#264 Tommy John

At the time, a new phase of his career; now as a Dodger….had a career that was one of the longest on record spanning 27 seasons….the secret wasn’t overpowering stuff, just the man knew how to pitch….The odyssey starts in Cleveland where he was not used…trade to the W Sox brought a regular role in rotation…John responded in kind winning 14 games in 1965 and 1966 both times best mark on the club…as White Sox bats tanked so did John’s ability to win games…losing record going 10-13 in 1967 even though his ERA improved…rebounded of sorts in 1968 going 10-5 but his # of games were cut short by injuries…next three season John once again found himself losing more than winning…the addition of super coach Johnny Sain failed to light a fire as it did with others….1972 Trade to LA begins a new chapter…starts able to win and avoid losses going 27-12 over two years….cruises at the start of 1975 season as one of the leading pitchers in the league…feels a pop in his elbow and John is out for the year...so starts the legendary surgery and rehab process that bears his name….it wasn’t so much procedure that was extraordinary but the beyond the wildest dreams output shouldered by John….out 1975 his reappearance in 1976 record of 10-10 is tentative but promising…delivered the notice of miraculous event by going 20-7 in 1977….one more year in LA yielded 17-10 mark…took to free agency and was collected by the NYY… output was successive 20 win years….it was his pinnacle, for he never was as good but would continue to be used as 4^th-5^th starter with Angels, A’s, and return to the Yankees… was a veteran influence…In 1987 mired in the midst of a string of losing records was able to forge a 13-6 record based on sheer craftiness at age 44…played two more season picking up 11 more wins to give John 288 for his career….not in the Hall of Fame but has the most wins of any player not in the Hall….fate for HOF rests in Veterans committee.