Tommy John spent nearly eight of his 26 major-league seasons with the Yankees and is synonymous with the game-changing elbow surgery that has saved generations of pitchers. Now he’s 83 and struggling with his health at his home in Bradenton, Florida.
The Yankees released a touching letter on X from the 288-game winner on Saturday.
On this 78th Old-Timers’ Day, Tommy John shares a message to his fans, former teammates, and the Yankees organization as he battles health issues from his home in Bradenton, Florida. pic.twitter.com/3lKUWHoaw0
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 8, 2026
John reportedly is in hospice care after the reoccurrence of cancer, so this was a thank you and goodbye note:
“I want to thank the Yankees organization and the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends & fans who followed me throughout my 26-year career.
“Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm & made it possible for me to continue pitching. That surgery has since gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game today.
“Thank you to all the fans who supported me & my teammates for 26 years. I will never forget you.
“The day I left for my first job as a pitcher, my father looked at me & said, ‘Good luck, Tommy. Just remember one thing: whether you make it big in the big leagues or you don’t, you’ll always just be Tommy John from Terre Haute, Indiana.’
“I’ve never forgotten those words. Thank you & God Bless.”
On Sept. 25, 1974, John had the groundbreaking surgery that ultimately was named after him. He had won 124 games in 12 seasons to that point. After the surgery, he won 164 games in 14 seasons.
Brian Heyman covers high school, college and pro sports. He joined Newsday in 2021 and previously worked as a sportswriter for The Journal News in White Plains and The Hudson Dispatch in Union City, New Jersey. His work has appeared in The New York Times, MLB.com and Baseball Digest magazine.
