Departures of note

Thomas Edward John Jr., known as Tommy John, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played 26 seasons between 1963 and 1989 for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics. A four-time All-Star, he won 288 career games with a 3.34 ERA and 2,245 strikeouts, and he was the Opening Day starter six times across his career.

In 1974, John tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, a typically career-ending injury. He underwent a pioneering ligament-replacement procedure devised by Dodgers physician Dr. Frank Jobe, then returned to pitch successfully for another 14 seasons, winning more than 160 games after the operation. The procedure became known as "Tommy John surgery" and has since extended the careers of countless pitchers, making John a transformative figure in the sport.

After retiring, John worked as a broadcaster for the Minnesota Twins and Yankees, managed the Bridgeport Bluefish, and became a motivational speaker. He also founded the "Let's Do It" Foundation to raise awareness about suicide prevention following the death of his son Taylor. John died at his home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, on August 15, 2026, at age 83.