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 ...
Luis had a real effus curve ball.
It had a ceiling of about 8 feet and a speed of about 60mph.
Saw him fool Willie Horton dozens of times.
Your post made me laugh...we would imitate his pitching motion even when we were throwing empty beer bottles against rocks in the middle of the woods near the school!
Yes. That’s how I remember him.
Sad.
Quite a pitcher with a unique wind up.
El Tiante and his contemporaries were real pitchers, not like today’s throwers. He should have been elected to the HOF.
I remember his lead-off homer in a World Series back in the day. Unexpected to say the least. Big baller shot caller.
I specifically remember Game 1 of the 1975 World Series in which Tiant pitched a complete game for a shutout win.
Your link jumps back to here to quickly so I dialed them up on Tidal. Now I got about a hundred of their song in my queue.
I remember that song but could not have said which group.
Rodrigo’s Guitar Concerto de Aranja.
+1
You have a great memory. You were fortunate.
I used to handle his Telephone Account and talked to him frequently. Very nice person, respectful and kind to me.
Heck of a pitcher and so much fun to watch pitch!! Sad to see his like pass away.
Praise God I still have my memory. A lot of folks my age are losing theirs. I can still remember Luis’ voice. For such a big man, he had a high tenor voice.
Well, I guess you could say Pavarotti was a “big” man too, but Luis was big in a different way.
I grew up on the Cape, but met Luis Tiant at the Savannah College of Art and Design in the early 90’s. He had just been hired as the Head Coach of the yet-to-be-formed varsity baseball team. What I remember was his hands. Shaking them was like grabbing onto piece of driftwood.
Tiant pitched really well in the 1975 World Series against the Reds.
He was 83? How could he get so old, when I haven’t?
He was a great pitcher. And from what I’ve heard, he was a good guy.
Thanks for the memories. Rest in Peace.
I would to sit down with you and have a long discussion about him, his career, and how great baseball was in his prime.
You indeed are fortunate to have met him and gotten to know him.
Well, I guess you could say Pavarotti was a “big” man too, but Luis was big in a different way.
Tiant pitched well in whole postseason in 1975. Four starts, three complete games (try that in modern MLB!), and a 3-0 W-L record. Got roughed up in Game 6 in the World Series that the Red Sox won in 11 innings on Fisk’s HR.
I cried while reading this. Everybody in Boston loved him. There will never be another Luis. I hope he gets into the Hall of Fame some day. He should.
My family are Red Sox fans for several generations, so I thought it was so cool that I got to talk to him, even if it was only about telephone business.
I broke a window or two doing that!!…
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