Tommy John, namesake for a pioneering elbow surgery that saved his career, dies at 83

Tommy John, a left-handed MLB pitcher, died at age 83. In 1974, at age 31, John tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, an injury that typically ended pitchers' careers at that time. He underwent experimental elbow reconstruction surgery performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, a procedure that became known as Tommy John surgery. John returned to pitching after the operation and played for 14 additional seasons in Major League Baseball.

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