Posted on 10/08/2024 2:33:46 PM PDT by Rummyfan
With his whirling, twisting delivery -- strikingly unique from any other pitcher in history -- Luis Tiant turned his performances into theater. During the peak of his career in the 1970s, you didn’t need a radio or television to know that Tiant was pitching at Fenway Park.
Throughout the packed houses he pitched in front of, cries of “Looie, Looie, Looie!” echoed around Kenmore Square and other parts of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood.
The lovably charismatic El Tiante -- as he came to be known throughout his memorable career -- died on Tuesday at the age of 83.
“Luis had the kind of unforgettable presence that made you feel like you were part of his world,” said Red Sox principal owner John Henry in a statement. “He was a pitcher with incredible talent, accomplishing so much with a style uniquely his own. But what truly set Luis apart was his zest for life, embracing every moment with an infectious spirit, even in the face of his many challenges. He channeled everything into his love for the game and the people around him. He was magnetic and had a smile that could light up Fenway Park. Luis was truly one of a kind and all of us at the Red Sox will miss him.”
(Excerpt) Read more at mlb.com ...
Rest In Peace, Luis.
RIP Luis.
When he pitched for the Yankees he did TV commercials for Colonial brand hot dogs and bacon in the NYC metro area. They were hysterical ads because the guy spoke broken English and the viewer could barely understand him. LOL.
R.I.P.
A great baseball era. RIP.
those were the days. Godspeed, Louie.
Reunited with his parents.
Remember they were able to come to the 1975 World Series from Cuba to watch him pitch.
He also pitched both Fenway Franks and Yankee Franks, though never on the same day.
Back in the era when pitchers had very distinctive styles (compared to today), none was more distinctive than El Tiante’s.
I was just thinking about him the other day on the thread about Fernando Valenzuela.
RIP, Luis.
I used to handle his Telephone Account, and talked to him frequently. Very nice person, respectful and kind to me.
“I was just thinking about him the other day on the thread about Fernando Valenzuela.”
Haven’t thought about him in decades but this post revived connections to long dormant brain cells.
Condolences to family and friends of Luis Tiant. RIP sir.
RIP Luis, a lot of us imitated his pitching style in our backyard games back in the day.
My wife and I were driving around down on Cape Cod some years ago, and we pulled into a 7-11 and parked next to a beat up, old, faded yellow Mercury.
A chunky, older guy with a goatee came out wearing a bright yellow shirt and blue plaid pants, lit up a big cigar, and I laughed...
It was Luis Tiant, decades past his prime, but...still, inexorably and recognizably...Luis Tiant!
Oh, yes...we did!
Do those brain cells remember The Reflections?
https://www.google.com/search?q=just+like+romeo+and+juliet&client=firefox-b-1-e&sca_esv=5bf84f1c9db1b0c0&tbm=vid&ei=yqoFZ_6mJ6mvur8P9cym4Q8&start=20&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwj-s8rK4_-IAxWpl-4BHXWmKfw4ChDw0wN6BAgSEBk&biw=1093&bih=463&dpr=1.25#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:82532df1,vid:sfWwUWkyUAw,st:0
I heard from an acquaintance who met him outside of baseball that he was a nice, polite guy.
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