Luis Tiant

Played For
Cleveland Indians (1964-1969)
Minnesota Twins (1970)
Boston Red Sox (1971-1978)
New York Yankees (1979-1980)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1981)
California Angels (1982)

All-Time Rankings
Luis Tiant ranks #46 among the Top 50 all-time at SP. Rankings ⇒

Best Season: 1968
It was the year of the pitcher, and Luis Tiant was as good as any hurler in the AL, including Denny McLain, who won 31 games. Tiant led the league in ERA (1.60) and shutouts (9). He also paced the league in opponents batting average - a paltry .168. Luis won 21 games for the lowly Indians, striking out 254 in 258 innings.

Full Bio
Tiant was born in Cuba, the land where his father, Luis Sr., had starred as a pitcher for more than two decades. Once, Luis Sr. had defeated a group of Major League All-Stars, striking out Babe Ruth. "Little Looey" – as he was called – followed in his famous father’s footsteps, learning every pitch imaginable. In 1959, just 18 years old, he was signed by Bobby Avila to play in the Mexican League. While playing below the border, his contract was purchased by the Indians

In 1964 he was called to Cleveland and was soon in their rotation, going 10-4, with a 2.83 ERA. Within a few seasons Tiant was the ace of the Indians staff, throwing four straight shutouts in 1966 on his way to 12 wins and a 2.79 ERA. In 1968 he achieved stardom when he won 21 games and fashioned a league leading 1.60 ERA. Opposing batters hit just .168 off Tiant, a major league record. Unfortunately for Luis, the Tigers' Denny McLain won 31 games that year and ran off with the Cy Young award.

In 1969 Tiant slumped terribly – losing 20 games while his ERA more than doubled. In the off-season he was included in a multi-player deal with Minnesota that brought Graig Nettles to the Indians. With the Twins he began 1970 with six wins, but then he fractured his shoulder blade and virtually ended his season. He finished with seven victories in 18 games. When he showed little promise in spring training, he was released early in 1971. The Braves signed him to a minor league contract but gave up after a few weeks. He eventually landed with the Red Sox, going 1-7 with a 4.85 ERA. It seemed his career may be over

But Tiant surprised even himself, rebounding with a 15-wins eason in 1972, as the Red Sox battled with Detroit to the wire for the division title. Tiant was named Comeback Player of the Year on the strength of his 15-6, 1.91 ERA performance. He allowed just 7 home runs in 43 games and 179 innings. In ’73 he was back completely, winning twenty games and establishing himself as the ace and favorite of the Fenway faithful.

Tiant went 22-13 in 1974, but lost the Cy Young award to Jim Palmer. The next season he led the team into the post-season, winning 18 games. In the playoffs he whipped the A’s and then opened the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. His father, having been allowed to leave Cuba, was in Fenway Park that day to watch his son defeat The Big Red Machine 6-0. Little Looey won Game Four was well, and had a no-decision in Game Six – the game that saw Carlton Fisk’s dramatic game-winning homer in extra frames.

In 1976 Tiant enjoyed his last twenty-win season, but Boston was unable to repeat as AL champs. Two years later, in 1978, Luis won on the final day of the regular season, setting up the famous one-game playoff with the Yankees. The victory was the last for Luis in a Boston uniform, as he was signed by the hated Yankees as a free agent prior to the ’79 season. In two years with the Yanks, Tiant won just 21 games, and he finished his career with one-year runs in Pittsburgh and California in 1981-82.

Tiant holds several impressive marks, including the lowest ERA by a Boston pitcher since 1920. He holds the same distiction for Cleveland. He led the AL in shutouts three times (1966, 1968, and 1972), including 9 in his amazing ’68 season. That year he pitched 40 consecutive shutout innings. In 1966 he had pitched 41 straight whitewash innings, giving him two streaks over the 40-mark. That’s a feat only Tiant and Walter Johnson have accomplished.

Born
Luis Clemente (Vega) Tiant was born on November 23, 1940, in Marianao

Batted:  Right
Threw:  Right

Primary Position:  P

Primary Team:  BOS

Major League Debut
July 19, 1964

Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1964
Tony Perez
Bert Campaneris
Don Kessinger
Paul Blair
Lou Piniella
Phil Niekro
Luis Tiant
Mel Stottlemyre
Mickey Stanley

Nicknames
El Tiante, Little Looey

Uniform Numbers
#33 (1964-1970, 1982), #23 (1971-1980), #38 (1981)

Similar Players
Catfish Hunter, Jim Bunning, Oil Can Boyd

Hall of Fame Voting Year Election Votes Pct 1988 BBWAA 132 30.9% 1989 BBWAA 47 10.5% 1990 BBWAA 42 9.5% 1991 BBWAA 32 7.2% 1992 BBWAA 50 11.6% 1993 BBWAA 62 14.7% 1994 BBWAA 42 9.2% 1995 BBWAA 45 9.8% 1996 BBWAA 64 13.6% 1997 BBWAA 53 11.2% 1998 BBWAA 62 13.1% 1999 BBWAA 53 10.7% 2000 BBWAA 86 17.2% 2001 BBWAA 63 12.2% 2002 BBWAA 85 18.0%

Post-Season Appearances
1970 American League Championship Series
1975 American League Championship Series
1975 World Series

Feats
According to Elias Sports Bureau's Rob Tracy, only four pitchers have pitched four straight shutouts in the 40-year expansion era: Cory Lidle (four straight in 2002), Orel Hershiser (five straight in 1988), Luis Tiant (four straight in 1972) and Gaylord Perry (four straight in 1970).

Milestones

• August 16, 1978: 200th Win... Defeated Nolan Ryan to earn the win.

Injuries and Explanation for Missed Playing Time
Tiant claimed his condition was "the best I've been in five years" during 1976 spring training. He must have been right. He won 21 games and lowered his ERA by almost a full run that season.

Transactions
Before 1962 Season: Purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Mexico City Tigers (Mexican); December 10, 1969: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Stan Williams to the Minnesota Twins for Dean Chance, Bob Miller, Ted Uhlaender, and Graig Nettles; March 31, 1971: Released by the Minnesota Twins; April 16, 1971: Signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves; May 15, 1971: Released by the Atlanta Braves; May 17, 1971: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox; November 2, 1978: Granted Free Agency; November 13, 1978: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees; October 27, 1980: Granted Free Agency; February 23, 1981: Signed as a Free Agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates; October 5, 1981: Released by the Pittsburgh Pirates; August 2, 1982: Purchased by the California Angels from the Tabasco (Mexican); November 10, 1982: Granted Free Agency.

All-Star Selections
1968 AL
1974 AL
1976 AL

Replaced
Barry Latman, in the Indians' 1964 rotation.

Replaced By
Rudy May, in 1981 by the Yankees.

Best Strength as a Player
Control

Largest Weakness as a Player
Because he kept the ball near the plate, he gave up a lot of home runs.

Learn More about Luis Tiant
Search Amazon.com for Books about Luis Tiant ⇒
Search for Luis Tiant at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒

Sources used for the Luis Tiant Player Page:
The Sporting News, April 24, 1976