Tommy John facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tommy John
John with the New York Yankees in 1981
Pitcher
Born: (1943-05-22) May 22, 1943 (age 82) Terre Haute, Indiana, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Left
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
Cleveland Indians (1963–1964) Chicago White Sox (1965–1971) Los Angeles Dodgers (1972–1974, 1976–1978) New York Yankees (1979–1982) California Angels (1982–1985) Oakland Athletics (1985) New York Yankees (1986–1989)
Career highlights and awards
4× All-Star (1968, 1978–1980)

Thomas Edward John Jr. (born May 22, 1943) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 26 seasons. His career lasted from 1963 to 1989. People often called him "the Bionic Man."

Tommy John played for several teams. These included the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics. He was chosen for the MLB All-Star team four times. He has the second-most wins (288) among pitchers since 1900 not in the Hall of Fame. Tommy John was known for playing for a very long time. He was the Opening Day starting pitcher six times for his teams.

At 18, in 1961, the Indians signed John because they liked his curveball. He played three seasons in the minor leagues. Then, he joined the major leagues in 1963. After two seasons with Cleveland, he was traded to the White Sox. He played for them for seven seasons. In 1965, he became a regular starting pitcher. In 1968, he had a low earned run average (ERA) of 1.98. He was also named to his first All-Star team. However, he missed the end of that season due to an injury from an on-field disagreement.

In 1971, his pitching coach wanted him to throw a slider more. This led to John having a higher ERA. After that season, he was traded to the Dodgers. He won 11 games in 1972. In 1973 and 1974, he led the National League (NL) in winning percentage. In 1974, he suffered a serious injury. He tore a ligament in his elbow. Dr. Frank Jobe performed a special surgery on him. This surgery is now famously known as Tommy John surgery. He missed the 1975 season to recover. But he was the first pitcher to successfully return to baseball after this surgery. Today, "Tommy John" surgery is very common for baseball pitchers.

John had a 10–10 record in his first year back. In 1977, at age 34, he won 20 games for the first time. He had a 20–7 record and a 2.78 ERA. The Dodgers won their division and reached the 1977 World Series. He helped the Dodgers get to the World Series again in 1978. After that, he joined the Yankees as a free agent. With the Yankees, John won 20 games in both 1979 and 1980. He was an All-Star in 1978, 1979, and 1980. He played in three World Series, all between the Dodgers and Yankees. His team lost all three times.

In 1982, he was traded to the California Angels. He pitched in two games in the AL Championship Series. He stayed with the Angels until 1985. Then, he was released and played for the Oakland Athletics for the rest of that season. It seemed his career might be over in 1986. But the Yankees re-signed him because their pitchers were injured. John won 13 games for the Yankees in 1987. In 1988, at 45, he became the oldest player in baseball. In 1989, he tied a record for most seasons pitched (26). He then retired.

From 1995 to 2009, John was on the Hall of Fame ballot. He never received enough votes to be inducted. He was considered again for the Hall of Fame by the Classic Era Committee in 2025. He also worked as a broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins and the Yankees in the 1990s. Later, he managed the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball team. Since retiring, he has been a motivational speaker. He also started a foundation to help people who are struggling.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Tommy John grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana. As a kid, he often played baseball with friends. A friend of his father, who was a former minor league pitcher, taught John how to throw a curveball. This pitch became his main one. John was a great baseball and basketball player at Gerstmeyer High School. He had a 28–2 record as a pitcher. He was also very good at school and was the valedictorian of his class in 1961.

Several colleges wanted John to play basketball. But he also caught the eye of a Cleveland Indians scout. The scout thought John's curveball was already good enough for the major leagues. John chose baseball and signed with the Indians after high school. He started playing for the Dubuque Packers in the minor leagues.

Playing in the Minor Leagues (1961–1963)

In 1961, John had a 10–4 record. But he had some trouble in 1962. He said he was throwing too hard and losing control. A coach helped him learn to throw with more control. This helped John get called up to a higher minor league team, the Jacksonville Suns. He won two games for them. In 1963, he started with Jacksonville. He then played for another team, the West Virginian Indians, where he had a 9–2 record with a very low 1.61 ERA. At age 20, he was called up to the major leagues in September.

Cleveland Indians (1963–1964)

Tommy John's long major league career began on September 6, 1963. He allowed one run in his first game. He was mostly a relief pitcher at first. He finished the year with a 0–2 record but a good 2.21 ERA. His manager said his fastball was "deceptive."

In 1964, John got his first major league win. He pitched a shutout against the Baltimore Orioles on May 3. He won two of his first three games. But then he lost eight games in a row. He was sent back to the minor leagues in July. His pitching coach tried to teach him a slider. This affected his control. He went back to throwing just his fastball and curveball in the minors. He was called up again in September. After the season, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox.

Chicago White Sox (1965–1971)

John started with the White Sox as a relief pitcher. In 1965, he became a regular starter. On September 25, he pitched well and even hit a home run to help his team win. He finished the year with a 14–7 record and a 3.09 ERA.

In 1966, John became the White Sox's Opening Day starter. He led the American League (AL) with five shutouts. His 2.62 ERA was fifth best in the league. In 1967, he led the AL in shutouts again, with six. He had a tough second half of the season due to illness. His ERA was still good, ranking fourth in the league.

1968 was one of John's best seasons. He had a 1.78 ERA in the first half. He was chosen for his first All-Star Game. On August 22, he was injured during an on-field disagreement. He tore shoulder ligaments and missed the rest of the season. Even with the injury, his 1.98 ERA was fifth in the league.

John recovered for the 1969 season. He pitched several complete game shutouts. He finished the year with a 9–11 record. In 1970, he struggled at the start. He lost his first five games. But he later pitched several more shutouts. He finished with a 12–17 record. He led the AL in wild pitches.

In 1971, a new pitching coach tried to make John throw a slider more. This caused his ERA to be higher. He had a 13–16 record. After the season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers (1972–1978)

John got along much better with the Dodgers' pitching coach, Red Adams. Adams encouraged him to use his soft fastball. In 1972, John had an 11–5 record. His season ended early due to an elbow injury. He had surgery to remove bone chips.

In 1973, John won his first start for the Dodgers. He had a 16–7 record and led the NL in winning percentage. In 1974, he started as the Dodgers' second best pitcher. He had a great start, winning his first five games.

The Famous Tommy John Surgery (1974–1975)

In 1974, John had a 13–3 record. He was leading the NL in wins before the All-Star break. But then, in a game against the Montreal Expos, he felt a strange sensation in his arm. He had severely damaged the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm. This injury put his career in doubt.

Dr. Frank Jobe, the Dodgers' team doctor, suggested a new surgery. This operation would replace the damaged ligament with a tendon from John's other arm. This procedure is now known as "Tommy John surgery." It was performed on September 25, 1974. It was a very risky surgery for a baseball pitcher. Dr. Jobe gave it only a 1 in 100 chance of success. But John decided to have it.

The recovery was long and difficult. His arm was in a cast for months. He had to do exercises every day to rebuild strength. He also worked with teammate Mike Marshall to learn a new way to grip the ball. John kept believing he could come back. Finally, in June 1975, feeling returned to his fingers. By September, he was healthy enough to pitch in a special league.

The Comeback (1976–1978)

Tommy John returned to the Dodgers in 1976. His first game back was on April 16. He allowed three runs and took the loss. But it was a huge moment. He was the first pitcher to start a game after this type of surgery. People called his return a "miracle." Soon, he was known as "The Bionic Man."

He pitched his first complete game since the injury on June 13. He also threw two shutouts. He finished 1976 with a 10–10 record and a 3.09 ERA. He won the Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year Award. He also won the Fred Hutchinson Award for his courage.

In 1977, John had his first 20-win season. He finished with a 20–7 record and a 2.78 ERA. The Dodgers won their division. John pitched in the playoffs for the first time. He helped the Dodgers reach the 1977 World Series, but they lost to the New York Yankees.

In 1978, John won 17 games. He was named to the NL All-Star team again. The Dodgers won their division for the second year in a row. They faced the Phillies in the playoffs and won. Then, they played the Yankees again in the 1978 World Series. John won Game 1. But the Yankees won the series in six games. After the season, John became a free agent. He signed a contract with the New York Yankees.

New York Yankees (1979–1982)

John started strong with the Yankees in 1979. He won his first nine games. He finished the year with a 21–9 record. He was second in the AL in wins. He was also the runner-up for the Cy Young Award.

In 1980, John won a career-high 22 games and lost nine. He had six shutouts, leading the AL. He was second in the AL in wins. The Yankees won their division. John pitched in the playoffs, but the Yankees lost.

In 1981, John made his first Opening Day start for the Yankees. His season was interrupted by a baseball strike. Also, his two-year-old son, Travis, had a serious accident. Travis fell from a window and was in a coma. John stayed with his son during his recovery. Many people, including presidents, sent well wishes. Travis made a full recovery.

John finished 1981 with a 9–8 record and a 2.63 ERA. The Yankees made the playoffs. John pitched well in the Division Series and Championship Series. He also pitched in the 1981 World Series against his former team, the Dodgers. He won Game 2. But the Yankees lost the series.

After the 1981 season, John won the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. In 1982, he had some disagreements with the Yankees. On August 31, he was traded to the California Angels. He had a 10–10 record with the Yankees that year.

California Angels (1982–1985) and Oakland Athletics (1985)

The California Angels wanted John because they were trying to win their division. He helped them clinch the AL West title. He pitched well in his first start for the Angels. He started Game 1 of the ALCS and won. But the Angels lost the series in five games.

Before the 1983 season, John signed a new contract with the Angels. He had an 11–13 record that year. In 1984, he had a 7–13 record. In 1985, he struggled and was released by the Angels in June. His mother passed away that same day. The Oakland Athletics signed him a month later. He won two games with Oakland. He became a free agent after the season.

Second Time with the Yankees (1986–1989)

John did not have a team at the start of 1986. But the Yankees re-signed him in May due to pitcher injuries. He won his first three games back. He had a good ERA of 2.93 in 13 games. He joked about retiring when a young player, whose father was John's dentist, got hits off him. But he played three more seasons.

In 1987, John signed a new contract with the Yankees. He had a 13–6 record. He threw his last career shutout on August 8. In 33 starts, he had a 4.03 ERA.

In 1988, John became the oldest player in the major leagues at 45. He had a 9–8 record. He made a record three errors on one play in a game. But he still pitched well. He was the only Yankees starting pitcher not to miss time due to injury that year.

In 1989, at 45, John was the Opening Day starter for the Yankees. He tied a record for most MLB seasons played with 26. On April 27, he earned his 288th and final victory. He struggled in May and was released by the Yankees at the end of the month. This was his last season in baseball.

Career Highlights and Statistics

Tommy John finished his career with 288 wins and 231 losses. His ERA was 3.34. He had 2,245 strikeouts. He pitched for 26 years. He ranks among baseball's all-time leaders in wins, innings pitched, and games started. He also had 46 shutouts.

John was considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame from 1995 to 2009. He never received enough votes to be inducted. He was on the Classic Baseball Era Committee's ballot in 2025. Experts have discussed whether his career statistics are strong enough for the Hall of Fame. Many agree that his impact on baseball, especially with his surgery, is very important. John himself noted that he won 164 games after his surgery. This was almost as many wins as Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax had in his entire career.

Tommy John's Legacy

John in 2008

Tommy John's successful return to pitching after his elbow surgery changed baseball forever. He won 164 games after the surgery. This proved that players could come back from major injuries. Today, "Tommy John surgery" is a common procedure for pitchers. Many experts say that his return "altered – some would say saved – baseball history." His story and relationship with Dr. Jobe were even featured in an ESPN documentary.

Pitching Style

Tommy John was a "sinkerball" pitcher. This meant his pitches would sink, causing batters to hit many ground balls. These often led to double plays. His fastball was about 92 miles per hour. It would sink sharply, making it hard for batters to hit cleanly.

Early in his career, he threw a fastball and a curveball. Later, he added a slider and a screwball. He used the screwball as a changeup. John studied pitching techniques from famous pitchers like Christy Mathewson and Bob Feller.

Broadcasting Career

After his playing career, Tommy John worked as a baseball broadcaster. He was a color commentator for the Twins from 1994 to 1996. In 1997, he worked for the Charlotte Knights. In 1998, he did commentary for some Yankees games. He also guest-hosted an ESPN Radio show in 2008.

Coaching Career

John started coaching at Furman University. In 2002, he became a pitching coach for the Harrisburg Senators. In 2003, he coached the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers. The Yankees then hired him as the pitching coach for the Staten Island Yankees.

In 2006, John became the manager of the Bridgeport Bluefish in the Atlantic League. He managed the team for two and a half seasons. He resigned in 2009 to pursue other opportunities.

Personal Life

Tommy John married Sally Simmons on July 13, 1970. They have four children: Tamara, Tommy III, Travis, and Taylor. In 2014, John moved to California with Cheryl Zeldin, whom he married.

His daughter Tamara married Patrick Mannelly, a football player. His son Taylor was a talented singer and actor. He even performed on Broadway in Les Misérables. Sadly, Taylor passed away at age 28 in 2010 from a seizure and heart failure. John said Taylor "struggled with personal challenges." John started the "Let's Do It" Foundation to help people who are struggling.

John's oldest son, Tommy III, played baseball at Furman University. He later became a chiropractor. He wrote a book about preventing sports injuries in young athletes.

John's hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana, honored him. They gave him a key to the city and renamed a baseball field after him. John overcame a stuttering problem. He became known as a very talkative player. After his career, he became a motivational speaker.

Images for kids

• 

  John with the New York Yankees in 1981

• 

  John in 2008