Gerrit Cole calls Tommy John a 'trailblazer' who deserves to be in Hall of Fame
Yankees \pitcher Tommy John in the 1980s. Credit: Getty Images/Focus On Sport
TORONTO — Gerrit Cole is well-versed not only in the history of the Yankees; he is a history buff when it comes to the game of baseball in general.
He spoke of both while pondering the life and legacy of Tommy John, the former Yankees pitcher who stacked up 288 wins in his big-league career but is better known for the never-before-performed surgery that bears his name, a procedure that has extended countless pitchers’ careers over the years, including Cole’s.
John, who underwent the procedure in 1974, died on Sunday at the age of 83.
“I think the first thing that comes to mind is just how much of a trailblazer he was and what great perseverance he had,” Cole said after the Yankees escaped Rogers Centre on Sunday with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings.
“Kind of venturing into the unknown with the surgery and really writing the book, writing the script for how to push through it and overcome and ultimately have success afterward.”
Cole, 35, who underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2025 and returned to the mound this past May, said the success John had post-surgery is what has always stood out to him.
That is among the reasons Cole believes that John — 288-231 with a 3.34 ERA in his 26-year career, including 164-125 with a 3.66 ERA from 1976-89 after undergoing ulnar collateral reconstruction — belongs in the Hall of Fame.
“Yeah, off of those numbers, certainly,” Cole said. “A remarkable number of innings pitched after the surgery as well, which I think is really cool and tough to achieve.”
John, who was 31 when he had the groundbreaking surgery and retired at 46, pitched 207 innings in 1976 in his first season after the surgery, in which a tendon from his right wrist was used to replace the torn ligament in his left elbow. He threw 220 1⁄3, 213, 276 1⁄3 and 265 1⁄3 innings in the four seasons that followed.
Post-surgery, John had two separate stints with the Yankees comprising eight seasons, going 91-60 with a 3.59 ERA.
The Yankees traded John to the Angels in 1982. That team included catcher Bob Boone, the father of Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
“He came over in ’82 to the Angels when my dad was there and was part of that American League West championship team that went to the playoffs,” Boone said. “I can see his windup, one of my favorite windups to imitate. But a great career and obviously a lasting legacy.”
Cole was quick to credit the doctor who performed that initial surgery, Dr. Frank Jobe.
“It’s Dr. Jobe’s surgery, and I think baseball owes the Orthopedic Society quite a bit of thank you cards, chocolates,” he said with a smile.
“I think a lot of times when we think about Tommy John [surgery] right now, obviously when we hear it about a player, we’re upset for the player. And I think kind of rue as an industry how often kids are getting this at such a young age.
“But in Tommy’s instance, it extended his career and gave him a second half. I’m a beneficiary of that, other pitchers have been a beneficiary of that . . .
“Late in your career, you get a second bite at the apple, and what a blessing it is that we get to see these great players continue on such a great path, and it’s because of Tommy John and Dr. Jobe.”
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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