August 15, 2005

Tommy John: Man for all Seasons
Masterfully Goes All Out for ALSA

Durability equals pitching in Major League Baseball for 26 years and then batting for The ALS Association. Durability is Tommy John.

Retired as an active player since 1989, John, an ace on the ALSA team, still razzle-dazzles crowds at Yankee Stadium with tremendously articulate heartfelt speeches given on Lou Gehrig’s Day and his presence and participation at ALSA chapter fundraisers generates donations.

Tommy John, wife Sally and son Taylor.

Always on the go, educating children and adults about ALS, John recently participated in the “CytRx Strike Out Lou Gehrig’s Disease All Star Little Tournament” at the Conejo Valley Little League in Thousand Oaks, California, a joint effort between the Little League, whose team was the National Champion in 2004, and ALSA’s Greater Los Angeles Chapter. Following the tournament, which benefited patient services throughout Southern California, title sponsor CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company testing potential ALS drugs, donated $25,000 to the Chapter during a ceremony at Dodger Stadium.

“This is the first time that a Little League tournament has been held to benefit a charity,” said John, accompanied at the tournament by his wife Sally and son Taylor, a professional singer who sang the national anthem during Opening Day ceremonies and has appeared in such shows at “Les Miserables” on Broadway.  “The kids got a chance to play ball and to do something for people less fortunate than you. It develops character, team play and team spirit. That is what the tournament was all about. Who wins is immaterial. Actually, who wins, hopefully, is ALSA.”

Before the tournament began, dozens of cross-legged Little League players sat silently in awe and listened closely to every word of advice spoken by Tommy John at his baseball clinic. They watched in amazement as the lefthander threw a steady stream of strikes − some floated and a few actually popped in the catcher’s mitt, not bad for someone who left Major League Baseball in 1989.

When appearing at ALSA events, Tommy John manages to mix an ALS message with tips on proper pitching mechanics.

“Having Tommy out here really sends the message to these kids that baseball is important, sportsmanship is important and caring about your community is important,” said ALSA Greater Los Angeles Chapter Executive Director Fred Fisher as he made his way to the area where John and former Major League Baseball players Willie Davis and Rudy Law were to sign autographs. “Tommy and Sally represent all of those values. We could not have done this tournament without them.”

From a wheelchair in the shade of a nearby tent, ALS patient marveled as Tommy John created his clinic magic. “Anytime anyone gives their time for a worthwhile cause I am impressed. For him to be here for us, all the way from North Carolina, is pretty impressive,” said Gary Hard, diagnosed with ALS in 2001.

Watch Tommy John in action and it is easy to see why at the events he attends new members in all sizes and ages are drawn to his Mutual Admiration, Marching and Chowder Society. “Tommy John is doing good stuff,” said 9-year-old Conejo Valley Little League player William Matthew McMinn, whose grandmother passed away from ALS. “He gives us hope that we can defeat the disease.”

As Tommy John gave his one-hour clinic (30 minutes longer than expected) Sally John patiently kept busy adjacent to the field. Awaiting her turn to address the players and their families, she gave hugs and swapped stories with new and longtime acquaintances.

“To me this is what we stand for in trying to develop character,” said Sally John, a member of the Little League Baseball International Board of Directors for 13 years. “We’re not trying to make these Little Leagues nomes of Tommy John. We’re trying to develop good character in kids and teach them structure. The biggest thing is caring and to realize that there are other people out there that cannot do what they can do, and do not have what they do.”

“With these kids, most of their thoughts are ‘where is my hot dog and will I play well today?’ continued Sally John. “What I would really like to say to these kids today is that what you’re doing today is benefiting ALS patients. It’s a tremendous step.”

The Johns, including son, Taylor, have been circling the country’s bases non-stop for ALSA since his close New York Yankees team mate, pitcher and friend Jim “Catfish” Hunter was diagnosed with ALS in 1999. At first Hunter thought he had suffered a stroke, but tests at John Hopkins University revealed otherwise.

Wherever Tommy John goes on behalf of ALSA, wife Sally John is right there with him offering sage advice on the importance of community involvement.

“Cat was a fighter,” said Tommy John. “He was always a fighter used to going nine innings and pitching complete games. I believe he knew he was not going to be able to go nine innings on this one so he passed it off to us, to the bullpen.”

Though long retired from the game, Jim “Catfish” Hunter still reminded Sally John of a big, strapping North Carolina farm boy. That quickly changed after Hunter received his diagnosis. “’Catfish’ told Tommy that he knew that he was not going to make it and that they’re probably not going to find a cure before I’m gone,” said Sally John, recently voted on to the American Academy of Neurology Board of Trustees “He asked Tommy to carry on the torch and help find a cure for the disease.”

Tommy and Sally John did carry on the torch and far beyond the borders of North Carolina where the Johns live. At a gala held last March, ALSA’s The “Jim Catfish” Hunter Chapter, which serves North and South Carolina, honored the Johns with the prestigious Jim “Catfish” Hunter Humanitarian Award for their very active role with the Chapter. Taylor John has performed at two of the Chapter’s events.

Hunter’s wife, Helen, who is good friends with the Johns, along with family and friends, continue to work tirelessly for the Chapter, located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and The Jim “Catfish” Hunter ALS Foundation in Hertford, North Carolina, started by the Hunters, to help promote research that will lead to a cure. The two organizations enjoy a long-standing friendship and have joined forces on many programs and events.

The Johns first became aware of neurological conditions when their son, Travis, when two years old, fell from a second floor window, and suffered a severe head injury, remaining in a coma for 17 days.

“You do not really get involved until you’re touched by something, and if you know someone or have a relative, then this world of ALS becomes huge,” said Tommy John. “And it was that same thing with me with the word neurology. Travis was treated by a pediatric neuro surgeon, and I said, ‘What is that?” Tommy was a leading New York Yankee pitcher at the time. You do not know these worlds exist until you’re really pulled into them.”

Tommy John uses an economy of words to explain why he is involved with ALSA. “I have a wristband on right now that reads “Strike Out ALS,” and in baseball terms, that is what you want to do.”

His activities on behalf of ALSA have included testifying before the Senate Committee on Appropriations last May during the 2005 National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., where he and former Major League Baseball pitcher David Cone urged senators to commit the necessary resources to find treatments and a cure. John spoke of his relationship with Jim “Catfish” Hunter and his battle against ALS. He also urged support for Department of Defense research funding and highlighted studies that show an increased risk of ALS for military veterans. He said testifying before the committee was the highlight of his six-year involvement with ALSA.

John told the panel: “As a friend of Jim’s back in North Carolina, I saw first hand what ALS is and how the disease can whittle away at the human body and how it can take a once powerful man and make him totally powerless. It is a horrific disease and we must find a cure for it.”

While they were in Washington, D.C. for Advocacy Day, Tommy and Sally John met with Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) to discuss what Congress can do to help improve the lives of people with ALS and advance the fight for a treatment and cure for the disease. In fact, Congressman Engel, whose grandmother lost her fight with the disease, is expected to introduce legislation this year that would establish an ALS disease registry at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – a much needed step that truly will benefit the entire ALS community.

Their son, Taylor, also has played a very important role in ALSA’s advocacy efforts, having performed the national anthem and other songs at the Candlelight Vigil each of the past two years during Advocacy Day. Taylor’s beautiful vocals have been an important part of the vigil which is held at the Jefferson Memorial to pay tribute to those who have lost their fight against ALS and to honor those still fighting the disease.

One of three Tommy and Sally John sons, Taylor, a professional singer, delivers a rendition of the national anthem at Little League tournament benefitting people with ALS.

“Tommy, Sally and Taylor have been great advocates for people with ALS – indeed for all of us whose lives have been touched by this disease,” says ALSA’s Vice President of Government Relations, Steve Gibson.  “Through their participation in Advocacy Day and other advocacy initiatives, they have helped raise awareness of the disease among members of Congress and the public.  And they have generated support for our efforts in Washington – efforts that are making a difference.” 

As part of ALS Advocacy Day, Tommy, Sally and Taylor John, who came to the nation’s capital as members of the Greater New York Chapter delegation, were presented with the ALSA All Star Award for their tireless hard work and dedication to the fight against ALS. In 2002, the chapter honored John with the Lou Gehrig Sports Award. 

Tommy John is always very receptive to participating in ALSA events −”I will do whatever people want me to do” − and is more than aware that his celebrity status can open up doors and make a difference.

“I consider myself a communicator,” explained John. “It might be a little easier for a Tommy John or an actor such as Alan Rosenberg (who appears in one of the most recent ALSA public service announcements) or somebody like him, to get press attention than a research scientist or doctor. We are just the vehicles to get the message out.”

The president of ALSA Greater New York Chapter conjectures that it was more than the experience of watching Hunter deteriorate that resulted in Tommy John becoming a stalwart in ALSA’s efforts.

“I believe that it was from visiting Washington, D.C., and meeting all of the ALS patients and families from across the country,” said ALSA Greater New York Chapter Board President Dorine Gordon. “I also believe that this relationship was born from going to see our representatives and talking to them about ALS, what the urgency is and why we need more money for research. I think that really energized him. He is just incredibly passionate about finding a cure.

All it took for the Johns to reach their decision to help ALSA was to meet Gordon.

“ALSA is lucky to have her, with her heart and her caring, the way she deals with celebrities and people” said Sally John. “We get asked to do a thousand charities, but which one is best? How do you pick? Tommy and I decided that we were going to do Little League and ALS with all of our energies.”

Tommy John and Sally live in Charlotte, North Carolina. In addition to Taylor and Travis they have two other children: Tamara and Tommy John III.