Baseball lost a great one today.
Former Boston Red Sox Pitcher Luis Tiant passed away at 83.
Beloved by his fans and teammates, Luis Tiant was born in Cuba in 1940. Tiant came to the United States in 1961 when the Cleveland Indians signed him. Due to the conflicts between the U.S. and Cuba that would arise a year later, Tiant would not be able to return home for years, but he was able to do what many Cuban baseball stars could do in the decades that followed: he became a star in Major League Baseball.
Tiant made it to the Indians in 1964, where he was a part of their starting rotation. He had his best year in baseball with Cleveland in 1968, where he went to his first All-Star Game, had a record of 21-9, and led the American League in ERA (1.60), Shutouts (9), ERA+ (186), FIP (2.04) and H/9 (5.2). He struggled the season after and was traded to Minnesota, where he was released after a poor year.
Tiant signed with Atlanta in a minor-league deal where he altered his pitching style to reclaim his past glory. The Red Sox traded for him, and he was called up but again continued to struggle, but he rebounded in spades in 1972, where he won his second ERA Title (1.91). Tiant won 20 Games the next two seasons, earning a second All-Star in 1974, and the year after, he was the ace on the Red Sox squad that won the American League Pennant.
He was an All-Star again in 1976 and later played for the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and California Angels. He finished his career with a record of 229-172 with 2,416 Strikeouts.
Tiant was on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for fifteen years, but could not make Cooperstown. He is, however, a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
We at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to Luis Tiant's fans, friends, and family.
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