Frank Jobe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank Jobe
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Jobe at Dodger Stadium in 2008
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| Born |
Frank Wilson Jobe
July 16, 1925 |
| Died | March 6, 2014 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | La Sierra University Loma Linda University |
| Occupation | Orthopedic surgeon |
| Known for | Inventor of Tommy John surgery |
| Spouse(s) | Beverly Jobe |
| Children | 4 |
Frank Jobe (July 16, 1925 – March 6, 2014) was an American doctor who specialized in bone and muscle surgery. He was a co-founder of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Dr. Jobe was a pioneer in sports medicine. He created new surgeries for elbow ligaments and major shoulder problems. These surgeries helped many baseball players.
In 1974, Dr. Jobe performed the first "Tommy John surgery" on Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John. This surgery became very common. About one-third of all major league pitchers have had it. Dr. Jobe also did the first major shoulder surgery on a big league player in 1990. This surgery allowed Dodger star Orel Hershiser to keep playing. Dr. Jobe worked as a special medical advisor for the Dodgers until he passed away.
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Early life and military service
Frank Jobe was born in 1925 in Greensboro, North Carolina. After finishing school in 1943, he joined the United States Army. He served in World War II as a medical staff sergeant in the Army's 101st Airborne Division. He landed by glider during D-Day in France. Later, he was briefly captured during the Battle of the Bulge. He managed to escape. For his bravery, he received the Bronze Star Medal and other awards.
Career in medicine
Starting his medical journey
After the war, Dr. Jobe went to college with help from the G.I. Bill. He earned his bachelor's degree at La Sierra University. Then, he went to medical school at Loma Linda University, becoming a doctor in 1956. He worked as a general doctor for three years. After that, he trained to become an orthopedic surgeon at the Los Angeles County Hospital.
In 1964, Dr. Jobe started working with the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. He teamed up with Dr. Robert Kerlan. Together, they focused on a new field called sports medicine. In 1965, they started their own clinic, which later became the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic. Dr. Jobe officially joined the Dodgers' medical staff in 1968.
Their clinic also provided medical care for other major sports teams. These included the California Angels baseball team, the Los Angeles Rams football team, and the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. They later worked with the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks hockey teams. Many other professional and amateur athletes also came to their clinic for help.
The famous Tommy John surgery
On September 25, 1974, Dr. Jobe made history in sports medicine. He performed the first surgery to fix the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. This was a brand new procedure he had developed.
This surgery became known as Tommy John surgery. It saved the career of Los Angeles Dodger pitcher Tommy John. He had been pitching for 12 years. After the surgery and a year of recovery, he went on to pitch for an amazing 14 more seasons.
In 1982, Dr. Jobe performed this surgery on Japanese pitcher Choji Murata. This was the first time the procedure was done in Japan.
Dr. Jobe was not sure if the surgery would work long-term. So, he waited two years before doing the second one. After successfully helping several more baseball players and a javelin thrower, he became confident. The details of this elbow surgery were published in a medical journal in 1986.
In the 40 years since it began, elbow ligament replacement has become very common. Many pitchers and players at all levels of baseball have had it. By 2014, about one-third of all Major League pitchers had undergone the surgery. Dr. Jobe first thought Tommy John had only a 1 in 100 chance of full recovery. By 2009, the success rate had risen to 85–92 percent.
For baseball players, it takes about one year for pitchers to fully recover. Position players usually recover in about six months. Players typically start throwing again about 16 weeks after surgery. Before his surgery, Tommy John had won 124 games. He won 164 more games after surgery. He retired in 1989 at age 46. Other famous pitchers who extended their careers after Tommy John surgery include Stephen Strasburg, David Wells, and John Smoltz. Once, famous pitcher Sandy Koufax asked Dr. Jobe why he didn't invent the surgery earlier. Dr. Jobe joked that if he had, it would have been called the "Sandy Koufax surgery."
The story of the first Tommy John surgery and Tommy John's return was featured in an ESPN documentary in 2013.
Pioneering shoulder surgery
In 1990, Dr. Jobe performed a major shoulder surgery on Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser. This was the first time this type of surgery was used on a major league player. Dr. Jobe developed a new way to do the surgery. This new method caused less damage to the body's tissues during the operation. The surgery allowed Hershiser to continue his career. This new procedure is still used today.
Later career and recognition
Dr. Jobe was a professor at The Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. For 40 years, he was the team doctor for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He remained on their medical staff until 2008. At the time of his death, he was a special advisor to the Dodgers' chairman. He was also the orthopedic consultant for professional golf's PGA Tour for 26 years.
Dr. Jobe wrote over 140 medical articles and 30 book chapters. He also edited seven books. He received three special honorary degrees, two from the United States and one from Japan.
Personal life
Dr. Jobe met his future wife, Beverly Anderson, when she was a patient. He had another doctor treat her so they could date. They had four sons, who later had eight grandchildren.
Dr. Jobe had heart surgery in 2002 and a device implanted in 2010. He passed away on March 6, 2014, at age 88, in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Jobe was a lifelong member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Legacy and honors
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said that Dr. Jobe's work "revolutionized sports medicine." He added that the Tommy John surgery "has revitalized countless careers." Steve Dilbeck of The Los Angeles Times called Dr. Jobe a "legend." He also said that Dr. Jobe might be "the greatest orthopedic surgeon in history." Dr. James Andrews, another famous surgeon, called Jobe "one of the premier fathers of modern sports medicine." He said that without Dr. Jobe, baseball players' medical care would still be "in the dark ages."
Dr. Jobe was honored by the Baseball Reliquary in 2012.
Hall of Fame consideration
Many sportswriters, fans, and players have suggested that Dr. Jobe should be honored in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2012, a website was launched to support this idea.
Dr. Jobe was honored during Hall of Fame weekend on July 27, 2013, in Cooperstown, New York. Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson said Dr. Jobe's work showed how important medicine is to baseball. Tommy John attended the event. He said, "I think there should be a medical wing in the Hall of Fame, starting with him."
See also
In Spanish: Frank Jobe para niños
