1963–1989 · P

Tommy John

6' 3", 180 lbs·Lived to 83·Bats R / Throws L

All-Star

The Almanac's Take

The pitcher whose name became synonymous with baseball's most famous surgery compiled 288 wins across 26 seasons, but his legacy extends far beyond those numbers. John's 1974 elbow reconstruction surgery — the first of its kind — initially seemed career-ending but instead launched a second act that made him a medical pioneer.

His best season came in 1968's "Year of the Pitcher," when John posted a 1.98 ERA that ranked among the game's elite. That performance showcased the pinpoint control and durability that defined his career, traits that served him well both before and after his groundbreaking procedure.

John's 4,710 innings pitched tell the real story — he was a workhorse who reinvented longevity in baseball. His 114 career ERA+ demonstrates consistent above-average performance across nearly three decades, proving that steady excellence often trumps fleeting brilliance.

Career Highs

1.98

Best ERA · 1968

Most W · 1980

138

Most K · 1970

1.038

Best WHIP · 1968

Career Arc · OPS

14 seasons

Career Arc · ERA

26 seasons

Statistical Comps

Michael Fulmer

99%

2017 season

K/9 6.2 · BB/9 2.2 · HR/9 0.71 · SP · FB 95.8 mph · Whiff% 19

Steven Wright

99%

2016 season

K/9 7.3 · BB/9 3.3 · HR/9 0.69 · SP · FB 83.9 mph · Whiff% 24

Aaron Sanchez

99%

2016 season

K/9 7.5 · BB/9 3.0 · HR/9 0.70 · SP · FB 95.4 mph · Whiff% 19

Career · Hitting

26 seasons

Year	Team	G	AB	HR	RBI	AVG	OPS	OPS+
1963	CLE	6	6	0	0	.000	.000	—
1964	CLE	25	24	0	1	.208	.417	—
1965	CWS	39	59	1	2	.169	.447	—
1966	CWS	34	69	2	8	.145	.427	—
1967	CWS	31	51	0	2	.157	.327	—
1968	CWS	25	62	1	9	.194	.452	—
1969	CWS	33	79	0	1	.114	.323	—
1970	CWS	38	84	0	5	.202	.444	62
1971	CWS	38	69	0	2	.145	.325	48
1972	LAD	29	63	0	2	.159	.317	48
1973	LAD	36	74	0	7	.203	.460	65
1974	LAD	22	51	0	2	.118	.308	44
1976	LAD	31	64	0	3	.109	.261	38
1977	LAD	31	79	1	4	.177	.433	59
1978	LAD	33	66	0	6	.121	.311	44
1979	NYY	37	0	0	0	—	—	—
1980	NYY	36	0	0	0	—	—	—
1981	NYY	20	0	0	0	—	—	—
1982	NYY	37	0	0	0	—	—	—
1983	CAL	34	0	0	0	—	—	—
1984	CAL	32	0	0	0	—	—	—
1985	CAL	23	0	0	0	—	—	—
1986	NYY	13	0	0	0	—	—	—
1987	NYY	33	0	0	0	—	—	—
1988	NYY	35	0	0	0	—	—	—
1989	NYY	10	0	0	0	—	—	—
Career		761	900	5	54	.157	—	—

Career · Pitching

26 seasons

Year	Team	G	IP	W	L	ERA	ERA+	SO	WHIP
1963	CLE	6	20.3	0	2	2.21	157	9	1.426
1964	CLE	25	94.3	2	9	3.91	92	65	1.399
1965	CWS	39	183.7	14	7	3.09	113	126	1.198
1966	CWS	34	223.0	14	11	2.62	134	138	1.130
1967	CWS	31	178.3	10	13	2.47	134	110	1.065
1968	CWS	25	177.3	10	5	1.98	151	117	1.038
1969	CWS	33	232.3	9	11	3.25	111	128	1.377
1970	CWS	37	269.3	12	17	3.27	119	138	1.314
1971	CWS	38	229.3	13	16	3.61	96	131	1.317
1972	LAD	29	186.7	11	5	2.89	113	117	1.136
1973	LAD	36	218.0	16	7	3.10	121	116	1.156
1974	LAD	22	153.0	13	3	2.59	140	78	1.144
1976	LAD	31	207.0	10	10	3.09	114	91	1.295
1977	LAD	31	220.3	20	7	2.78	144	123	1.248
1978	LAD	33	213.0	17	10	3.30	112	124	1.329
1979	NYY	37	276.3	21	9	2.96	135	111	1.205
1980	NYY	36	265.3	22	9	3.43	112	78	1.229
1981	NYY	20	140.3	9	8	2.63	136	50	1.240
1982	NYY	37	221.7	14	12	3.69	104	68	1.254
1983	CAL	34	234.7	11	13	4.33	89	65	1.432
1984	CAL	32	181.3	7	13	4.52	84	47	1.539
1985	ATH	23	86.3	4	10	5.53	70	25	1.680
1986	NYY	13	70.7	5	3	2.93	135	28	1.245
1987	NYY	33	187.7	13	6	4.03	106	63	1.380
1988	NYY	35	176.3	9	8	4.49	83	81	1.514
1989	NYY	10	63.7	2	7	5.80	64	18	1.712
Career		760	4710.1	288	231	—	—	2245	—

Ask The Almanac about Tommy John.

Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.

Start a conversation →