Baseball Signed by Tommy John and Dr. Frank Jobe, “Tommy John Surgery” Inventor.
Lot 22. Baseball Signed by Tommy John and Dr. Frank Jobe, “Tommy John Surgery” Inventor. Known among surgeons as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, the surgery involves replacing a ligament in the elbow with a tendon from another part of the body. In 1974, John became the first professional athlete to undergo the surgery successfully. When Dr. Jobe performed the surgery, he estimated John’s chance of a successful recovery at 1 in 100. Today, the complete recovery rate is at least 85 percent. After the surgery, John required 18 months of rehabilitation. He returned to the majors in 1976 and pitched for another 13 seasons. He was 46 when he retired in 1989 as one of the most successful left-handed pitchers in major league history. Dr. Jobe signed two panels, the north and east, of a Rawlings Dodgers baseball that has Commissioner Selig’s facsimile signature. John autographed the west panel below the Dodgers logo. In addition, the south panel has Orel Hershiser’s autograph. Dr. Jobe, who serves as a special advisor to the Dodgers, performed rotator cuff surgery on Hershiser. The autographs are nm-m 8 to gem mint 10, and the ball is mint. Rare and unusual! Winning Bid $242.
