🗞️ Quick Brief • Aug 09, 2026
What: Latest from ESPN
Where: Sports World
Why it matters: Verified by NewsNovaWorld Digest editorial team
Tommy John bids farewell: 'Will never forget you'
Tommy John, the namesake for the elbow surgery many top MLB players have undergone, did not attend the New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day on Saturday as he...
Key points
- Tommy John, the namesake for the elbow surgery many top MLB players have undergone, did not attend the New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day on Saturday as he shared a vague message about his health.
- In a lengthy social media post released by the Yankees that did not detail an exact health issue, the 83-year-old John wrote that he wanted to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends and fans who followed him throughout his 26-year career, saying "I will never forget you." On this 78th Old-Timers' Day, Tommy John shares a message to his fans, former teammates, and the Yankees organization as he battles health issues from his home in Bradenton, Florida.
- pic.twitter.com/3lKUWHoaw0 — New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 8, 2026 John has battled bladder cancer and other ailments in recent years, though it was unclear if any of them were related to his current health problems.
- The Yankees said he was at his home in Bradenton, Florida.
What happened
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Tommy John, the namesake for the elbow surgery many top MLB players have undergone, did not attend the New York Yankees' Old-Timers' Day on Saturday as he shared a vague message about his health. In a lengthy social media post released by the Yankees that did not detail an exact health issue, the 83-year-old John wrote that he wanted to say goodbye to everyone, along with all the friends and fans who followed him throughout his 26-year career, saying "I will never forget you." On this 78th Old-Timers' Day, Tommy John shares a message to his fans, former teammates, and the Yankees organization as he battles health issues from his home in Bradenton, Florida. pic.twitter.com/3lKUWHoaw0 — New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 8, 2026 John has battled bladder cancer and other ailments in recent years, though it was unclear if any of them were related to his current health problems. The Yankees said he was at his home in Bradenton, Florida. John underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery in 1974 that was named after him and has been performed on numerous pitchers. "That surgery has since gone on to save the careers of countless pitchers, including many of the very best in the game...