Boston Red Sox pitching legend Luis Tiant has died at the age of 83

BOSTON — Luis Tiant, a Boston Red Sox pitching legend whose Major League Baseball career spanned 19 years, has died.

According to the Red Sox, Tiant died at his home in Maine on Tuesday morning. The cause of death was not immediately announced.

Who is Luis Tiant?

Tiant, nicknamed “El Tiant”, was 83 years old.

Tiant won 229 games and had a career average of 3.36. The right-hander made his major league debut in 1964 with Cleveland. After spending six years with the Indians, he spent one season with Minnesota, then eight years in Boston, where he helped lead the 1975 team to the World Series, which the Red Sox lost in 7 games to Cincinnati.

After his tenure with the Red Sox, Tiant played two years with the Yankees, one in Pittsburgh, and a final season with the Angels.

Former teammate Fred Lin responded to Tiant’s death by calling it a “very sad day.”

Tian, ​​who was Born in Cubahad four 20-win seasons and won the American League pennant twice.

He is a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame and the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Hall of Fame.

MLB issued a statement saying, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Luis Tiant.”

During a 2015 celebration of the 1975 Boston Red Sox, Tiant spoke about his unique conclusion During his appearance at the NESN broadcast booth. The right-hander said he first tried to get away from the hitter during his disappearance in 1972.

“After that I won 172 matches,” Tiant said. “It worked out for me.”

Red Sox talk about Tiant’s ‘unforgettable presence’

The Red Sox released statements from the team’s ownership group about Tiant, who spent 31 years with the organization as a player, coach, broadcaster and special assignments coach.

“Louis had an unforgettable presence that made you feel like you were part of his world,” said principal owner John Henry. “He was a pitcher of incredible talent, who accomplished so much with his own unique style. But what truly set Lewis apart was his enthusiasm for life, embracing every moment with a contagious spirit, even in the face of the many challenges he faced. It was all his love of the game and the people he channeled from All around him, he was charismatic and had a smile that could light up Fenway Park. Lewis was truly one of a kind and he will be missed by all of us at the Red Sox.

“Lewis embodied everything we love about this game: resilience, passion and an undeniable sense of belonging to something greater than himself,” Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner added.

Luis Tiant is a Hall of Fame nominee

Although Tiant was on the Baseball Hall of Fame card for 15 years, he was not selected by voters. It was later considered on “Golden Age” balloting. But it was not specified.

Pitcher Tony Perez, who was also born in Cuba, spoke about Tiant’s impact on the region in an article published on the website Baseball Hall of Fame website.

“When I was a boy growing up in Cuba, Luis Tiant was a national hero,” Perez said.

In 2019, Tiant A book Named Son of Havana: Baseball’s Journey from Cuba to the Major Leagues and Back. It describes Tiant’s journey to Major League Baseball, as well as the fifteen years he spent separated from his family detained in Cuba.

Tiant is survived by his wife, Maria. The couple had four children, Louis Jr., Isabel, Daniel, and John Babile.