El Tiante - A Boston Baseball Legend...
I saw Luis Tiant pitch half a dozen times during the mid 1970s at Fenway and remember one game in particular when El Tiante defeated AL Western Division Powerhouse Oakland and their Star fireballing lefthander Vida Blue 3-0 for his 20th win of the year on August 23rd 1974. Tiant went the distance giving up 6 hits. Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yaztremski went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI during the win. Another Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice played only his third game of his over 2000 game career that night driving in a run with a Sac Fly off Rollie Fingers.
Click here for boxscore to that game.
Luis Tiant born November 23, 1940? in Marianao, Cuba, (then part of Havana Province), played for the Cleveland Indians (1964-1969), Minnesota Twins (1970), Boston Red Sox (1971-1978), New York Yankees (1979-80), Pittsburgh Pirates (1981) and California Angels (1982).
The Cleveland Indians signed Tiant in 1961..Tiant progressed through the Indians farm system and got the call to the big club after a 15-1 record at Triple-A Portland.
On, July 19, 1964, Tiant debuted with a four-single, 11 strikeouts, 3–0 shutout victory against the defending AL Champion New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The losing pitcher was Whitey Ford.
Tiant finished his rookie season with a 10-4 record, 105 strikeouts, and a 2.83 ERA in 19 games.
His 1.60 ERA in 1968 was the lowest in the American League since Walter Johnson's 1.49 mark during the dead-ball era in 1919, and second lowest in 1968 only to Bob Gibson's 1.12—the lowest ever during the Live Ball Era.
In 1966, Tiant tied a major league record when he pitched four straight shutouts on his way to 12 wins and a 2.79 ERA.
Tiant really broke through in 1968, after he altered his delivery so that he turned away from the home plate during his motion, in effect creating a hesitation pitch.
According to Tiant,the new motion was a response to a drop in his velocity due to an arm injury.
Twisting and turning his body into unthinkable positions, Tiant would spend more time looking at second base than he did the plate as he prepared to throw.
After an injury-plagued season in 1969, Tiant was traded to the Twins in a multi-player deal that brought fellow pitcher Dean Chance and third baseman Graig Nettles to the Indians. With Minnesota, Tiant began 1970 with six wins, but then he fractured his right scapula, essentially ending his season, and some felt, his career.
With Minnesota, Tiant began 1970 with six wins, but then he fractured his right scapula, essentially ending his season,and some felt, his career. He showed some promise in the 1971 spring training, but was released.
The Braves signed him to a minor league contract to play with their Triple-A Richmond, where he pitched well, and was acquired by the Louisville Colonels, a farm team of the Boston Red Sox.
He was quickly called back up to the majors, and despite struggling through 1971 with a 1-7 record and 4.88 ERA, he would soon become one of the greatest and most beloved pitchers in Red Sox history and a great idol in Boston.
Starting to be known as "El Tiante" at Fenway Park, in 1972 Tiant regained his old form with a 15-6 record and led the league
with a 1.91 ERA. He would win 20 games in 1973 and 22 in 1974. Though hampered by back problems in 1975he won 18 games for the American League Champion Red Sox and then excelled for Boston in the postseason.
In the playoffs he defeated the three time defending World Champion Oakland Athletics in a 7-1 three-hitter complete game, then opened the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
His father and mother, having been allowed to visit from Cuba under a special visa, were in Fenway Park that game to watch his son defeat The Big Red Machine in a 6-0 five-hit shutout.
All six Red Sox runs were scored in the seventh inning; Tiant led off that inning (the designated hitter was not yet in use in World Series play) with a base hit off Don Gullett and eventually scored on Carl Yastrzemski's single for the first of those six runs. Tiant won Game 4 as well (throwing 163 pitches in his second complete game in the series) and had a no-decision in Game 6, which has been called the greatest game ever played, after Carlton Fisk’s dramatic game-winning walk-off home run in the 12th inning.
Tiant went 21-12 in 1976, 12-8 in 1977, and 13-8 in 1978. At the end of that season, he signed as a free agent with the Yankees.
Tiant compiled a 21-17 record in New York over two seasons from 1979-80. He finished his career after two brief stints for the Pirates
and Angels.
In his 19-season career, Tiant compiled a 229-172 record with 2416 strikeouts, a 3.30 ERA, 187 complete games, and 49 shutouts in 3486.1 innings. He was inducted to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.
Career highlights and awards
3x All-Star selection (1968, 1974, 1976)
1975 Babe Ruth Award
1972 AL Comeback Player of the Year
Only 6 pitchers have pitched four or more straight shutouts in the 40-year expansion era:
Don Drysdale six 1968
Bob Gibson five 1968
Orel Hershiser (five, 1988)
Gaylord Perry (four, 1970)
Luis Tiant (four, 1966)
Tiant has fallen short the past few years on being selected to the Hall of Fame.
He was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame on July 23, 2002 in a pregame on-field ceremony at Fenway Park, Boston, MA.
Well known for his great pitching, unique delivery, charisma, and as an avid cigar smoker, he launched a line of cigars that he formulated and designed, branding them with his nickname, El Tiante.
As of 2007, Luis Tiant resides in Southborough, MA, USA. He also works for the Red Sox as a pitching advisor.
Tiant is the subject of the documentary film "The Lost Son of Havana", produced by Kris Meyer and the Farrelly brothers (Fever Pitch), and directed by Jonathan Hock. It had its world premiere on April 23 at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, and was promptly acquired by ESPN Films.
Stats and qoutes from wikipedia.
I saw Luis Tiant pitch half a dozen times during the mid 1970s at Fenway and remember one game in particular when El Tiante defeated AL Western Division Powerhouse Oakland and their Star fireballing lefthander Vida Blue 3-0 for his 20th win of the year on August 23rd 1974. Tiant went the distance giving up 6 hits. Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yaztremski went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI during the win. Another Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice played only his third game of his over 2000 game career that night driving in a run with a Sac Fly off Rollie Fingers.
Click here for boxscore to that game.
Luis Tiant born November 23, 1940? in Marianao, Cuba, (then part of Havana Province), played for the Cleveland Indians (1964-1969), Minnesota Twins (1970), Boston Red Sox (1971-1978), New York Yankees (1979-80), Pittsburgh Pirates (1981) and California Angels (1982).
The Cleveland Indians signed Tiant in 1961..Tiant progressed through the Indians farm system and got the call to the big club after a 15-1 record at Triple-A Portland.
On, July 19, 1964, Tiant debuted with a four-single, 11 strikeouts, 3–0 shutout victory against the defending AL Champion New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The losing pitcher was Whitey Ford.
Tiant finished his rookie season with a 10-4 record, 105 strikeouts, and a 2.83 ERA in 19 games.
His 1.60 ERA in 1968 was the lowest in the American League since Walter Johnson's 1.49 mark during the dead-ball era in 1919, and second lowest in 1968 only to Bob Gibson's 1.12—the lowest ever during the Live Ball Era.
In 1966, Tiant tied a major league record when he pitched four straight shutouts on his way to 12 wins and a 2.79 ERA.
Tiant really broke through in 1968, after he altered his delivery so that he turned away from the home plate during his motion, in effect creating a hesitation pitch.
According to Tiant,the new motion was a response to a drop in his velocity due to an arm injury.
Twisting and turning his body into unthinkable positions, Tiant would spend more time looking at second base than he did the plate as he prepared to throw.
After an injury-plagued season in 1969, Tiant was traded to the Twins in a multi-player deal that brought fellow pitcher Dean Chance and third baseman Graig Nettles to the Indians. With Minnesota, Tiant began 1970 with six wins, but then he fractured his right scapula, essentially ending his season, and some felt, his career.
With Minnesota, Tiant began 1970 with six wins, but then he fractured his right scapula, essentially ending his season,and some felt, his career. He showed some promise in the 1971 spring training, but was released.
The Braves signed him to a minor league contract to play with their Triple-A Richmond, where he pitched well, and was acquired by the Louisville Colonels, a farm team of the Boston Red Sox.
He was quickly called back up to the majors, and despite struggling through 1971 with a 1-7 record and 4.88 ERA, he would soon become one of the greatest and most beloved pitchers in Red Sox history and a great idol in Boston.
Starting to be known as "El Tiante" at Fenway Park, in 1972 Tiant regained his old form with a 15-6 record and led the league
with a 1.91 ERA. He would win 20 games in 1973 and 22 in 1974. Though hampered by back problems in 1975he won 18 games for the American League Champion Red Sox and then excelled for Boston in the postseason.
In the playoffs he defeated the three time defending World Champion Oakland Athletics in a 7-1 three-hitter complete game, then opened the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.
His father and mother, having been allowed to visit from Cuba under a special visa, were in Fenway Park that game to watch his son defeat The Big Red Machine in a 6-0 five-hit shutout.
All six Red Sox runs were scored in the seventh inning; Tiant led off that inning (the designated hitter was not yet in use in World Series play) with a base hit off Don Gullett and eventually scored on Carl Yastrzemski's single for the first of those six runs. Tiant won Game 4 as well (throwing 163 pitches in his second complete game in the series) and had a no-decision in Game 6, which has been called the greatest game ever played, after Carlton Fisk’s dramatic game-winning walk-off home run in the 12th inning.
Tiant went 21-12 in 1976, 12-8 in 1977, and 13-8 in 1978. At the end of that season, he signed as a free agent with the Yankees.
Tiant compiled a 21-17 record in New York over two seasons from 1979-80. He finished his career after two brief stints for the Pirates
and Angels.
In his 19-season career, Tiant compiled a 229-172 record with 2416 strikeouts, a 3.30 ERA, 187 complete games, and 49 shutouts in 3486.1 innings. He was inducted to the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997.
Career highlights and awards
3x All-Star selection (1968, 1974, 1976)
1975 Babe Ruth Award
1972 AL Comeback Player of the Year
Only 6 pitchers have pitched four or more straight shutouts in the 40-year expansion era:
Don Drysdale six 1968
Bob Gibson five 1968
Orel Hershiser (five, 1988)
Gaylord Perry (four, 1970)
Luis Tiant (four, 1966)
Tiant has fallen short the past few years on being selected to the Hall of Fame.
He was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame on July 23, 2002 in a pregame on-field ceremony at Fenway Park, Boston, MA.
Well known for his great pitching, unique delivery, charisma, and as an avid cigar smoker, he launched a line of cigars that he formulated and designed, branding them with his nickname, El Tiante.
As of 2007, Luis Tiant resides in Southborough, MA, USA. He also works for the Red Sox as a pitching advisor.
Tiant is the subject of the documentary film "The Lost Son of Havana", produced by Kris Meyer and the Farrelly brothers (Fever Pitch), and directed by Jonathan Hock. It had its world premiere on April 23 at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival, and was promptly acquired by ESPN Films.
Stats and qoutes from wikipedia.
I was up at Fenway last season for a game and I was outside the park in a long line that I thought was for food/beer, but when I got the the front of the line, it was an autograph line for El Tiante. I'm not an autograph guy, so I talked to him for 2-3 minutes. Nice guy.
I remember back in the 80's, he showed up at an amusement park I was working in south of Boston. He had been out of baseball for a while, but everyone recognized him. I spoke to him then, too. Funny guy.
Hard to remember somebody that the Fenway crowd got behind more than Luis Tiant. That place rocked when he was on.
I remember back in the 80's, he showed up at an amusement park I was working in south of Boston. He had been out of baseball for a while, but everyone recognized him. I spoke to him then, too. Funny guy.
Hard to remember somebody that the Fenway crowd got behind more than Luis Tiant. That place rocked when he was on.
There was nobody quite like Louie. He was brilliant in the big games. In the 75 World series he pitched in 3 games and the Red Sox won all three games including a shutout over the big red machine in game 1. He was a great man too. About 5 years ago I saw Louie and his son at the Copley mall in Boston and yelled over to him. He said hello and when he finished his meal walked over to our table and shook my hand. I got up and hugged him. Louie was the best.
Yes, BB i remember those commericals. He did a few. Actually Ken harrelson who loved Louie said that Louie had to say one word in this commercial and it still took 3 hours to shoot (I remember the word he said was NO when asked if he should wake the family).
WHen he went to the Yanks it was awfull and did not seem right.
WHen he went to the Yanks it was awfull and did not seem right.
I recall a game I went to at Fenway in May 1976 where Tiant went against a relatively unknown Tiger pitcher named Mark Fidyrich (about 3-4 weeks later, Fidyrich was a household name). Fidyrich gave up 2 hits, one of them being a two run homer into the screen by Yaz. Tiant allowed 4 hits, one of them by ex-convict Ron Leflore who extended a hitting streak to something like 28 games. The Red Sox won 2-0.
http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/04/30/baseball-hall-of-fame-discussion-luis-tiant-boston-red-sox/
[h=1]Baseball Hall of Fame Discussion: Luis Tiant, Boston Red Sox[/h]10 hours ago by JM Catellier
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
If Jim “Catfish” Hunter is a Hall of Famer, then former Boston Red Sox ace Luis Tiant should be a shoo-in. But for whatever reason, the Baseball
Writers Association of America (BBWAA) has ignored the latter’s legendary career to date. Tiant’s numbers, believe it or not, are actually slightly better than Hunter’s. And aren’t statistics precisely what it’s all about in assessing baseball careers?
With an almost identical number of innings pitched, Tiant has a handful more wins (229 to 224) and shutouts (49 to 42) than Hunter, and over 400 more strikeouts. Tiant also struck out one more batter per nine innings than his adversary from the A.L. West. The two have an almost identical career ERA and winning percentage. The biggest difference in the stat lines of Tiant and Hunter is Hunter’s susceptibility to give up the gopher ball. His 374 home runs allowed ranks 19[SUP]th[/SUP] most all-time.
Tiant was a four-time 20-game winner, including his 1968 campaign of 21-9 with an incredible 1.60 ERA, the fourth lowest of any pitcher in the Live Ball Era with at least 200 innings pitched (Bob Gibson, 1.12 in 1968, Dwight Gooden, 1.53 in 1985, and Greg Maddux, 1.56 in 1994). Tiant also put together a string of four consecutive shutouts that year, one of only five pitchers to accomplish the feat since 1950. “El Tiante” would go on to pitch five seasons in his career with five or more shutouts. Only three pitchers since 1920 have bettered that mark—Hall of Famers Tom Seaver (7), Bert Blyleven (6), and Jim Palmer (6).
Tiant led the league in ERA twice, shutouts three times, WHIP once, fewest hits per nine innings once, and most strikeouts per nine innings once. He’s one of only nine pitchers since 1921 to win 200 games, pitch 150 complete games, and allow fewer than eight hits per nine innings. And you guessed it; the other eight pitchers have all been elected to the Hall of Fame (Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Palmer, Hunter, Gibson, Whitey Ford, and Bob Feller).
It’s extremely difficult to pinpoint where exactly the BBWAA found fault in Tiant’s résumé, especially considering the fact that they were so good to Hunter. In a multitude of postseason innings, Hunter went 9-6 with a 3.26 ERA (identical to his regular season
ERA). Tiant had far fewer postseason opportunities in his career, but still managed to prove his big-game worth, with a 3-0 playoff record and a 2.86 ERA (0.54 points lower than his regular season mark).
Luis Tiant belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and 2013 could be his year. The Veterans Committee will release their ballot this fall, and Tiant is expected to be on it. He’ll need the support of 75 percent of the voting body—made up of eight Hall of Famers, four baseball executives, and four members of the media—in order to punch his ticket to Cooperstown. Best of luck!
(JM Catellier is the author of the book Fixing Baseball, a guide to restructuring the Hall of Fame. Follow him on Twitter: @FixingBaseball and Facebook, and check out his site: www.fixingbaseball.com)
Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/...uis-tiant-boston-red-sox/?8BDpWPLHBbOz7D41.99
[h=1]Baseball Hall of Fame Discussion: Luis Tiant, Boston Red Sox[/h]10 hours ago by JM Catellier
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY SportsIf Jim “Catfish” Hunter is a Hall of Famer, then former Boston Red Sox ace Luis Tiant should be a shoo-in. But for whatever reason, the Baseball
Writers Association of America (BBWAA) has ignored the latter’s legendary career to date. Tiant’s numbers, believe it or not, are actually slightly better than Hunter’s. And aren’t statistics precisely what it’s all about in assessing baseball careers?With an almost identical number of innings pitched, Tiant has a handful more wins (229 to 224) and shutouts (49 to 42) than Hunter, and over 400 more strikeouts. Tiant also struck out one more batter per nine innings than his adversary from the A.L. West. The two have an almost identical career ERA and winning percentage. The biggest difference in the stat lines of Tiant and Hunter is Hunter’s susceptibility to give up the gopher ball. His 374 home runs allowed ranks 19[SUP]th[/SUP] most all-time.
Tiant was a four-time 20-game winner, including his 1968 campaign of 21-9 with an incredible 1.60 ERA, the fourth lowest of any pitcher in the Live Ball Era with at least 200 innings pitched (Bob Gibson, 1.12 in 1968, Dwight Gooden, 1.53 in 1985, and Greg Maddux, 1.56 in 1994). Tiant also put together a string of four consecutive shutouts that year, one of only five pitchers to accomplish the feat since 1950. “El Tiante” would go on to pitch five seasons in his career with five or more shutouts. Only three pitchers since 1920 have bettered that mark—Hall of Famers Tom Seaver (7), Bert Blyleven (6), and Jim Palmer (6).
Tiant led the league in ERA twice, shutouts three times, WHIP once, fewest hits per nine innings once, and most strikeouts per nine innings once. He’s one of only nine pitchers since 1921 to win 200 games, pitch 150 complete games, and allow fewer than eight hits per nine innings. And you guessed it; the other eight pitchers have all been elected to the Hall of Fame (Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Palmer, Hunter, Gibson, Whitey Ford, and Bob Feller).
It’s extremely difficult to pinpoint where exactly the BBWAA found fault in Tiant’s résumé, especially considering the fact that they were so good to Hunter. In a multitude of postseason innings, Hunter went 9-6 with a 3.26 ERA (identical to his regular season
ERA). Tiant had far fewer postseason opportunities in his career, but still managed to prove his big-game worth, with a 3-0 playoff record and a 2.86 ERA (0.54 points lower than his regular season mark).Luis Tiant belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame, and 2013 could be his year. The Veterans Committee will release their ballot this fall, and Tiant is expected to be on it. He’ll need the support of 75 percent of the voting body—made up of eight Hall of Famers, four baseball executives, and four members of the media—in order to punch his ticket to Cooperstown. Best of luck!
(JM Catellier is the author of the book Fixing Baseball, a guide to restructuring the Hall of Fame. Follow him on Twitter: @FixingBaseball and Facebook, and check out his site: www.fixingbaseball.com)
Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/mlb/2013/...uis-tiant-boston-red-sox/?8BDpWPLHBbOz7D41.99
I had an SRO ticket to that game. That was the first game of the 1975 World Series. His folks were just below where I was standing.
As far as the Hall of Fame, compared to who IS in there. Tiant definatley belongs.
He was the ultimate competitor and showman without being a showboat. One of those game against the Reds he threw like a 150 pitches in the game. When Luis pitched it was must see TV if you were a bases fan.
