Luis Tiant

Luis Tiant was born in Havana, Cuba, and was the only son of Luis and Isabel Tiant. From 1926 to 1948 the elder Tiant was recognized as one of the most celebrated athletes of Cuba. Mr. Luis was a great left-handed pitcher for the Cubans of New York, and his feats were followed by the entire population of Cuba.

He was a victim of baseball's racial restrictions before Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Luis Sr. retired from baseball in 1948 at the age of 42 without ever having appeared in the major leagues.

Luis Jr. followed in the footsteps of his celebrated father at an early age. Luis entered the local minor league program and progressed to the youth league where he played for the Havana team and won a place on the Cuban youth All-Star league team in 1957.

In 1961, in the last season of professional baseball in Cuba, Tiant won the Rookie of the Year award with the uniform of the Lions of Havana by finishing with 10 wins, eight losses and an ERA of 2.72.

Tiant demonstrated great pitching ability at an early age that was recognized by former Indians player Bobby Avila, who was searching for talent in Havana. Avila recommended Tiant to the manager of the Tigers of Mexico City of the Mexican League. Tiant accepted the offer of $150 per month and for the next three years divided his time between Mexico City (Tigers) and Havana (Sugar Kings).

At the end of the summer of 1961 the Cleveland Indians purchased Tiant's contract for $35,000. The occasion was bittersweet for Luis, as the break in relations between Cuba and the United States made it impossible to return home to visit his parents. He would not see his father for 14 years.

Tiant progressed rapidly through the Indians' farm system, and on July 17, 1974 he received the call to the major leagues.

Two days later in his first major league game he defeated future Hall of Fame member Whitey Ford and the defending American League champion New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium 3-0. Luis limited the famous Yankees to only four singles and struck out 11 batters in a complete game, victorious shutout.

Tiant continued pitching well in the '60s, especially in 1968 where he won 21 games with an outstanding ERA of 1.68. The lowest in the American League since Walter Johnson's mark of 1.49 during the "deadball" era in 1919.

After a season plagued by injuries in 1969, Tiant was traded in the off-season to the Minnesota Twins. Luis won his first six decisions for the Twins in 1970 before suffering a fracture in his right shoulder blade that forced him to miss almost the rest of the season.

Tiant then signed with the Boston Red Sox Triple A affiliate in 1971 and was promoted to the Red Sox.

Despite struggling with a record of 1-7, 4.88 ERA as a rookie, Tiant soon became one of the best pitchers in the history of the Red Sox and an idol in Boston.

Beginning to be known as "El Tiante" in Boston, Tiant rediscovered his magic and was 15-6 with an ERA of 1.91 in 1972 -- the best ERA in the American League.

Luis would win at least twenty games for Boston in three of the next four seasons, 20-13 in 1973, 22-13 in 1974, and 21-12 in 1976. Although hindered by back problems in 1975, Tiant won 18 games for the American League champion Red Sox and then excelled for Boston in the subsequent season.

Tiant's success in 1975 resulted in his reunion with his mother and father, who were permitted to visit him under a special visa.

Known for his style and charisma as much as for his great pitching, Tiant became very popular in Boston. His Fu Manchu mustache, warm smile and passion for the cigars he smoked made Tiant recognizable, but it was his classic pitching motion that had children imitating him throughout New England. Twisting and turning his body in incredible positions, Louie spent more time looking at second base than at home plate while preparing to pitch.

When Tiant pitched to home plate he amazed batters with a wide array of pitches. In the '70s, "El Tiante" won 142 games during the regular season and averaged 15 wins a year. He was even better in the postseason. In game one of the American League Championship Series against Oakland Tiant pitched a complete game allowing only three hits, in a 7-1 victory for the Red Sox.

The "Loo-ie" era ended after the 1978 season when he joined the Yankees as a free agent.

In 1979, Tiant as a free agent was signed by the New York Yankees. Luis compiled a record of 21-17 with the Yankees over two seasons from 1979-80.

But even playing with the hated Yankees did not diminish his status as a legend of the Red Sox.

In 19 years, "El Tiante" compiled a record of 229-172 with an ERA of 3.30. He won 20 games four times, led the American League in shutouts three times and struck out 2,416 batters during his illustrious career.

Luis Tiant retired at the age of 42 in 1982 and has fallen short in the past few years of being elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Currently Luis Tiant serves as the pitching coach for Savannah College. He finished his major league career with wins of 229 and losses of 172 and a lifetime ERA of 3.30, which includes 49 shutouts.

Luis Tiant is married to Maria del Refugio Navarro and had three children; Luis in 1962, Isabel in 1967, and Daniel in 1974.