AUGUST 16, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK YANKEES MOURN THE PASSING OF TOMMY JOHN
The New York Yankees organization mourns the passing of Tommy John, who passed away on Saturday night, August 15, at his home in Bradenton, Fla. He was 83.
A native of Terre Haute, Ind., John was acquired by the Yankees as a free agent on Nov. 21, 1978, when he was 35 years old. The left-hander was an All-Star in his first two years with the club, going 21-9 with a 2.96 ERA (276.1IP, 37G/36GS) in 1979 and 22-9 with a 3.43 ERA (265.1IP, 36GS) in 1980, and is the last Yankee and one of just two in the last 75 years (since 1952) to win at least 20 games in consecutive seasons (also Mel Stottlemyre, 1968-69). In the 1981 World Series, he posted a 1-0 record with a 0.69 ERA (13.0IP, 11H, 1ER, 0BB, 8K) in 3G/2GS vs. Los Angeles-NL. On Aug. 31, 1982, he was traded to the California Angels for LHP Dennis Rasmussen.
To close his Major League career, John joined the Yankees as a free agent for a second stint from 1986-89, which included an Opening Day start in 1989 at 45 years and 317 days old. As the winning pitcher in the Yankees’ 4-2 victory at Minnesota, he remains the oldest pitcher in Major League Baseball history to start and earn the win in an Opening Day game.
Across his eight seasons in pinstripes, John had a 91-60 record and 3.59 ERA (1,367.0IP, 1456H, 545ER, 324BB, 483K, 80HR) in 214G/203GS with 53 complete games and 12 shutouts.
John played in 26 total Major League seasons with Cleveland (1963-64), Chicago-AL (‘65-71), Los Angeles-NL (’72-74, ’76-78), the Yankees (’79-82, ’86-89), California (’82-85), and Oakland (’85), tallying a 288-231 record with a 3.34 ERA (4,710.1IP, 4,783H, 1,749ER, 1,259BB, 2,245K, 302HR) in 760G/700GS with 162 complete games and 46 shutouts. He trails only Nolan Ryan (27) among Modern Era (since 1901) pitchers and position players in Major League seasons played.
Most notably, he posted a 164-125 record with a 3.66 ERA in 405G/382GS after his landmark eponymous surgical procedure, which took place on Sept. 25, 1974, and cost him the entirety of the 1975 season. John has the second-most career wins, starts and innings pitched among Modern Era pitchers not enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, behind Roger Clemens (354 wins, 707GS, 4,916.2IP) in all three categories.
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STATEMENT FROM THE NEW YORK YANKEES
“The New York Yankees mourn the passing of Tommy John, who was a bedrock of our rotation during his time in pinstripes and a longtime favorite of Yankees fans. While his incredible longevity and post-surgery achievements changed the fortunes and trajectory of countless athletes around the world, it also overshadowed his excellence as a pitcher, which included consecutive 20‑win seasons with the Yankees. We pause to remember the totality of his legacy — his competitiveness and skill, his penchant for conversation, his kind and gracious nature, and his stature as an athletic and medical pioneer. The Yankees extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends, including wife, Cheryl, daughter, Tamara, and sons Tommy III and Travis. We also keep his son Taylor in our hearts.”
—nyy—