Luis Tiant

From SoSH

Luis "El Tiante" Tiant (born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba), born Luis Clemente Tiant Vega, the only child of Luis Tiant Sr. who starred in the Negro Leagues in the 1930's and 40's, winning the Negro League World Series with the New York Cubans in 1947.

Contents 1 Overall Career 2 Awards 3 Moment in the Sun 4 Trivia 5 Transactions 6 External Links

Overall Career

After being signed by Cleveland, 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 future Hall of Famer Whitey Ford. Tiant finished his rookie season with a 10-4 record, 105 strikeouts, and a 2.83 ERA in 19 games.

In 1966 Tiant pitched four straight shutouts on his way to 12 wins and a 2.79 ERA. But 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. 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. In that season, he led the league in ERA (1.60), shutouts (9), hits per nine innings (5.3), strikeouts per nine innings (9.22, more than a batter an inning), while finished with a 21-9 mark. Beside this, opposing hitters batted just .168 off Tiant, a major league record, and on July 3 he struck out 19 Minnesota Twins in a ten-inning game, setting an American League record for games of that length. His 1.60 ERA was the lowest in the American League since Walter Johnson's 1.49 mark during the deadball era in 1919.

After an injury-plagued season in 1969, Tiant was traded to the Twins in a multi-player deal that brought Graig Nettles to the Indians. With Minnesota, Tiant began 1970 with six wins, but then he fractured his right scapula and virtually ended the season. He showed little 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, but he gave up after a few weeks. Tiant eventually landed in Boston, and despite struggling with a 1-7 record, 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 1975, he 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. Tiant won Game 4 as well (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.

Awards

• 1975 American League Babe Ruth Award
• 3-time American League All-Star (1968, 1974, 1976)

Moment in the Sun

• Tiant pitched 116 complete games in his eight-year Red Sox career.
• In the 1975 World Series, Tiant threw a shutout in Game 1 and tossed 163 pitches in Game 4 to get the 5-4 win

Trivia

• Tiant's age was often estimated at several years higher that its "official" listing.
• Due the rise to power of Fidel Castro, after leaving Cuba, Tiant would not see his parents for a span of 14 years.
• Tiant is legendary in Red Sox clubhouse lore for being able to maintain a lit cigar during the entirety of his post-game showers.
• Luis distributes a line of cigars called "El Tiante" which is also the name of his Yawkey Way bistro (El Tiante's).

Transactions

• Before 1962 Season: Purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Mexico City Tigers (Mexican).
• December 10, 1969: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Stan Williams to the Minnesota Twins for Dean Chance, Bob Miller, Ted Uhlaender, and Graig Nettles.
• March 31, 1971: Released by the Minnesota Twins.
• April 16, 1971: Signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.
• May 15, 1971: Released by the Atlanta Braves.
• May 17, 1971: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox.
• November 2, 1978: Granted Free Agency.
• November 13, 1978: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.
• October 27, 1980: Granted Free Agency.
• February 23, 1981: Signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• October 5, 1981: Released by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• August 2, 1982: Purchased by the California Angels from the Tabasco (Mexican).
• November 10, 1982: Granted Free Agency.

External Links

• Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis