Luis Tiant dies aged 83

Luis Tiant, the legendary Cuban right-hander who left a lasting imprint on baseball, has died at the age of 83. The news brings to mind not just the numbers or accolades he piled up during his 19-season career, but the soul and creativity he brought to the mound. Baseball fans will remember Tiant for his unique, often unpredictable pitching style, his flair, and the love he garnered from the crowds in places like Fenway Park and Cleveland Stadium. He wasn’t just another pitcher in the big leagues - he was a performer, a craftsman, and a man who seemed to reinvent the game every time he took the ball.

Tiant starts his journey in Cleveland, where he makes his name as one of the league’s brightest arms. In 1968, he dominates with a 1.60 ERA, finishing fifth in the MVP voting that year. He racks up a 21-9 record and looks poised to be one of baseball’s top pitchers for years to come. But the game, and fortune, doesn’t always treat its players kindly. The following year, 1969, Tiant hits a wall, posting a 9-20 record and seeing his ERA jump to 3.71. Cleveland, in turn, sends him packing, and he makes his way to Minnesota.

Things don’t get much better there, as he struggles to find his footing with the Twins. After just 18 appearances, he’s shown the door again. Baseball seems ready to cast him aside, yet Tiant has other ideas.

He lands in Boston, where he experiences another rough patch, but by 1972, he’s back to doing what he does best - baffling hitters. He claws his way into the Red Sox rotation and delivers one of the best seasons of his career, posting a 1.91 ERA in 179 innings. The fans at Fenway take to him like few before, chanting his name in a way that Red Sox great Carl Yastrzemski later says he’d never witnessed before. “But I’ll tell you one thing,” Yastrzemski adds, “Tiant deserved every bit of it.”

The love affair between Tiant and Boston continues through the mid-1970s, with him playing a central role in their pennant runs, particularly in 1975. That year, he famously dominates the Cincinnati Reds in two World Series starts, etching his name in postseason lore. His windups become part of his legend - whether he’s turning his back to the hitter, dropping down low, or releasing the ball from angles that batters can hardly believe - they never know what’s coming next. Tiant seems to enjoy keeping them guessing, and it’s clear he relishes the artistry in it all.

After Boston, he makes stops with the Yankees, Pirates, and Angels before finally hanging up his spikes in 1982. Over his career, Tiant collects 229 wins, a solid 3.30 ERA, and strikes out more than 2,400 batters. But his career, like his pitching, never fits neatly into a box. Baseball Reference puts his Wins Above Replacement (WAR) at 66.1, a mark that would get most pitchers into Cooperstown. Yet the Hall of Fame voters never quite see him that way, with his highest percentage of votes coming in his first year of eligibility in 1988. That lack of recognition never seems to define him, though. He has more than his share of triumphs, both on and off the field, including a stint as head coach at this writer’s alma mater, the Savannah College of Art and Design, from 1998 to 2001.

When I heard that he was coaching there, I strongly considered returning for a Masters degree, just so I could play under the great El Tiante. I have always regretted not doing that.

What makes Luis Tiant stand out isn’t just his numbers - it’s the way he played the game. As Reggie Jackson once put it, Tiant was “the Fred Astaire of baseball,” with a sense of rhythm and showmanship that made watching him pitch a joy. Whether he’s blowing fastballs by hitters or fooling them with an off-speed pitch, Tiant dances on the mound, always a step ahead.

In his passing, the game loses not just one of its greats but one of its true characters, a man whose love for baseball radiates through every motion, every pause, and every windup. It’s hard to think of anyone else quite like Luis Tiant.