Episode 15: Tommy John

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When the idea of the Games People Play podcast began to take shape in Bernie’s mind, one name seemed to define the show’s mission to feature well-known, accomplished athletes with compelling back stories, unique career milestones and interests beyond the playing field. That name was Tommy John. Join Bernie in welcoming the four-time Major League All-Star, winner of 288 Big League games and beneficiary of the medical procedure that bears his name. The conversation begins in Terra Haute, IN, where Tommy starred in baseball, basketball and academics at Gerstmeyer High School before embarking on a 26-year Major League career with the Indians, White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels and Athletics. The two discuss the circumstances that led to Dr. Frank Jobe performing ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery on Tommy and the subsequent comeback that changed baseball history, as well as how the procedure came to be known as Tommy John surgery. Later, Tommy talks about the toughest game he ever pitched following his son Travis’s near fatal accident and his Let’s Do It Foundation, which creates awareness for suicide prevention in honor of his son, Taylor.