NEW YORK, Aug. 9 -- Tommy John typed his goodbye from a hospice home in Bradenton, Florida, and kept it to three sentences. The Yankees' 78th Old-Timers' Day began on Saturday without him.

"I want to thank the Yankees organization and the Steinbrenner family for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye," the 83-year-old wrote in a statement released ahead of the event. "Thanks to Dr. Jobe, who saved my arm and made it possible for me to continue pitching. Thank you and God Bless."

John has been in hospice care after recurring treatment for bladder cancer, which he was first diagnosed with in 2024. He did not attend. The same afternoon, Gerrit Cole pitched for the Yankees and Chris Sale pitched for the Atlanta Braves in the ceremonial g...