Tommy John surgery pioneer Frank Jobe dies
8:48 AM, Mar 7, 2014
Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Dr. Frank Jobe, who performed the first successful elbow ligament transplant surgery in 1974, died Thursday. He was 88 years old.

The Los Angeles Dodgers said Jobe died Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif.

Jobe was part of the Dodgers medical staff from 1968 through 2008 and his 1974 experimental procedure for pitcher Tommy John now bears the left-hander's name.

John was able to pitch another 14 years in the majors after the surgery that took a transplanted tendon from his forearm to replace the damaged ligament of the pitcher's elbow. It's now commonly known as Tommy John surgery and is performed regularly.

"Frank Jobe is a Hall of Famer in every sense of the word," said Dodgers president Stan Kasten. "His dedication and professionalism in not only helping the Dodgers, but athletes around the world is unparalleled. He was a medical giant and pioneer and many athletes in the past and the future can always thank Frank for finding a way to continue their careers."

I was just reading about him. Very innovative and creative. Helped preserve the careers of a lot of pro athletes.
His procedure, like many others, has been modernized, but in the motivated athlete has a success rate of >80%. Which is phenomenal, considering the level at which these guys are expected to perform.

I like the idea of having a sports medicine wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Guys like Dr. Jobe, Dr. Frank Andrews and Victor Conte could all go in there.

(03-07-2014 01:30 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I like the idea of having a sports medicine wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Guys like Dr. Jobe, Dr. Frank Andrews and Victor Conte could all go in there.

Dr. Jobe (TJS) certainly belongs. I presume you mean Dr. James Andrews, who sounds like he belongs as well given his contributions to sports related orthopaedics. Victor Conte will need to go into the Barry Bonds - ARod wing*.

*I presume such a wing will be across the main parking lot from the rest of the Hall of Fame and in the shape of a large asterisks to connote that the wing is worthy but tainted. Perhaps each person enshrined there would get his own bubble on the * off the main circular central plaza...

(03-07-2014 05:22 PM)RiceDoc Wrote:  

(03-07-2014 01:30 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I like the idea of having a sports medicine wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Guys like Dr. Jobe, Dr. Frank Andrews and Victor Conte could all go in there.

Dr. Jobe (TJS) certainly belongs. I presume you mean Dr. James Andrews, who sounds like he belongs as well given his contributions to sports related orthopaedics. Victor Conte will need to go into the Barry Bonds - ARod wing*.

*I presume such a wing will be across the main parking lot from the rest of the Hall of Fame and in the shape of a large asterisks to connote that the wing is worthy but tainted. Perhaps each person enshrined there would get his own bubble on the * off the main circular central plaza...

On the good front: I'm looking forward to July 27 this summer when these guys get inducted: