Medical Figure. A pioneering orthopedic surgeon, he revolutionized the world of sports when he devised a surgical procedure which enabled major league pitchers (as well as other professional athletes) to resume their careers following a potentially career-ending injury. The procedure became widely referred to as "Tommy John surgery". The son of a postal worker, his early life consisted of balancing time as a student at a high academic boarding school and performing farming tasks, among them milking cows. During World War II, he served with the 101st Airborne Division as a medical corpsman and learned first-hand from physicians on the battlefield. He saw action in the European Theater and received a Bronze Star, in addition to a Combat Medic Badge and a Glider Badge. After returning home, he attended La Sierra University and later received his medical degree from Loma Linda University. He focused on orthopedics and was trained at the University of Southern California Medical Center. He went on to establish a longtime relationship with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1964, and when ace pitcher Tommy John suffered what appeared to be a career-ending injury during the 1974 season, Jobe performed a then-unheard of tendon graft. This was followed up by a second surgery. John missed the entire 1975 season; however, after returning, he went on to win 20 games three times. During the course of his career, Jobe performed roughly one thousand "Tommy John surgeries". He received numerous honors and awards, in addition to writing several books and articles. Jobe was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 for his contributions to the sport.
Medical Figure. A pioneering orthopedic surgeon, he revolutionized the world of sports when he devised a surgical procedure which enabled major league pitchers (as well as other professional athletes) to resume their careers following a potentially career-ending injury. The procedure became widely referred to as "Tommy John surgery". The son of a postal worker, his early life consisted of balancing time as a student at a high academic boarding school and performing farming tasks, among them milking cows. During World War II, he served with the 101st Airborne Division as a medical corpsman and learned first-hand from physicians on the battlefield. He saw action in the European Theater and received a Bronze Star, in addition to a Combat Medic Badge and a Glider Badge. After returning home, he attended La Sierra University and later received his medical degree from Loma Linda University. He focused on orthopedics and was trained at the University of Southern California Medical Center. He went on to establish a longtime relationship with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1964, and when ace pitcher Tommy John suffered what appeared to be a career-ending injury during the 1974 season, Jobe performed a then-unheard of tendon graft. This was followed up by a second surgery. John missed the entire 1975 season; however, after returning, he went on to win 20 games three times. During the course of his career, Jobe performed roughly one thousand "Tommy John surgeries". He received numerous honors and awards, in addition to writing several books and articles. Jobe was honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 for his contributions to the sport.
Bio by: C.S.
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