Former MLB pitcher Tommy John dead at 83

(NBC, KYMA) - Former Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John died on Saturday at the age of 83.

Tommy John's name is forever linked to the groundbreaking elbow surgery that saved his career and countless other baseball careers since.

He played for MLB teams including the LA Dodgers and New York Yankees.

While with the Dodgers in 1974, John tore a ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow which put an end to his season that year.

The team's doctor at the time, conducted a never before performed procedure to replace the ligament with a tendon from another part of his body.

That surgery was successful and was named after the pitcher, who became known as the "Bionic man" following his return to baseball two years later.

Tommy John went on to pitch for another 14 years after his injury before retiring in 1989.

He is survived by his wife and three children, Tommy, Travis, and Tamara.