Famed ex-Yankees pitcher Tommy John sends farewell message to fans as he battles health issues

Tommy John, the erstwhile New York Yankees pitcher who archetypal underwent the elbow country that has been utilized to further the careers of players for decades, released a connection to fans arsenic the franchise celebrated Old-Timers’ Day connected Saturday.

John, 83, said successful his connection helium was "saying goodbye" arsenic the squad revealed he’s been battling wellness issues successful Florida.

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New York Yankees pitcher Tommy John delivers a transportation against the Kansas City Royals during a crippled astatine Yankee Stadium connected July 9, 1988, successful New York. (Getty Images)

"I privation to convey the Yankees enactment & the Steinbrenner household for giving maine this accidental to accidental goodbye to everyone, on with each the friends & fans who followed maine passim my 26-year career," John’s connection read.

"Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my limb & made it imaginable for maine to proceed pitching. That country has since gone connected to prevention the careers of countless pitchers, including galore of the precise champion successful the crippled today.

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Tommy John of the New York Yankees pitches successful a Major League Baseball crippled against the Oakland Athletics connected May 18, 1989, astatine the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum successful Oakland, Calif. John was 46 years aged astatine the time. (Getty Images)

"Thank you to each the fans who supported maine & my teammates for 26 years. I volition ne'er hide you."

John had his famed country successful 1974 and became a occurrence communicative arsenic helium went connected to triumph much than 160 games aft the cognition was completed. He missed the full 1975 play and was a three-time All-Star aft the surgery.

He finished his vocation arsenic a four-time All-Star and played 8 of his 26 seasons with the Yankees.

He besides played for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, California Angels, Cleveland Indians and Oakland Athletics.

Tommy John of the New York Yankees looks connected from the dugout earlier a Major League Baseball crippled astatine Yankee Stadium successful the Bronx, N.Y., circa 1987. (Getty Images)

He had a vocation 3.34 ERA with 2,245 strikeouts.

"The time I near for my archetypal occupation arsenic a pitcher, my begetter looked astatine maine & said, 'Good luck, Tommy. Just retrieve 1 thing: whether you marque it large successful the large leagues oregon you don't, you'll ever conscionable beryllium Tommy John from Terre Haute, Indiana,'" his connection added.

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"I've ne'er forgotten those words. Thank you & God Bless."