DR HQ: Anatomy 101—Tommy John Surgery

The most important sports medicine event in baseball history occurred in 1974. Dr. Frank Jobe completed the first ligament replacement procedure on left-handed pitcher Tommy John. It was reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in John’s elbow, which had torn in 1974. Up until then, a pitcher with a torn UCL usually saw his career end with that news. Dr. Jobe believed he could take an unessential tendon (palmaris longus) from John’s non-throwing arm’s wrist, replace the torn UCL in the left elbow with it, and—with a rigorous rehab—Tommy John could pitch again. In 1976, John was reborn as a pitcher, and ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery would bear his name from then on.

The UCL
The ulnar collateral ligament...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From The Big Hurt

Max P. Muncy will be out longer than expected. Some balky elbows, a back, and a wrist as well. Busy weekend!
Jul 26 2025 3:04am
Baseball resumes, and so do the injuries. Gotta learn to duck!
Jul 21 2025 3:05am
Some players are banged up, and Mr. Nootbaar will be on the shelf for a bit.
Jul 14 2025 3:05am
Rhys Hoskins could be out a while. Still waiting to hear about Edman and Teoscar. The injury fun continues!
Jul 7 2025 3:04am
Follow-up surgery for Garrett Mitchell. Want to see the video? And you may not see Gabriel Arias for a while.
Jun 30 2025 3:04am

Tools