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After half a century of service, Dr. James Andrews – who has revitalized countless athletes’ careers across various sporting disciplines – has decided to retire from the profession at the age of 81.
Andrews will continue to be part of the continued development of Andrews Medicine, which partners with multiple health systems, universities and professional sports organizations to continue to represent the orthopedic arm of the Andrews brand in the United States. He will also continue to follow the recovery processes of the athletes who underwent surgery.
“I didn’t want to leave her behind,” Andrews said. “I’m trying to get video calls to support them through their recovery.”
But the days of hearing about players visiting Andrews at his clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, for a first or second opinion will be over as of early 2024.
Andrews was at the forefront of a dramatic evolution in sports medicine that redefined the possibilities for repair and recovery. He recorded an estimated tens of thousands of procedures, on people from Michael Jordan to Troy Aikman, Jack Nicklaus and Hulk Hogan. And his influence on around 650 colleagues is now evident in teams, schools and practices that are having an impact across the country.
However, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Andrews’ greatest sporting legacy is reserved for baseball. Not only because of the numerous high-profile players who have intervened, but also because of their commitment to reducing the number of players requiring these surgeries in the first place.
Thanks to the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI), a nonprofit organization founded by Andrews, the industry has gained a deeper understanding of the role of biomechanics in reducing injury risk. And Little League and other youth organizations have implemented pitch number regulations to prevent overuse.
“Your focus on injury treatment and prevention, particularly at the youth level, underscores your passion for supporting players throughout baseball,” Commissioner Rob Manfred wrote in a congratulatory letter presented to Andrews on Friday during ASMI Baseball’s annual injury course. “This work has raised awareness of issues that directly impact the future vitality of our sport.”
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