'Bad news from the baseball world': Another heartbreaking obituary has been reported... Tommy John, who saved countless pitchers' arms, has departed forever to be with the late Jo Beu (Dr.) at the age of 83.

*This content was translated by AI.

Following the news that former Incheon FC manager Baek In-cheon passed away at the age of 83 on the 15th, another sad report has emerged. Tommy John, best known as the namesake of the "Tommy John surgery," has bid farewell to the world forever. He was 83 years old.

Foreign media outlets, including the official Major League Baseball (MLB) website MLB.com, reported on the 16th (local time) that "John passed away at his home in Bradenton, Florida, on the night of the 15th."

John's health had significantly deteriorated due to a recurrence of bladder cancer, and he was receiving hospice care at his residence.

The New York Yankees, John's original team and the club where he spent the longest portion of his playing career, recently released a handwritten letter from John via their official social networking service (SNS).

In the letter, John expressed, "I am deeply grateful to the fans and friends who supported me throughout my 26-year playing career, as well as to the Yankees organization and the Steinbrenner family for giving me the opportunity to say goodbye."

He continued, "I also extend my special gratitude to the late Frank Jo Beu (Dr.), who saved my arm, allowed me to continue pitching on the mound, and opened the path for countless pitchers to sustain their playing careers," conveying his sincere feelings.

On the day of John's passing, the Yankees issued a statement through their official channel: "The Yankees mourn the loss of a central figure in our rotation during his years wearing the pinstriped uniform and a player who was beloved by Yankees fans for many years."

They added, "He sustained an incredibly long playing career. Moreover, after undergoing surgery, he achieved remarkable feats that changed the destinies of countless athletes. As a result, his talents as a pitcher at the Yankees, including achieving 20 wins in two consecutive seasons, were not fully recognized. We will remember all of his legacy as a pioneer in sports medicine."

Stan Kasten, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Dodgers, stated in a message: "I am deeply saddened to learn of Tommy John's passing. He was an outstanding pitcher throughout his entire MLB career. His courage to be the first person to undergo the surgery named after him cannot be overstated. The impact he left both on and off the field has been passed down to baseball players of all ages, and it will continue forever, including for future generations," expressing his condolences.

John debuted in the major leagues in 1963 and was a legendary left-handed pitcher who played for six teams, including the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees, until 1989 over an impressive 26 seasons. He appeared in 760 career games, pitched 4,710⅓ innings, and left behind historic records of 288 wins, 231 losses, and a 3.34 ERA.

There was a decisive moment that allowed John to leave an unparalleled mark on baseball history. In 1974, while playing for the Dodgers, he suffered a catastrophic injury when his left ulnar collateral ligament ruptured. At that time, a ligament rupture for a pitcher was virtually equivalent to a retirement sentence.

At that moment, Frank Jo Beu (Dr.), the team doctor for the Dodgers, successfully performed the world's first transplant surgery by replacing the damaged ligament with tissue taken from another part of the body. This marked the beginning of what is now universally known as "Tommy John surgery" (ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction) in the global baseball community.

John endured grueling rehabilitation for about 18 months and returned to the mound in 1976, achieving a perfect comeback. Before the surgery, he had accumulated 124 wins (106 losses) over 12 seasons; after his return, he added another 164 wins (125 losses) over 14 seasons until retirement—a miracle. He surpassed 200 innings in five consecutive years after returning and achieved his first 20-win season in 1977. Ultimately, he dominated the mound as an active player until he turned 46 in 1989.

John's final major league appearance was on May 25, 1989. At that time, he pitched for the Yankees against the Angels in New York. The outfielder Devon White, who was his last opponent, was only an eight-month-old baby when John debuted in the majors.

The immortal legacy left by Jo Beu (Dr.) in the sports world passed away in 2014. And John also departed forever to be with him on August 16, 2026.

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*This content was translated by AI.