Tommy John Positions: Pitcher Bats: R Throws: L Height: 75 Weight: 180 Born: Saturday, May 22, 1943 in Terre Haute, IN USA Debut: 9/6/1963 Last Game: 5/25/1989 Full Name: Thomas Edward John born on May 22, 1943 Tommy John. Perhaps best known for the revolutionary surgical procedure that bears his name (first performed by…
2014 – Dr. Frank Jobe, the pioneer surgeon who performed the first ligament replacement surgery on pitcher Tommy John in 1974 and then popularized the technique that has saved hundred of pitchers’ careers, dies in Santa Monica, CA at age 88. He had been a medical adviser to the Los Angeles Dodgers for 50 years, continuing even after his retirement from regular practice in 2008.
On Opening Day, Tommy John ties a record by playing in 26 seasons. The Yankee veteran hurler beats the Twins, 4-2, for his 287th win, putting him 19th overall in career wins.
Tommy John becomes the first pitcher to commit three errors on one play when he (1) bobbles Jeffrey Leonard’s grounder, and then, in an effort to recover, (2) throws the ball down the right field line that Dave Winfield retrieves and fires home, where the Yankee left-hander cuts it off, (3) relaying the throw wildly…
The Tigers cuff Tommy John for 10 hits in 6 innings to beat the Angels, 8 – 3. Dan Petry (15-5) scatters 8 hits in 8 innings, and Dave Bergman backs him with two triples and three RBIs. With Cleveland beating Toronto twice, the Tigers’ lead is now nine games.
On April 5, 1982, Jim Kaat of the St. Louis Cardinals sets a major league record for pitchers by playing in his 24th consecutive season. The 43-year-old left-hander pitches one inning in the Cardinals’ 14-3 defeat of the Houston Astros…
October 9, 1981 – At Yankee Stadium, the Milwaukee Brewers‚ also facing elimination down 2-0‚ were tied 3-3 in the 8th inning and took the lead on a Paul Molitor’s solo home run off Tommy John was just beyond the incredible leaping attempt of Yankees leftfielder Dave Winfield, . Ted Simmons who had clubed…
1980 – George Brett hits an upper-deck three-run home run off relief ace Goose Gossage to give the Kansas City Royals a 4 – 2 victory and a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.
At Dodger Stadium, the 51st All-Star Game features J.R. Richard (10-4) and Steve Stone (12-3) as the starters, with Richard going just two innings because of various back and shoulder problems he’s been having. The National League battles back to win its 9th consecutive Midsummer Classic, 4 – 2, pinning the loss on Dodger defector Tommy John. Reds outfielder Ken Griffey goes 2 for 3 with a solo home run to win the game’s MVP Award.
Mike Flanagan (23-9, 3.08) wins the Cy Young Award, easily outdistancing New York’s Tommy John (21-9, 2.97). The Orioles’ southpaw receives 26 of the 27 first-place votes cast by the writers.