DR HQ: Anatomy 101—Tommy John Surgery
Aug 15 2013
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
Hamates are back. Making a strong case for Injury of the Year. Plus, maybe some good news for Blake Snell?
May 20 2026 3:10am
May 20 2026 3:10am
Look out! Hernias are catching up to loose bodies and hamates. It's a three-way race for Injury of the Year.
May 18 2026 3:03am
May 18 2026 3:03am
Logan Webb—is it serious? And now we've moved from loose bodies to sprained shoulders.
May 11 2026 3:03am
May 11 2026 3:03am
Mets down another shortstop. Joe Ryan to miss some time?
May 4 2026 3:03am
May 4 2026 3:03am
Apr 27 2026 3:03am
