Three-time All-Star pitcher Luis Tiant passed away this morning, the Red Sox confirmed. He was 83 years old. The right-hander played for seven organizations throughout his 19-year MLB career, though he is best remembered for the eight seasons he spent in Boston.
“Luis had a style of pitching that was as memorable as it was effective, but to me, the rarer gift was his ability to lift you up with just a smile,” said Red Sox president & CEO Sam Kennedy, as part of a statement issued by the team. “When you were with him, you were reminded of what really matters. Whether you were a teammate, a fan, or just someone fortunate enough to share a conversation, Luis had a way of making you feel special, like you were a close friend. His legacy on the mound is undeniable, but all of us today are mourning the man, the friend, the mentor who connected generations of fans and players. I am gutted by the news of his passing and will miss him more than words can express. Spring Training won’t be the same without Luis’s infectious energy spreading throughout camp.”
Tiant was born in Marianao, Cuba on November 23, 1940. His father, Luis Tiant Sr., was himself a star pitcher in the Negro Leagues, as well as the Cuban League, Dominican League, and Mexican League. It didn’t take long for the younger Luis Tiant to make a name for himself, pitching for the Mexico City Tigers of the Mexican League and Havana Sugar Kings in the International League as a teenager.
At 21 years old, Tiant made his debut in Cleveland’s minor league system. Two years later, he joined the major league team, making 19 appearances (16 starts) with a 10-4 record and a 2.83 ERA in 127 innings pitched. Across six seasons in Cleveland from 1964-69, he threw 1,200 innings with a 2.84 ERA and an 83 ERA- (17% better than the league average). His 1,041 strikeouts ranked 11th among all pitchers in that time. The highlight of Tiant’s tenure in Cleveland was the 1968 season, in which he went 21-9 and led the American League with a 1.60 ERA. He made his first career All-Star team that year and finished fifth in voting for AL MVP.
Following a disappointing 1969 season (for both Tiant and Cleveland), Cleveland traded Tiant and Stan Williams to Minnesota in exchange for Dean Chance, Bob Miller, Ted Uhlaender and Graig Nettles. However, his time with the Twins was brief. He pitched well when he was on the mound, going 7-3 with a 3.40 ERA (89 ERA-) over 92 2/3 innings, but a broken scapula derailed his season in May. At the time, that was considered a much more serious injury – possibly even career-threatening – and indeed, Tiant did not look nearly as sharp upon his return. The Twins released him the following spring.
After a brief and unsuccessful stint in the Braves minor league system, Tiant caught the attention of the Red Sox organization. It turned out to be a match made in baseball heaven. While he struggled in his first season with his new club, the righty turned things around the following year. He introduced his now-trademark deceptive delivery and went 15-6 with an MLB-leading 1.91 ERA. He finished sixth in Cy Young voting and earned some down-ballot support for AL MVP.
Over eight years in Boston, Tiant went 122-81 with a 3.36 ERA (85 ERA-) in 1,774 2/3 innings pitched. He was named to a couple of All-Star teams and earned Cy Young and MVP votes in three seasons (1972, ’74, ’76). He led the AL in WHIP in 1973 and tied for the major league lead with seven shutouts in 1974. In 1975, he played a pivotal role in the playoffs, pitching a complete game in Game 1 of the ALCS, and 25 innings over three starts in the World Series. The Red Sox won all four games he started, but they lost all four games he did not pitch in the World Series, losing to the Reds in seven games.
As he entered his mid-thirties, Tiant became more of a precision pitcher, getting fewer strikeouts but also giving up fewer walks. He was a valuable contributor to the Red Sox every season from 1972-78, even as he became less durable (by 1970s standards) in his final two years with the club. Unfortunately, his tenure with the Red Sox ended on slightly sour terms; Tiant believed the team didn’t take him seriously in negotiations when his contract was up after the 1978 campaign (per John Powers of the Boston Globe).
Thus, Tiant spent the final four years of his career with the Yankees (1979-80), Pirates (1981), and Angels (1982). He made 55 starts and threw 332 innings over his age-38 and 39 seasons in New York, but his major league career was winding down by the time he signed with the Pirates at age 40. Still, he appeared in nine games for the Pirates in 1981 and six for the Angel in 1982. He also prolonged his professional career by returning to the Mexican League in 1983, and later the short-lived Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989.
Following his playing career, Tiant worked as a scout for the Yankees in Mexico before landing coaching jobs in the minor leagues with the Dodgers (1992-95) and White Sox (1997). He also served as the pitching coach for the Nicaraguan national team in the 1996 Summer Olympics and later worked as the head coach for the Savannah College of Art and Design baseball team (1998-2001). In 2002, he returned to the Red Sox organization, working as a minor league coach (2002), Spanish language broadcaster (2002-03), and special assignment instructor (2004-24).
Tiant is arguably one of the greatest players excluded from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Over 15 years on the BBWAA ballot, he never received close to enough support to reach the 75% threshold necessary for election. He has since fallen short on several committee ballots. While he never won any major awards and only earned three All-Star selections throughout his career, modern statistics make it clear that Tiant was underappreciated in his time. With 66.1 career Baseball Reference WAR and 44.1 bWAR during his seven-year peak, he falls slightly below the 73.0 career bWAR and 44.9 peak bWAR of the average Hall of Fame starting pitcher. However, his 55.1 JAWS is higher than that of more than 40 Hall of Fame pitchers. His 229 wins, 2416 strikeouts, and 66.1 career bWAR also rank first among all Cuban-born pitchers. Tiant could be up for Hall of Fame consideration again this winter on the Classic Baseball Era Committee ballot, though it is important to keep his wishes in mind. Speaking to ESPN Deportes in 2008, he said, “If you don’t take me in life, don’t try to elect me after I die, please.”
Thankfully, Tiant’s phenomenal career did not go unrecognized in his retirement. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in 2002, and the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009 (he spent seven seasons playing winter ball in the Venezuelan League during his major league career).
Known to fans as El Tiante, Luis Tiant will be remembered for his captivating windup, captivating performances, and equally captivating personality. His 49 shutouts are tied for 21st all-time, while his 2416 strikeouts are 48th-most in major league history. His sense of humor, however, was second to none; Red Sox teammate Dwight Evans claims Tiant could “turn a bus ride into something out of Saturday Night Live” (per Powers). We at MLB Trade Rumors send our heartfelt condolences to Tiant’s family, friends, and fans.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
deweybelongsinthehall
RIP El Tiante. I think I first injured my back trying to imitate your delivery. You were one of the greatest and deserve to be enshrined in Cooperstown.
Cat Mando
“I think I first injured my back trying to imitate your delivery.” I was about to post the same thing….tried to imitate him for the heck of it and darn near ended up in traction…LOL.
RIP
User 4245925809
Great guy as well Dewey and was funny to boot. I’ll always remember him at those ST’s in the 70’s, decked to the 9’s, usually wearing a white sportsuit, colorful shirt, beret and always whenever entering/exiting the park? had that cigar in his mouth. i saw him multiple times gander over to the edge of the field and sign literally dozens of items for fans, not all the big names the team had back then would take the time, but both he and Yaz especially so would quite often give back to the fandom like that saw several times.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Wait, are you Hawk Harrelson? Stories of Yaz and bell bottoms and nehru jackets
User 4245925809
Nah Dumpsterdivin, but have mentioned several times on this site (and other places) stories of interactions I had with “The Hawk”, who when i mostly saw him was wearing a cowboy hat, jeans and cowboy boots as well and yeas-sirree.. he was a character, a funny/nice one from his days at tv38, teamed with Dick Stockton and it *did* seem like Hawk was always talking with Yaz more than the others..
I liked Hawk, tho of course no tv38 games ever broadcast way down in WH, those guys just doing some film and background work
deweybelongsinthehall
Great exchange. Hawk was a character and likely still is. I recall.my one year living in Chicago, I realized then how it was Boston’s loss. Monte was fine and of course fans were blessed to have Remy and Eck. That said, Hawk was unique and equally great.
User 4245925809
Dewey- Just came to me Hawk must have been doing some kind of Tony C and as many of the ’67 team interviews as he could 1 ST and Tony c tried a mini comeback 1 ST, believe it was ’75 that was very short lived and Sox ALWAYS has a bunch of old timers on hand during ST, probably had Santigo that year, Stange, maybe Morehead who was there sometimes and petrocelli/Yaz still played with them.
Wonder if it was turned into a full blown documentary it’s still around?
deweybelongsinthehall
Not sure but I remember Tony C winning the DG job to start 75. Then a big problem: Jim Rice took over …
baseballpurist
Anyone remember Carmen Ranzani from Bad News Bears: Back in Training?
DBH1969
I fell over backwards in the back yard. Never heard my Dad so hard.
golfernut
One of a kind, a great pitcher and better man, should be in the hall. RIP Mr. Tiant, you will be missed by so many of us.
luckyh
Really good guy. I think I have 3 autographs of his from different occasions. A wonderful ambassador for baseball and a genuinely kind man. RIP
LordD99
Might have been the second best pitcher in MLB in the Year of the Pitcher in 1968, only behind Gibson. He would have been a solid addition to the HOF. Condolences to his family and friends.
TheMan 3
Denny McClain in 1968, playing for the Tigers won the AL Cy Young award and became the last pitcher to win 30 games in a season
Still, Tiant had a superb season in ‘68 when he won 21 games and led the league in era with at 1.60
phillies1993
21 wins with that team was a feat. Sam McDowell had a 1.91 ERA and only went 15-14.
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
I just read about him when reading the juiced book
User 3222006999
Fantastic P who got every ounce of talent that he had for a long time. RIP man. First Rose the biggest POS in baseball and now Luis the Nicest guy in baseball. Two ends of the scale.
RockinRobin
Just about every kid mimicked his delivery. Wonderful memories.
Condolences to his family and friends. .
ArmyAce
One of my favorite players growing up, loved his unique delivery, true ambassador of the game.
RIP El Tiante
C Yards Jeff
It looked like he was having fun. There was a joy to his game. An artist practicing his craft. RIP and condolences to family.
I wonder if he could have adjusted to this rhythmic pitch clock requirement that the league has in place today. As I do with many pitchers from the past.
Greinke came up in a post from another story here recently. Poster wanted to know if he may come back in 25?. I say no … and not because of age/health. He’s a beautiful baseball mind type that enjoys using strategy in between pitches to help defeat the hitter. IMO, the clock thing has taken the fun out of it for him. Hey Greg Maddux. Care to chime in?
phillies1993
The pitch clock would have never been needed if the umps just didn’t let batters step out after every pitch. It was already in the rules that the ump had to give the batter a timeout and could refuse.
TheMan 3
another player from my youth has passed, I vividly remember Tiant when he was a pitcher for Cleveland and if I am not mistaken, he and Sam McDowell were a mainstay in that rotation for several years
Tiant received no votes for the Cy Young Award in 1968 and I always thought that was a travesty
RIP Luis
Johnny Devil
Sudden Sam and El Tiante. You stirred memories my friend.
MorselPix
Until 1970, Cy Young voters got a single vote, for 1st place. McLain swept it for obvious reasons but Tiant would’ve picked up every 2nd place vote if there were such things. Actually, he out-WAR-ed McLain and did deserve some 1st place votes, too.
MorselPix
I love what he said about Cooperstown calling! And they better respect his wishes. They missed their chance to recognize a legend of the game. Stats and honors aside, I loved watching Tiant.
YankeesBleacherCreature
“I didn’t do it (pitch like he did) for show. I did it to get batters out. Players would tell me, ‘We can’t tell where the ball is coming from.'” – L.T.
RIP, legend.
taylor
187 CGs alone should have got him in the HOF
deweybelongsinthehall
How about his 49 shutouts?
avenger65
ERAs in the 1s and 2s are magnificent. Today, a 3.50 is considered “sterling”. Thanks for the wonderful memories, El Tiante.
RussianFemboySportsFan!
@taylor
My personally, I don’t think he gets in the hall…maybe if he had more strikeouts and a lower ERA.
This one belongs to the Reds
A favorite of mine back in the day. Sad to hear this. RIP Luis.
James Midway
RIP I wish his family and friends strength and peace.
DarkSide830
RIP to a man that deserved to see himself get into the Hall.
deweybelongsinthehall
Yep. A true legend. Not many remember what he had to go through to get to America. Tom Yawkey had to I believe get the consent of two countries to get his dad to Fenway to watch his son pitch in the 75 WS. They say his dad was even better.
GarryHarris
I was just remembering that too.
socraticgadfly
We’re talking about that over at Reddit. reddit.com/r/mlb/comments/1fz740m/rip_luis_tiant_r…
RussianFemboySportsFan!
@dark
I think he just barely misses being in the hall for a couple reasons
High ERA, not enough strikeouts.
deweybelongsinthehall
High ERA? His complete games and shutouts are mind boggling when compared to today’s starters. His big knock is never as a player got a ring. Many others in that class and it certainly wasn’t because of him. I continue to go back to what he represents to Cubans as more than an equalizer when judging his body of work. He has to leave his country, his family and friends with no ability to return home. He also had personality on and off the field.
RussianFemboySportsFan!
Postseason rings shouldn’t be a factor to hall of fame credentials IMO, also shutouts and complete games also dont matter too much as well, dude could have a career ERA over 4.00 and have the same amount of complete games and shutouts, would you still put him in the hall?
JoeBrady
To me, the V.C. have to compare him to Kaat. As a starter, Kaat had 141 more starts and 31 more wins (54-65 in the extra decisions).
Tiant ERA 3.30 v 3.45
Tiant ERA+ 114 v 108
Tiant bWAR 65.6 v 45.2
Tiant bWAR/200 IPs 3.76 v 2.00
More CG and a lot more shutouts. I don’t think Kaat was nearly as good in almost every category
deweybelongsinthehall
Look at the body of work. A career 3.30 ERA. No one completes many if any games today. 150+ pitches in game one of the WS and then he came back to start games four and six (rainouts after game four made it possible for game six).
Fooque2
Every kid from the 60`s and 70`s did the Luis Tiant windup when they pitched…….
olmtiant
Growing up a kid in Cicero Illinois playing ball I would imitate his delivery like so many. My friends would laugh big time as I was a ‘big boned’ kid who would put a huge wad of gum in his cheek to finish out my character… Rip El Tiante i will truly miss you my friend…..
Sagacity
olmtiant – Great post. Based on your comments I wonder if we played against each other in Babe Ruth level baseball in the Chicago area. We played a team from Cicero in the post season state tournament and all I can remember is that we had no players with facial hair and the Cicero team had mustaches and short beards at ages 13 to 15!!. Never did see the birth certificates!!
Back yard whiffle ball and pick-up games at the local ball park were always filled with Luis Tiant wind-ups. Great ball player and person. Saw him several times at Comiskey park. RIP
Dumpster Divin Theo
Boys from Cicero. Love this site!
olmtiant
Theo… as you probably know this… go to any other country and say your from Chicago… people under 50 say… Michael Jordan!!! People over 50… Al Capone…..
deweybelongsinthehall
Sagacity, you made me laugh thinking about my whiffle ball delivery.
Sagacity
oimtiant – Can’t stop laughing!!! I land in Sydney and head to a pub and say I’m from Chicago and YEP Al Capone are the first words I hear and then the sound of a Tommy Gun!!!
JoeBrady
say I’m from Chicago and YEP Al Capone are the first words I hear
========================
When I use to travel, I made sure everyone knew I came from the Bronx. Back in the day, The Bronx probably had more notoriety abroad then it did in the US. There would be no end to the number of people that wanted to know what it was like growing up here. Some folks didn’t even know that there were white people in the Bronx.
It was pretty amusing.
olmtiant
Well if you made to babe Ruth tier that tops me!!! I believe it was called south Cicero baseball but our games.. were played in Stickney…go figure.. 16 inch softball( damn can’t come up with park( under Laramie bridge) as I got older.. where I went from olmtiant to boomer( George Scott) as my damn teammates would purposely throw ball into dirt and scream SCOOOOP… lastly I always say I’m the most famous person to graduate from Morton East since Joe Mantegna Lol!!! Thanks for the memories Sagacity!!!!!
Sagacity
Oimtiant = You ever cross paths with a 16 inch softball legend named Gary Mueller? Best athlete I ever played with. When I went the baseball route he went the 16 inch softball route. Last I heard, by the 80s he had become a bit of a legend as a hitter and pitcher in the Chicago circuit.
No Salary Cap For You! (Come Back One Year)
He was in an episode of Cheers doing a TV commercial with Sam Mayday Malone. A great pitcher, lots of character, very old school. None like him now.
kiwimlbfan
‘you don’t feel full with Fields, you just feel fine’
Clofreesz
El Tiante is gone. One of the most badass pitchers during the seventies with his unique pitching style. A HOF-caliber player that was left in the dark. RIP.
jorge78
RIP Luis…..
Olkris
Between the Angels and the Mexican league Luis spent time in the PCL with the Portland Beavers. I followed them on the radio. Tiant was amazing in the PCL, he threw a no-hitter at one point. Willie Horton played for the Beavs also. Great times.
User 4245925809
Olkris- “think” Tiant might have played a very short time in that senior league in FL, which used ST homes as bases. I remember george Scott, bernie Carbo and Bill Lee as solid ex Sox players, think Tiant might have been a member short time. It was late 80’s, like 2 seasons before folded.
sufferforsnakes
Got to see him play when he was on the Indians. My favorite pitcher back then. His windup was so cool.
GarryHarris
This article gets it wrong when it says Luis Tiant introduced his now trademark deceptive delivery while with the Red Sox. Watch the 1968 All Star Game. Tiant uses all his tricks in this game as the AL’s starting pitcher.
Luis Tiant did not use all those cork screw type deliveries when runners were on base. In addition to all his delivery variations, he varied his delivery times anywhere from a quick pitch to holding the ball a very long time.
A'sfaninLondonUK
Am I right in thinking he pitched a complete game 1-0 loss the day after Thurman Munson died in the private plane? That must have been incredibly difficult. When an era of baseball he played through. Remarkable guy, and time to smoke a decent cigar in his memory…
WestVillageTiger
An arch-villain from my childhood years when he pitched for Cleveland and he regularly toyed with and tormented my Tigers.
An all time great in my memories!
RIP…
User 2976510776
In the late 70s early 80s he always seemed to be the starter for the Sox on NBC Saturday Game of The Week. Jim Rice would hit a homer.
BPax
I worked for a guy named Russ Berrie that owned the Florida Gold Coast Suns in the Senior Professional Baseball Association and Tiant was on his roster. The Suns had Earl Weaver as the manager and the only players I remember Russ telling me he had were Bobby Molinaro, Bert Campaneris, and Tiant. Russ said that one day during the season Tiant got in his car and drove away never to be seen again by the team! A character for sure.
SadMsFan
May perpetual light shine upon him, and all those who have passed away this day
Human Being
I remember meeting Luis Tiant at the Red Sox fanfest when Xander was a rookie. We had some nice conversations that day. He’ll definitely be missed.
bcjd
Tiant and Dewey belong in the Hall.
deweybelongsinthehall
I had another handle at one point Luisbelongsinthehall. Roids ruined the HOF judging. So many players of the prior generations are at least worthy of another look from the writers: Bell, Evans, Tiant, Garvey, Hernandez, Mattingly, Munson and Murphy just to name a few.
Rsox
Tiant was Hideo Nomo long before Hideo Nomo was Hideo Nomo. R.I.P. El Tiante
Dumpster Divin Theo
Wait, Hideo Nomo Tiant some kind of cat, nine lives? Or did the legend of Tiante inspire the gleam in Hideo parent eyes?
Non Roster Invitee
I have a beautiful 1974 Topps card of El Tiante. It was my favorite card for years. It looks like a portrait. Great mustache and pose. Please look for it and check it out .
What a pitcher.
RIP Luis.
Niekro floater
Via con Dios. RIP
Nuschler
100% a hall of famer in my book. Too bad the veteran’s committee didn’t make it happen when he was alive.
deweybelongsinthehall
Too bad the writers didn’t either. His first year of the eligibility was his best voting year. I’m not sure what they were looking at to never seriously consider him. At that time, first ballot players never had a chance.
30 Parks
Met Luis at Fanfest at the All-Star Game in Cleveland. Great guy. I have a photo of Luis & I from that day hanging on my wall. Rest easy, Luis – a life well lived.
CardsFan57
RIP. Add me to those who thought he deserved to be in the HOF.
themed
RIP El Tiante! Lifetime Cardinals fan here but enjoyed watching him pitch. So sad!
CO Guardening
How did he never win a CY Young you ask? Denny McLain, Gaylord Perry and Catfish Hunter.
avenger65
Lost three greats this year: A HOFer (Mays), a HOFer not in the HOF (Rose) and hopefully a soon-to-be HOFer despite his wishes (Tiant). I’ll miss them all.
all in the suit that you wear
RIP
casualfan
He’s clearly above the HOF line for me. Of course with the funky delivery everyone of a certain vintage tried to mimic growing up and being such a wonderful ambassador for MLB, it really is a travesty that is not in the HOF. His stats are more than good enough and if you reckon he’s only borderline, then the FAME part surely puts him over the line for any doubters.
darthdragula
Legend. Hall of Famer in my eyes.
Pants Rowland
Luis Tiant, “the only man I ever saw who could smoke a cigar in the shower without getting it wet”
— Bill Lee
Maddog Jameson
Tiant was a great person. I went to Red Sox fantasy camp in 2010 for my 50th birthday and he was one of the teams managers. My 2nd day there i was running out a double and trashed my right hamstring.
After the game I was in the training room getting worked on by the staff and getting my leg wrapped. When I left the training room everyone had already left for dinner. I was sitting in the lobby when he walk out. He said Chris what are you doing? It shocked me as we only talked once, how did he remember my name?
I told him I missed the team bus because I was in the training room. So he said, “Come with me, we go eat dinner together. ” We got a cab and he took me to this great steakhouse and cigar bar. He wouldn’t let me pay for drink or the meal. After dinner we had a great cigar together and I just listened to his stories. That was one of the best nights in my life. He was a great ballplayer but even a better human being.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Best story!
deweybelongsinthehall
Absolutely! Only negative is I can’t tell it (my closest true celebrity story is telling others I spoke to a certain rock star when the truth is he was best friends with my cousin and was performing in Europe when my cousin died from leukemia; I simply answered the phone and told his wife “it’s for you…”).
olmtiant
Outstanding story!! I don’t know what I’m jealous of more… Redsox fantasy camp/ steak dinner with one of my all time favorites… nope it’s having a CIGAR with him and listening to his stories!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Dumpster Divin Theo
Bummer, i remember seeing this dudes baseball card. Any good?
depletion
Almost the exact same stats as Catfish Hunter, same era, same ERA, same league, W/L almost the same. Catfish had much more postseason work and sailed into the HoF. Luis never got in the same area code as 75%. How the hell did that happen? I don’t disrespect Catfish’s great career, but there’s nothing Luis could do to get in the postseason other than pitch great, which he did.
Yaz'sOldBattingGloves
Sad day as another of my childhood heroes passes. I loved watching Luis Tiant pitch. Thanks for the memories. I’ll never forget the 75 season. Listened almost every game while working Reno’s in Caribou Maine.
RIP El Tiante
mang
Sad to hear of his passing. A giant in the game. One of those guys who connected generations. I’m too young to have ever seen him pitch but he was as big a name in our house as any current Red Sox. RIP El Tiante.
mike127
Started three games in the 1975 World Series. The Red Sox won them all….and lost the other four.
155 pitches in game 4——and started the classic game 6, which we all know how it ended.
It’s amazing how, even though it was nearly 50 years ago, I can pick out the exact spot I was at, in the living room at home, watching the World Series with my dad, for that series.
Like everyone else—pitched like Luis in the back yard, batting stance of Yaz, wingflap of Morgan.
Rest in peace, Luis.
BeeCarbo
When we got him back from the Yanks as a “Rep”, he would sit outside the main entrance at Ft. Myers in his golf cart holding court. Too respectful to interrupt, all I could say was Thank you Mr. Tiant and go my way.
Those Sherman Williams commercials in the locker room with the cigar and his Cuban accent were a gas.
charlien
Ihe was a good pitcher
RBFSSolution
It’s great to be Wiener.
Did he throw the Roger Beshens Football Slider?
Football, Stiff wrist.
C Yards Jeff
Man, born in 1940.
That means from like age 12 to age 20, he lived in a country of unrest and uncertainty that included 3 leadership changes; a democracy, Batista then Castro. I’m trying to get my head around that. Also; was it a difficult journey getting from Cuba to the US?
RIP. Loved watching you pitch, Mr. Tiant.
JoeBrady
I’ll go agnostic on his HOF merits, but with one caveat. If the Veteran’s Committee ever adds another pitcher, it really needs to be El Tiante. It just wouldn’t be a RS spring training until El Tiante showed up smoking a cigar.
Yaz is my favorite player, but Tiant dominated the room.
rockingryan
Thoughts and prayers. Luis or as we his frenz called him Lout…was so good I’d say even as of yesterday he could have given a team 8 strong innings with 10+ strikeouts. He. Was. That. Good!
Dice 66
RIP got to see him In San Diego when he was with Pirates. Watched him warm up field level 20 ft away 1981.
twiker
Great mask pic!
adc6r
One of my favorite pitchers to watch at the vanguard of the Latin Players in MLB who reshaped the game.
RIP Luis
PS Best Delivery ever!