MLB icon Tommy John issues heartbreaking 'goodbye' message from hospice care

Andrew GambleSun, August 9, 2026 at 3:24 AM UTC

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Tommy John closed his 26-year career with a second stint on the Yankees -Credit:Getty Images

Iconic former New York Yankees pitcher Tommy John has penned a farewell letter to the franchise and its fans as he struggles with health issues.

Back in 1974, John was playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers when he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. The issue was once deemed a career-ending injury, but thanks to innovative surgery, John was able to return to MLB.

With his UCL repaired by a ligament harvested from his right wrist, John missed all of the 1975 season before returning to the Dodgers in April 1976. The procedure is now known as Tommy John surgery, with John’s recovery serving as a core part of his legacy.

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The 83-year-old has been dealing with “health issues,” according to the Yankees, with USA Today reporting that John is in hospice care. On Saturday, the team posted his letter. He wrote: “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 and fans who followed me throughout my 26-year career.

“Thanks to Dr. [Frank] Jobe, who saved my arm and 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.

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“Thank you to all the fans who supported me and my teammates for 26 years. I will never forget you.”

At the time of his surgery, Dr. Jobe estimated the chances of a successful procedure as one in 100. John returned and pitched through the 1989 MLB season, finishing his career with the Yankees, for whom he posted a 91-60 record and 3.59 ERA over eight seasons.

Tommy John suffered his UCL injury while playing for the Dodgers in 1974, leading to the surgery which bears his name -Credit:Getty Images

Overall, John won 288 games against 231 losses, with a 3.34 career ERA in 760 games (700 starts) for the Yankees, Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Indians, and Oakland Athletics.

John added: “The day I left for my first job as a pitcher, my father looked at me and 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, and God bless.”

On the same day John’s letter was published, the starting pitchers in the Yankees’ win over the Atlanta Braves were a pair of All-Stars who had their careers saved by Tommy John surgery. Gerrit Cole led the Yankees to a 5-4 victory over Chris Sale’s Braves.

“Chris and I are a great example of taking it to the max as long as you can, then being given a fresh set of tires after a pit stop at the end,” Cole said after the game. “I think it’s a good opportunity to point that out, because he had an incredible career, both pre and post.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”