Former MLB pitcher Tommy John says his support for Donald Trump may have prevented him from being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
John spoke to reporters to mark the 50th anniversary of the Tommy John surgery that bears his name since his first surgery in 1974.
At the time, Dr. Frank Jobe reconstructed the ulnar collateral ligament in John's throwing elbow. Jobe was the team surgeon for John's team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, at the time.
“Probably because I voted for Donald Trump.”
Appearing on “The Michael Kay Show,” New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay asked John why, despite all his years and impressive statistics, he wasn't inducted into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Ta.
“You were the first person to have this groundbreaking surgery and you won 288 games…why aren't you in the Hall of Fame?” Kay asked. “So you play a very important role in the history of baseball.”
“Probably because I voted for Donald Trump,” John said. answered.
“Do you think that's all?” Kei replied.
“Probably,” John said with a laugh, making it clear that he was probably not that serious about the accusation.
“I don't know, I have no idea. If I knew and could do something, I would, but I can't,” John added.
However, John was on the Hall of Fame ballot from 1995 to 2009, before President Trump took office.
The current voting procedure means that players who fail to vote 10 times will not be able to participate in future votes. The previous rules that applied to John allowed for 15 failures. baseball reference.
However, John said on 'The Dan Patrick Show' that he felt his association with surgery was the reason he was excluded from the prestigious award.
“I think it hurts. When I look at 288.” [wins]And I've had 188 no-calls, which is the most in baseball history,” John said. said. “So if you consider 288 wins and 188 no decisions, that means a lot of no decisions wins,” he added.
Since John underwent a revolutionary procedure in 1974; 1,200 MLB players often rebuild their elbows and give their careers a new lease on life after years of torn ligaments from pitching.
John pitched until his late 40s, retiring as a member of the New York Yankees in 1989. He pitched fairly effectively until his final season, posting winning records at ages 44 and 45.
He was a four-time All-Star and played for four teams over 26 seasons.
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