Tommy John facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tommy John |
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John with the New York Yankees in 1981
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: May 22, 1943 Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 6, 1963, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 25, 1989, for the New York Yankees | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 288–231 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.34 | ||
| Strikeouts | 2,245 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Thomas Edward John Jr. (born May 22, 1943) is a famous American former professional baseball pitcher. He was nicknamed "the Bionic Man." He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for an amazing 26 seasons. This was from 1963 to 1989. He played for six different teams during his long career. These teams included the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. Tommy John was chosen for the MLB All-Star team four times. He has the second-most wins (288) of any pitcher since 1900 not in the Hall of Fame. He was known for playing for a very long time. He was the starting pitcher on Opening Day six times for his teams.
Contents
Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Tommy John grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana. As a kid, he loved playing baseball with friends. They played at local fields like Spencer Field. A friend of his dad, Arley Andrews, taught Tommy how to throw a curveball. This pitch became his main and best pitch.
Tommy was a great player in both baseball and basketball at Gerstmeyer High School. He had an impressive 28–2 record as a pitcher. He was also a very good student. He graduated as the top student, called the valedictorian, in 1961. Even though he had a stutter, he worked hard and became a confident speaker later in life. Several colleges wanted him to play basketball. But Tommy chose baseball. He signed with the Cleveland Indians right after high school.
Becoming a Major League Star
Starting in the Minor Leagues (1961–1963)
Tommy John began his professional baseball journey in 1961. He played in the minor leagues first. He had a good record of 10–4 in his first year. In 1962, he learned to throw with more control. This helped him move up to higher minor league teams. By September 1963, at just 20 years old, he was called up to the major leagues.
Playing for the Cleveland Indians (1963–1964)
Tommy John made his MLB debut on September 6, 1963. He started his 26-year career as a relief pitcher. In 1964, he got his first major league win. It was a shutout against the Baltimore Orioles. A shutout means the other team scores no runs. Later that year, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox.
Time with the Chicago White Sox (1965–1971)
With the White Sox, Tommy John became a regular starting pitcher. In 1966, he was the team's Opening Day starter. He led the American League (AL) with five shutouts that year. In 1967, he led the AL again with six shutouts.
His best season so far was 1968. He had a very low earned run average (ERA) of 1.98. This is excellent for a pitcher. He was chosen for his first All-Star Game. However, he got injured in a scuffle during a game. This injury made him miss the rest of the season.
Tommy John recovered and pitched well in the following years. In 1970, he led the AL in wild pitches. In 1971, his pitching coach wanted him to throw a slider more. This caused some challenges for him. After the 1971 season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Famous Tommy John Surgery
Joining the Los Angeles Dodgers (1972–1974)
Tommy John joined the Dodgers in 1972. He quickly became a key pitcher for them. He had a great winning percentage in 1973 and 1974. In 1974, he was having an excellent season. He had a 13–3 record. He was leading the National League (NL) in wins.
A Career-Changing Injury (1974)
On July 17, 1974, Tommy John suffered a serious injury. He tore a ligament in his pitching arm. This ligament is called the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). It was a potentially career-ending injury. Most pitchers with this injury could not play again.
Dr. Frank Jobe, the Dodgers' team doctor, suggested a new surgery. This surgery would replace the torn ligament with a tendon from Tommy John's other arm. This procedure is now famously known as Tommy John surgery. It was the first time this surgery was done on a baseball pitcher's elbow. Dr. Jobe gave it very low odds of success. But Tommy John decided to go for it. He had the surgery on September 25, 1974.
The Long Road to Recovery (1975)
The recovery from the surgery was long and difficult. Tommy John missed the entire 1975 season. He worked hard every day to rebuild strength in his arm. He also learned new ways to grip the ball. He kept believing he could come back. He often repeated a Bible verse to himself: "For with God, nothing shall be impossible."
Finally, in June 1975, he started to regain feeling in his fingers. His pitching speed improved. By September, he was healthy enough to pitch again. He became the first pitcher to successfully return to baseball after this surgery. This was a huge medical breakthrough. Today, Tommy John surgery is very common for baseball pitchers. Many pitchers have had it and returned to play.
Coming Back Stronger
Return with the Dodgers (1976–1978)
Tommy John returned to the Dodgers in 1976. He was the fourth starter in their pitching rotation. On April 16, he made his comeback. He became the first pitcher to start a game after UCL reconstruction surgery. People called his return a "miracle." Soon, he was known as "The Bionic Man."
In 1977, at age 34, Tommy John had his first 20-win season. He went 20–7 with a 2.78 ERA. The Dodgers won their division and reached the 1977 World Series. He helped them get back to the World Series in 1978. He had a 17–10 record that year. He was an All-Star in both 1977 and 1978. After the 1978 season, he became a free agent. He signed a contract with the New York Yankees.
Pitching for the New York Yankees (1979–1982)
With the Yankees, Tommy John continued his success. He had two more 20-win seasons in a row, in 1979 and 1980. He was an All-Star in both of those years. He appeared in three World Series games. These were all against his former team, the Dodgers. Unfortunately, his team lost all three World Series.
In 1981, Tommy John faced a personal challenge. His two-year-old son, Travis, fell from a window. Travis was in a coma for about two weeks. Tommy John asked people to pray for his son. He received many messages of support, even from presidents. Travis made a full recovery. This was a very emotional time for Tommy John.
He continued to pitch well for the Yankees. In 1982, he was traded to the California Angels.
Later Career (1982–1989)
Tommy John played for the California Angels from 1982 to 1985. He helped them win their division in 1982. He also pitched for the Oakland Athletics in 1985.
In 1986, it seemed his career might be over. But the Yankees needed pitchers due to injuries. They re-signed him. In 1987, he won 13 games for the Yankees. In 1988, at age 45, he became the oldest player in baseball. He continued to pitch until 1989. He tied a record for most seasons pitched (26). This record was later broken by Nolan Ryan. Tommy John retired after the 1989 season.
Career Highlights and Legacy
Tommy John finished his career with 288 wins and 231 losses. His ERA was 3.34. He had 2,245 strikeouts. He ranks among the all-time leaders in many pitching categories. He pitched for 26 years, which is a remarkable achievement.
Tommy John was considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame. While he never received enough votes for induction, many people believe his career was Hall of Fame worthy. His long career and the impact of his surgery are often mentioned.
His successful comeback after surgery changed baseball forever. He proved that pitchers could return to success after a major arm injury. Before him, this was almost impossible. Today, Tommy John surgery is a common procedure. It has allowed many pitchers to continue their careers. His story was even featured in an ESPN documentary.
Pitching Style
Tommy John was known for his "sinkerball" pitch. This pitch made batters hit many ground balls. This often led to double plays, which helped his team. His fastball was around 92 miles per hour. It would sink sharply, making it hard for batters to hit well.
He also threw a curveball and later added a slider and a screwball. He studied famous pitchers like Whitey Ford to improve his game. His unique pitching style put stress on his arm, which led to his famous injury.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from playing, Tommy John worked as a broadcaster for several teams. He was a commentator for the Minnesota Twins and the Yankees. He also managed a minor league team, the Bridgeport Bluefish, for a few seasons.
Tommy John is a family man. He married Sally Simmons in 1970. They have four children. His oldest son, Tommy III, played college baseball and became a chiropractor. He wrote a book about preventing sports injuries in young athletes.
Tommy John received many honors in his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana. A baseball field where he played as a youth was renamed Spencer Field after him. He overcame his stuttering and became known as a very talkative person. He also became a motivational speaker.
Images for kids
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John with the New York Yankees in 1981
