There is little John has not seen or accomplished on a baseball diamond. His experience on the mound is invaluable to the other members of the staff. Each pitcher can benefit from his battles over the past three decades.
'There's something out there you can learn all the time,' John says. 'You might not be able to put it in with what you do, but somebody out there might have an idea or two, or three.'
Cynics claim the 45-year-old John should leave the game in the hands of the younger generation, but with 300 career wins in sight, and a body and mind still young at heart, TJ goes on."
-The New York Yankees Official 1989 Yearbook
"The veteran left-hander finished with a record of 9-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 176.1 innings in 1988. Tommy ranked fourth on the Yankees in wins, first in games started (32), second in innings pitched and third in strikeouts (81). The 81 strikeouts is the highest single season total since he recorded 111 in 1979.
Tommy left five games with leads only to wind up with no-decisions and also left two games with the score tied, getting no-decision in both. He did not give up a run through seven innings in two of those no-decisions as well as in two wins. The Yankees won 19 of T.J.'s 32 starts. He allowed just 11 home runs all season and just six homers in his last 26 games (133 IP).
The briefness of his first start, April 10 at Milwaukee, led to the first of his three relief appearances, on April 11 at Toronto. T.J. was involved in one combined shutout, on June 3 at Baltimore, going 7.2 scoreless innings before Cecilio Guante finished up in the 4-0 Yankee victory.
T.J. went through a period, June 8-15, in which he made four appearances in eight days (a start on 6/8, relief on 6/10, a start on June 12 and relief on 6/15). During that span, New York went 1-3 with T.J. going 0-1 with a 5.23 ERA in 10.1 innings. Included was a 4.1 inning relief stint on June 10 against Baltimore- the longest of 60 relief outings in his career; he made that appearance after an early KO in his June 8 start against Boston, losing 4-3 while allowing four runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings. In the June 12 start against Baltimore, Tommy allowed two runs on five hits in 3.1 innings. His last relief outing of '88 was the final game of that period, tossing 0.1 innings on June 15 at Boston.
On June 20 at Detroit, Tommy gave up just one run in eight innings but left trailing 1-0 and got a no-decision after the Yankees tied the game before losing 2-1. He put together a three-game winning streak, his longest of the year, from June 25-July 5, going 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings. After his July 27 start, Tommy was 8-3 with a 3.65 ERA in 23 games (20 starts). After that, he made 12 starts, going 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA (63 IP), raising his overall ERA to 4.49. He had a three-game losing streak covering six starts from August 2-28, going 0-3 with a 6.82 ERA in 31.2 innings.
Tommy was supposed to start on September 17 in Boston but missed that turn with an intestinal virus. It was the only start he missed all season due to any type of illness or injury, and until then he was the only regular Yankee starter not to miss a turn in 1988 due to illness or injury.
T.J. is the oldest active player in the majors at 45, turning 46 on May 22. He has an overall career mark of 286-224 (.561 winning percentage), a 3.31 ERA in 4.446.2 innings and 46 career shutouts. His 286 wins ties him with Robin Roberts for 20th on the all-time list (Lefty Grove and Early Wynn are next, tied for 18th with 300) and ranks first among active pitchers.
He ranks 26th on the all-time shutout list, tied with Bob Feller, Addie Joss and Doc White, and is third among active pitchers in that category, trailing Bert Blyleven and Nolan Ryan (both with 55). T.J. ranks third among active pitchers with 2,227 strikeouts (behind Ryan and Blyleven), and with 690 games started is tied for fifth with Gaylord Perry and is first among active pitchers.
The 1989 campaign is Tommy's 26th major league season, tying him with Deacon McGuire (1884-88, 1890-1908, 1910, 1912) for the most major league seasons played. He is breaking the modern era record of 25, which he shared with Eddie Collins (1906-30) and Jim Kaat (1959-83). Tommy has now been to 28 spring training camps, first attending camp with Cleveland in 1962.
Tommy signed a one-year contract on February 13, 1989.
T.J. defied time and nature in 1987 and compiled a 13-6 mark with a 4.03 ERA. The Yankees won 22 of the 33 games he started, including nine of his first ten. He was removed from four starts without allowing a run through six innings (including three when he went seven innings), with New York going 4-0 and Tommy going 2-0.
He got a no-decision in his April 19 start against Kansas City, tossing seven scoreless, 4-hit innings. In his next start on April 26 at Cleveland, he allowed just one ball hit out of the infield in seven innings, allowing no runs and winning 14-2. The following outing, May 2 at Minnesota, Tommy threw two addition scoreless innings and extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 16 before yielding a third inning run in that start. In his first 10 games through June 5, he was 6-1 with a 3.34 ERA in 56.2 innings, and through June 15 Tommy's record was 7-2 with a 3.23 ERA in 69.2 innings in 12 starts.
In back-to-back starts against Boston on June 20 at Fenway and on June 26 in New York, T.J. combined to allow 14 earned runs in six innings. On July 20 at Minnesota, he notched his first complete game of '87 and his first complete game win since tossing a shutout against Boston on July 8, 1984 while with California. Through July 30 (20 games), he was 10-3 with a 3.87 ERA in 116.1 innings.
Tommy threw his 46th career shutout and seventh career 2-hitter on August 8 at Detroit, winning 7-0 (his first shutout since that July 1984 game against Boston). His shutout tied him with Jack Powell and Doc White for 26th on the all-time shutout list, and with Al Downing for 20th place on the all-time Yankee shutout list with 12. It was the low-hit complete game of 1987 for the Yankees. Tommy's last previous 2-hitter came as a Yankee on June 6, 1980 at Seattle. Four of his seven career 2-hitters have come as a Yankee.
His shortest outing of '87 came on August 19 at Seattle, lasting just one inning due to a stomach disorder (Charles Hudson came on to throw eight scoreless relief innings). From August 14 to October 2, T.J. went 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA in 55 innings in 11 starts, with the Yankees going 6-5; those five losses came in consecutive starts by T.J. from September 6 through September 27. He stopped that skein on October 2 by winning his last start of the year, a 7-hit, 3-1 complete game win over Baltimore. Tommy pitched at least six innings in 16 of his last 23 starts.
T.J.'s .684 winning percentage in 1987 ranked fifth in the American League among pitchers with at least 15 decisions. His 33 starts led the Yankees, while his 13 wins were second to Rick Rhoden's 16. His 33 starts were the most he's made since 1983 when he pitched in 34 games (all starts) for California. His 13 wins were his most since he won 14 in 1982. His 187.2 innings pitched also led the Yankee staff and was his highest total since he pitched 234.2 innings in 1983.
His total of 22 wins in 1987-88 is the second highest victory total among Yankee pitchers over the last two years, surpassed only by Rick Rhoden's 28 wins, and T.J.'s .611 winning percentage (22-14) is the second best among Yankee starters in that span, surpassed only by John Candelaria's .650 (13-7).
T.J. made his first career appearance [with Cleveland] on September 6, 1963, a relief stint at Washington, and his first career start came on September 14 at Los Angeles, losing the 4-3 decision. He notched his first career win on May 3, 1964, a 6-0 shutout over Baltimore.
In 1965 Tommy recorded the first of his 16 double-figure-win seasons, going 14-7 [with the Chicago White Sox], and recorded all three of his American League saves. He tied for the AL lead with six shutouts in 1966, and recorded the first victory by an AL pitcher at Anaheim Stadium, beating the Angels 3-1 on April 19. He tied for the AL lead with five shutouts in 1967, and in 1968 went 10-5 with a 1.98 ERA until suffering a broken collarbone in a fight with Detroit's Dick McAuliffe in early August.
T.J. led the White Sox staff with a 3.26 ERA in 1969 and averaged seven innings per start. His total of 271 innings pitched in 1970 still remains his second highest single season total, and he matched his career high of 138 strikeouts. He was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers after his third straight sub-.500 year in 1971.
In 1972, Tommy lost just two games in 23 starts made after May 17, while winning eight. He damaged his left elbow in a collision at home plate on September 23 against San Francisco and underwent surgery for the removal of bone chips five days later. He led NL pitchers with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage (56 total chances) in '72 and recorded his 1,000th career strikeout on June 25 against Atlanta. With a 16-7 mark in 1973, T.J. led the N.L. with a .696 won-lost percentage, winning his last five decisions. He recorded his 100th career win on June 8 against the Mets at Shea. His 3.10 ERA led the Dodger staff.
Tommy was 13-3 in 1974 and was the top winner in the National League when he ruptured a ligament in his left elbow on July 17 while pitching against Montreal. His .813 won-lost percentage stood up as the best in the league in '74 despite not pitching again.
At first, it was thought the condition would improve with rest, but surgery was eventually prescribed. The operation was performed on September 25 as a tendon from his right forearm was removed and used in the reconstruction of his left elbow. The operation, performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, was the first of its kind on an athlete, and Jobe told Tommy he would never pitch again.
Following surgery, Tommy spent the entire 1975 season on the disabled list. He used that time undergoing therapy, running and exercising his newly reconstructed left elbow.
T.J. made one of the greatest comebacks in baseball history in 1976, earning NL Comeback Player of the Year honors from the Sporting News. He also won the Fred Hutchinson Award given annually to the player who best exemplifies the competitive instincts, character and desire of Fred Hutchinson. His 3.09 ERA was sixth best in the league. His best outings came on July 23, throwing a 4-hitter against San Diego, and on September 14, shutting out the Reds.
One of five 20-game winners in the National League in 1977, Tommy was one of four NL pitchers to win eight straight, June 18- August 3. He was NL Player of the Week, August 8-14, hurling a 2-hitter over the Reds and a 4-hitter (one of three he threw in '77) over Atlanta, and on August 8 hit his first homer since May 19, 1968 off Cincinnati's Paul Moskau. His 2.78 ERA was fifth in the NL and he finished second to Steve Carlton in the Cy Young Award voting. Tommy won 14 of his last 17 decisions and won the NLCS clincher in rain over Philadelphia.
In 1978 T.J. was 4-0, 1.80 ERA in April and 3-1, 1.95 ERA in July. He had three relief outings with a win and a save, allowing no runs. He threw a 4-hit shutout over Philadelphia in the second game of the NLCS and beat the Yankees in the World Series opener, 11-5.
[With the Yankees] in 1979 Tommy won at least 20 games (21) for the second time in his career, finishing second in the American League in wins to Mike Flanagan, and his 2.96 ERA was second in the league to teammate Ron Guidry's 2.78. He was tied for fourth with 36 games started, tied for second with 17 complete games, second with 276.1 innings pitched, tied for sixth with three shutouts and sixth with a .692 won-lost percentage. His nine homers allowed were the fewest among AL starters.
Tommy won his first nine decisions of '79 and 10 of his first 11. He was the American League's first ever Pitcher of the Month in April, going 4-0 with a 1.12 ERA. Tommy made his only relief appearance of the year on May 1 at California. He recorded four straight complete game wins from May 5-20, and his best game of the year was a 2-0, 2-hit shutout over Boston on May 20. T.J. was AL Player of the Week, May 14-20, with a 2-0, 1.50 mark.
He was named the left-handed starter on the UPI All-Star team. He became only the eighth pitcher to win 20 games in both leagues; the others were Jerry Koosman, Andy Messersmith, Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, Joe McGinnity, Jesse Tannehill and Al Orth.
His 22 wins in 1980 are a career high. That year he led the AL with six shutouts, was tied for second with Mike Norris in wins, tied for fourth in both starts (36) and complete games (16), fifth in innings pitched (265), tied for fifth with a .710 won-lost percentage and finished fourth in the Cy Young voting behind Steve Stone, Norris, and Rich Gossage.
Tommy won his 200th career game, a 2-hit shutout at Seattle on June 6, and threw three shutouts in three starts against Chicago. He won five of his last seven decisions and seven of his last ten. He was named to his fourth All-Star team and was voted by the players to the Sporting News All-Star squad as the left-handed pitcher. At 43-18, Tommy was the winningest pitcher in the majors for the '79 and '80 seasons.
His 2.64 ERA in 1981 was fourth best in the AL, yet the Yankees scored just 12 runs in his eight losses. He cut his left index finger on a razor on June 5 and was placed on the DL. He was reactivated on August 9 for the second half [after the strike]. On August 13, his son Travis fell from a third-floor window and was critically injured.
Tommy pitched five consecutive complete games from September 3 to September 25 and won Game 2 of the World Series against his former Dodger teammates. He was the winningest pitcher from 1979-81 with a 52-36 record.
T.J. began the 1982 season with the Yankees and was 10-10 with a 3.60 ERA before the August 31 trade that sent him to California. With New York, he threw shutouts against both the Angels on April 28 and Blue Jays on May 25 and won four of his last five decisions as a Yankee. Tommy threw his eighth career 3-hitter on August 29 at Toronto; two of his eight career 3-hitters have come as a Yankee. He made seven starts with California, going 4-2, and pitched a complete game 8-3 victory against Milwaukee in Game 1 of the ALCS.
In 1983, Tommy led the Angel staff in starts and innings pitched. He suffered his first losing season since 1971, yet nine of his 13 defeats came in games in which the Angels scored two or fewer runs. He was 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA at home, 3-7 with a 7.13 ERA on the road. Tommy made his 600th major league appearance on July 15 at Baltimore.
In 1984 he held opponents to three or fewer runs in his first 11 starts, pitching to a 3-3, 2.48 mark. He had four complete games by the All-Star break, including a 4-0 shutout over Boston on July 8- career shutout No. 45- and recorded career win No. 250- a 2-hitter against Oakland on May 1. Tommy struck out Yankee Omar Moreno on May 18 to record career strikeout No. 2000. He dropped five of seven decisions in the second half before shifting to the bullpen, and on September 5 made his first relief appearance since July 31, 1982.
T.J. began the 1985 season in the Angel starting rotation but was both starting and relieving after his first four starts. He was 1-3 with a 4.26 ERA as a starter, 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in relief; his Angel wins came on April 28, starting at Seattle, and on May 11 in relief at Milwaukee.
He was released by the Angels on June 19, was signed by Modesto (the Class-A California League affiliate of Oakland) on July 12, and was 0-0 with a 5.73 ERA at Modesto. Tommy was then assigned to Madison (of the Class-A Midwest League), another A's affiliate, and appeared in one game, going 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA. He was signed to a major league contract by the A's on July 26.
Tommy made his first [major league] appearance since June 5, and first start since June 2, on July 26 at Milwaukee, notching his first of two wins with Oakland. The other win came in Oakland on August 27 against New York, throwing seven scoreless innings while giving up only three hits. After that, he went on to lose his final five starts (21 earned runs, 20.2 innings pitched, 9.14 ERA).
Tommy came to New York's 1986 spring camp as a non-roster invitee and appeared in three games, starting once. His spring numbers were 0-0, 2.00 ERA in nine innings pitched, two runs, nine hits, two walks and eight strikeouts [1.22 WHIP].
The veteran southpaw was signed as a free agent on May 2 and made his first regular season appearance with the Yankees that day, pitching 2.1 innings in relief against Texas and allowing one run. It was his first appearance in a Yankee uniform since August 29, 1982 at Toronto, his final outing prior to the August 31 trade that sent him to California, and his first game as a Yankee at Yankee Stadium since August 24, 1982.
T.J. appeared in eight games, posting a 3-1, 3.62 mark before suffering a strained left Achilles tendon, forcing him on to the 21-disabled list on June 12. While on the DL, Tommy was assigned to Ft. Lauderdale under the guidelines of baseball's injury rehabilitation program on July 25, remaining there through August 7. While in Florida he appeared in three games, going 2-0, 0.00 ERA including a shutout.
He was activated from the disabled list on August 8, and won his next two starts in impressive fashion, combining for no runs in 7.2 innings pitched on August 8 against Kansas City and in 7.1 innings pitched against Cleveland on August 13. Tommy suffered a bruised left instep after being hit by a comebacker off the bat of Seattle's Alvin Davis in his August 19 start; x-rays were eventually taken, the results of which were negative. He tossed his first complete game in over two years on August 30 at Seattle, losing the 1-0 decision.
Tommy's season came to an end when he suffered a fractured left thumb when he fell off the bullpen pitching mound in Oakland on September 3. Although he announced on July 24 that he would become the pitching coach at the University of North Carolina, he resigned the position on November 21, a month after assuming his duties.
Tommy grew up in Terre Haute, Indiana. He received 35 scholarship offers upon graduation from Gerstmeyer High School, where he played both basketball and baseball. He attended Indiana State, and following the 1979 season was given the Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest award given by the school. An avid golfer, he has hosted the Tommy John Celebrity Invitational Golf Classic for the past 11 years, with proceeds directed to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles for cancer research. Tommy also works with the International Save-A-Child group and the March of Dimes.
Tommy enjoys reading and World War II history, and his favorite spectator sports are golf, pro and college basketball, hockey and basketball. The Chicago Cubs were his favorite team as a youngster and his favorite players were Hank Sauer and Whitey Ford. His toughest opponents have been Joe Morgan, Wade Boggs, Roberto Clemente and Billy Williams, and his favorite ballpark is Yankee Stadium. Tommy John, Sr. helped his career the most.
T.J. has worn #25 for 25 years. His favorite entertainers are Don Rickles and Willie Nelson. His favorite restaurant is Chanteclair in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He has authored two books, 'The Tommy John Story' and, with his wife Sally, 'The Sally and Tommy John Story.' The latter book recounts qualities of love and caring and how their Christian faith helped sustain them through near tragedy when their son Travis (age 3 at the time) fell 27 feet from an apartment window on August 13, 1981, and survived a 14-day coma and a one-month hospital stay. Travis is fine today."
-1989 New York Yankees Information Guide
Tied for American League lead in shutouts (5), 1966.
Tied for American League lead in shutouts (6), 1967.
Led American League in shutouts (6), 1980.
Named left-handed pitcher on the Sportings News American League All-Star team, 1980.
Tied American League record for most hit batsmen, nine-inning game (4), June 15, 1968.
Named National League Comeback Player of the Year, 1976.
Winner of Fred Hutchinson Award, 1976.
-1989 New York Yankees Information Guide
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