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MLB legend Tommy John dies at 83 just days after writing emotional goodbye letter
The Irish Sun ^ | Aug. 16, 2026 | Emma Crabtree

Posted on 08/16/2026 10:23:07 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement

MLB legend Tommy John has died at the age of 83 surrounded by his family.

The news comes just days after the baseball icon penned an emotional goodbye letter as he went into hospice care in Florida.

(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.ie ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: baseball; john; tommyjohn
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1 posted on 08/16/2026 10:23:07 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement
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To: ConservativeStatement

Game Called - Grantland Rice

Game Called. Across the field of play
the dusk has come, the hour is late.
The fight is done and lost or won,
the player files out through the gate.
The tumult dies, the cheer is hushed,
the stands are bare, the park is still.
But through the night there shines the light,
home beyond the silent hill.

Game Called. Where in the golden light
the bugle rolled the reveille.
The shadows creep where night falls deep,
and taps has called the end of play.
The game is done, the score is in,
the final cheer and jeer have passed.
But in the night, beyond the fight,
the player finds his rest at last.

Game Called. Upon the field of life
the darkness gathers far and wide,
the dream is done, the score is spun
that stands forever in the guide.
Nor victory, nor yet defeat
is chalked against the players name.
But down the roll, the final scroll,
shows only how he played the game.


2 posted on 08/16/2026 10:25:57 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: dfwgator

Just hearing his name, makes me want to have that shoulder surgery i had been putting off


3 posted on 08/16/2026 10:30:08 AM PDT by C210N
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To: dfwgator

I didn’t know his MLB career began with Cleveland.


4 posted on 08/16/2026 10:30:21 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement
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To: dfwgator

There were two men down
And the score was tied
In the bottom of the eighth
When the pitcher died
—Njght Game, Paul Simon

Rest in Peace, Dodger Tommy John


5 posted on 08/16/2026 10:32:07 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye." (John 2:5))
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To: ConservativeStatement

At the age of 45, he was the Opening Day starter for the Yankees.


6 posted on 08/16/2026 10:35:17 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: ConservativeStatement

And as with Nolan Ryan, one of the reasons John had a long career, despite the surgery, is that he started in the bullpen and wasn’t thrown to the wolves at a young age, like Kerry Wood.


7 posted on 08/16/2026 10:47:46 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: dfwgator

I can’t believe he’s not in the hall of fame. He should be. He’s a great story.


8 posted on 08/16/2026 10:51:35 AM PDT by poinq
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To: dfwgator

Phil Niekro played on the mid-80s Yankees when he was in his mid-40s, IIRC.


9 posted on 08/16/2026 10:52:10 AM PDT by ConservativeStatement
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To: ConservativeStatement
“The day I left for my first job as a pitcher, my father looked at me & said, ‘Good luck, Tommy. Just remember one thing: whether you make it big in the big leagues or you don’t, you’ll always just be Tommy John from Terre Haute, Indiana.’

“I’ve never forgotten those words. Thank you & God Bless.”

10 posted on 08/16/2026 10:52:36 AM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: poinq

He’ll probably get in on the next ballot. Bastards!


11 posted on 08/16/2026 10:53:07 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: poinq

The Veterans’ Committee needs to save face and vote him in at the earliest opportunity.

Should not have been a posthumous honor for such a deserving player.


12 posted on 08/16/2026 11:05:37 AM PDT by pburiak (You really think we can vote our way out of this? That's so cute...)
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To: ConservativeStatement

“He played for the Cleveland Guardians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Oakland Athletics, and New York Yankees.”

He NEVER played for the Guardians. He played for the Cleveland INDIANS!


13 posted on 08/16/2026 11:07:31 AM PDT by ne1410s (2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.)
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To: ne1410s

He NEVER played for the Guardians. He played for the Cleveland INDIANS!


Thank you!


14 posted on 08/16/2026 11:08:01 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: ConservativeStatement

RIP Tommy John ⚾️


15 posted on 08/16/2026 11:09:41 AM PDT by Jane Long (Jesus is Lord!)
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To: ConservativeStatement

I saw Niekro play for the Braves either late 70s or early 80s.


16 posted on 08/16/2026 11:18:40 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: ConservativeStatement

Tommy John surgery couldn’t save him?


17 posted on 08/16/2026 11:21:23 AM PDT by x
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To: ConservativeStatement

Memory Eternal!


18 posted on 08/16/2026 11:29:56 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: ConservativeStatement

Rest In Peace, Tommy John.


19 posted on 08/16/2026 12:04:40 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: poinq
I can’t believe he’s not in the hall of fame. He should be. He’s a great story.

He's a first ballot Hall of Very Good player. Not sure he's HOF worthy, though.

20 posted on 08/16/2026 12:06:03 PM PDT by Kleon
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