Red Sox, Cuban legend Luis Tiant passes away at 83

[BeyondGeography]

With his whirling, twisting delivery -- strikingly unique from any other pitcher in history -- Luis Tiant turned his performances into theater. During the peak of his career in the 1970s, you didn’t need a radio or television to know that Tiant was pitching at Fenway Park. Throughout the packed houses he pitched in front of, cries of “Looie, Looie, Looie!” echoed around Kenmore Square and other parts of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. The lovably charismatic El Tiante -- as he came to be known throughout his memorable career -- died on Tuesday at the age of 83.

…In a 19-year Major League career, the Cuban native had a career record of 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA, pitching for Cleveland (1964-69), Minnesota (’70), Boston (’71-78), the Yankees (’79-80), Pittsburgh (’81) and the Angels (’82). When fellow Cuban Tony Oliva was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022, he stood on the stage on a stifling hot Sunday in Cooperstown, N.Y., and noted that Tiant deserved to be there also. Though Tiant never got the call from the Hall, the three-time All-Star led the American League in Baseball Reference WAR for pitchers in 1968 and was in the top 10 in seven other seasons. That '68 season was the Year of the Pitcher and Tiant played the part better than anyone not named Bob Gibson or Denny McLain, posting a 1.60 ERA in the first of his eventual four 20-win seasons.

…The 1975 World Series, in which the upstart Red Sox played a compelling seven-game set before ultimately falling to Cincinnati’s vaunted Big Red Machine, turned Tiant into a household name. But for the gritty righty, the son of a Negro Leagues star (Luis Tiant Sr.), it all started in Cuba, where he was born on Nov. 23, 1940. Tiant followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming an ace in his homeland during his youth.

The problem was that Cuba didn’t have professional baseball once Fidel Castro took power in 1959. For three seasons -- from 1959 through ’61 -- Tiant pitched for the Mexico City Tigers, hoping he would be noticed by a pro scout. Tiant got his wish when Cleveland purchased his contract from Mexico City for $35,000 prior to the '62 season…

More at https://www.mlb.com/news/luis-tiant-dies

He was an absolute blast to watch and he should be in the Hall.

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[Doc Sportello]

1. Loved watching him and Juan Marichal pitch

Their deliveries were as much fun to watch as they were difficult for hitters to hit.

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3. Yeah, Marichal with the high, high kick. Had to be hard for hitters to pick up his pitches behind that kick.

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2. RIP, Louis Tiant. You were a thrill to watch.

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. Sad to read this.

Saw Luis pitch a few times in Fenway. He had a delivery that was wicked.

[The Madcap]

5. Makes me feel old

I was just in my early teens when I saw him pitch against Oakland in the early 70's. Never was a Boston fan, but I have the ultimate respect for any pitcher who could succeed in that crazy ballpark. RIP.