Which Major League Baseball pitcher lent his name to a pioneering type of reconstructive elbow surgery?
Fact: In 1974, pitcher Tommy John underwent a groundbreaking procedure after tearing a ligament in his pitching elbow. Performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, the surgery involved replacing the damaged ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) with a tendon from another part of the body. Though initially experimental, the operation was a success—John went on to pitch 14 more seasons in the majors, winning 164 additional games. Today, “Tommy John surgery” has become a common and often career-saving procedure for pitchers and other athletes with similar injuries.
Answer: Tommy John