodgers and Yankees again squared off in the Fall Classic. John again played for the losing side as his former team vanquished New York 4 games to 2.
In the collection is the lineup card from Game 2 of the 1981 World Series signed by the Yankee skipper. Tommy John was on the hill that day and twirled seven scoreless innings as New York went on top of the Dodgers 2 games to none in the best of seven series.
The card is signed by Hall of Fame pitcher and 1981 Yankees manager Bob Lemon.
Los Angeles won the next four games to capture its first World Series championship since 1965.
Needs to be in HOF
A must for Hall of Fame induction. Awesome pitcher and outstanding person.