Luis Tiant dead @ 83

Cobra Mgr · 10-08-2024, 11:28 AM

As a kid, this guy seemed larger than life to me.

CONN CHRIS · 10-08-2024, 11:35 AM

I was never a Sox fan but grew up in New England - he was revered in these parts.

RIP El Tiante

Ty Cobb · 10-08-2024, 12:14 PM

A wonderful pitcher and entertaining guy to watch as well. He'll be missed.

Amazin69 · 10-08-2024, 03:45 PM

A complete fireballer with the Indians in the 1960s (yes, the Cleveland 1968 staff stats are affected by the "Year of the Pitcher" depressing batting averages, but the Tribe still put up very nice numbers), he was traded to Minnesota (for a young Graig Nettles) threw so hard that he broke his shoulder in spring training and had to redo his entire motion.

He got released by the Twins, signed with and then released by the Braves, and then hooked on with the Red Sox, who rode him through a terrible start in 1972 (I believe he was 0-7 at one point) until all the pieces came together.

And then it was magic. Some of Roger Angell's best work is in describing the varying motions El Tiante used during the 1975 World Series. Quite a second act, indeed.

Remember that Tiant was a second-generation star; his dad had been a legendary pitcher in the Cuban and Mexican Leagues. When Tiant rose to prominence, Fidel Castro (a failed pitcher himself, who was a big fan of Tiant, Sr.) let both of his parents go to the USA to attend the World Series, and then let them stay here. So Luis Sr got to see his son pitch for most of 1976 as well, before he passed away that September. (His mother went to the funeral, came back to the wake, sat down and died as well. Sometimes you get those sequential-grief deaths, alas.)

We'll miss you, Looie!

dsvitak · 10-08-2024, 07:46 PM

I tried to model my pitching motion after Tiant. Lasted about three pitches before my coach yelled at me to knock it off. Heh heh.

GeoWar · 10-10-2024, 12:05 PM

I remembered him with Indians and the cigar ---

Syd Thrift · 10-10-2024, 01:45 PM

I remember Nuke Laloosh in "Bull Durham" made a point of throwing like Tiant. Even though Tiant himself was pretty good with his control, his windup sure looked like something a wild pitcher would use...

10-08-2024, 11:28 AM	#1
Cobra Mgr Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Parts unknown Posts: 9,219	Luis Tiant dead @ 83 As a kid, this guy seemed larger than life to me. __________________ If a man is guilty 4 what goes on inside of his mind, then let me get the electric chair 4 all my future crimes. - Prince Batdance June 7, 1958 - Apr 21, 2016 Don't fall for the spin

10-08-2024, 11:35 AM	#2
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 29,107	I was never a Sox fan but grew up in New England - he was revered in these parts. RIP El Tiante __________________ Check Out My Cards!

10-08-2024, 12:14 PM	#3
Ty Cobb Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Grayling, MI Posts: 4,623	A wonderful pitcher and entertaining guy to watch as well. He'll be missed. __________________ "You could not live with your own failure. Where did that bring you? Back to me." Thanos

10-10-2024, 12:05 PM	#6
GeoWar All Star Reserve Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 850	I remembered him with Indians and the cigar --- __________________ Cal. State Fullerton -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2004 Texas Longhorns -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2005 Oregon State Beavers -- NCAA Champion - Baseball 2006 and 2007 With unity comes VICTORY !

10-08-2024, 03:45 PM	#4
Amazin69 Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Palmetto Pride! Posts: 4,218 Infractions: 0/4 (4)	A complete fireballer with the Indians in the 1960s (yes, the Cleveland 1968 staff stats are affected by the "Year of the Pitcher" depressing batting averages, but the Tribe still put up very nice numbers), he was traded to Minnesota (for a young Graig Nettles) threw so hard that he broke his shoulder in spring training and had to redo his entire motion. He got released by the Twins, signed with and then released by the Braves, and then hooked on with the Red Sox, who rode him through a terrible start in 1972 (I believe he was 0-7 at one point) until all the pieces came together. And then it was magic. Some of Roger Angell's best work is in describing the varying motions El Tiante used during the 1975 World Series. Quite a second act, indeed. Remember that Tiant was a second-generation star; his dad had been a legendary pitcher in the Cuban and Mexican Leagues. When Tiant rose to prominence, Fidel Castro (a failed pitcher himself, who was a big fan of Tiant, Sr.) let both of his parents go to the USA to attend the World Series, and then let them stay here. So Luis Sr got to see his son pitch for most of 1976 as well, before he passed away that September. (His mother went to the funeral, came back to the wake, sat down and died as well. Sometimes you get those sequential-grief deaths, alas.) We'll miss you, Looie!

10-08-2024, 07:46 PM	#5
dsvitak Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,410	I tried to model my pitching motion after Tiant. Lasted about three pitches before my coach yelled at me to knock it off. Heh heh.