Luis Tiant
Born: 11/23/1940 in Marianao, La Habana, Cuba
Died: 10/8/2024 in Wells, ME, USA
MLB Debut: 1964-07-19 | Final Game: 1982-09-04
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Luis Clemente Tiant
Biography
Luis Tiant, born in 1940, was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from July 19, 1964, until September 4, 1982. Known for his distinctive pitching style, characterized by a unique windup and exceptional control, Tiant became a formidable force on the mound. Over the course of his career, he compiled an impressive record of 229 wins and 172 losses, with a career earned run average (ERA) of 3.3. His ability to strike out batters was notable, as he recorded 2,416 strikeouts and added 15 saves to his tally. Tiant's contributions to the game earned him three All-Star selections, reflecting his status as one of the elite pitchers of his era.
Tiant's career spanned two decades, during which he played for several teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. His time with the Red Sox was particularly significant, as he became a key player in the franchise's resurgence during the 1970s. Tiant's impact on the game extended beyond his statistics; he was part of a generation of players that brought a blend of flair and competitiveness, contributing to the rich tapestry of baseball history during a transformative period in the sport. His legacy remains influential, revered by fans and players alike for his skill and charisma on the mound.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 137.0 | 119.0 | 2.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0.084 | 0.155 | 0.084 | 0.239 |
Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 119.0 | 0 | 0 | 72.0 | 35.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 463.0 | 213.0 | 88.0 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.53 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 8.0 | 7.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0.143 | 0.143 | 0.143 | 0.286 |
| 1936 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.300 | .000 | 0.300 |
| 1939 | 21.0 | 21.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.190 | 0.190 | 0.190 | 0.380 |
| 1940 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1943 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.250 | 0.500 |
| 1944 | 15.0 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.071 | .000 | 0.071 |
| 1945 | 18.0 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| 1946 | 24.0 | 20.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.100 | 0.217 | 0.100 | 0.317 |
| 1947 | 36.0 | 31.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.065 | 0.147 | 0.065 | 0.212 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Pitching
| Season | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 14.0 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.12 |
| 1936 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 35.0 | 18.0 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.66 |
| 1939 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 76.0 | 34.0 | 24.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.07 |
| 1943 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 15.0 | 9.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.38 |
| 1944 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 | 13.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 71.0 | 30.0 | 14.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.56 |
| 1945 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 | 11.0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 76.0 | 35.0 | 9.0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.00 |
| 1946 | 28.0 | 0 | 0 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 73.0 | 33.0 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.43 |
| 1947 | 19.0 | 0 | 0 | 16.0 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 103.0 | 45.0 | 19.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.51 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 229 | 172 | 573 | 484 | 187 | 49 | 15 | 3486.3 | 3075 | 1280 | 346 | 1104 | 2416 | 3.30 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | CLE | AL | 10 | 4 | 19 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 127.0 | 94 | 40 | 47 | 105 | 2.83 | 459.2 |
| 1965 | CLE | AL | 11 | 11 | 41 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 196.3 | 166 | 77 | 66 | 152 | 3.53 | 773.1 |
| 1966 | CLE | AL | 12 | 11 | 46 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 155.0 | 121 | 48 | 50 | 145 | 2.79 | 1953.6 |
| 1967 | CLE | AL | 12 | 9 | 33 | 29 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 213.7 | 177 | 65 | 67 | 219 | 2.74 | 2227.1 |
| 1968 | CLE | AL | 21 | 9 | 34 | 32 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 258.3 | 152 | 46 | 73 | 264 | 1.60 | 6403.4 |
| 1969 | CLE | AL | 9 | 20 | 38 | 37 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 249.7 | 229 | 103 | 129 | 156 | 3.71 | -7998.5 |
| 1970 | MIN | AL | 7 | 3 | 18 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 92.7 | 84 | 35 | 41 | 50 | 3.40 | -1768.1 |
| 1971 | BOS | AL | 1 | 7 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 72.3 | 73 | 39 | 32 | 59 | 4.85 | -289.1 |
| 1972 | BOS | AL | 15 | 6 | 43 | 19 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 179.0 | 128 | 38 | 65 | 123 | 1.91 | 2976.5 |
| 1973 | BOS | AL | 20 | 13 | 35 | 35 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 272.0 | 217 | 101 | 78 | 206 | 3.34 | 1638.2 |
| 1974 | BOS | AL | 22 | 13 | 38 | 38 | 25 | 7 | 0 | 311.3 | 281 | 101 | 82 | 176 | 2.92 | 3926.9 |
| 1975 | BOS | AL | 18 | 14 | 35 | 35 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 260.0 | 262 | 116 | 72 | 142 | 4.02 | 609.4 |
| 1976 | BOS | AL | 21 | 12 | 38 | 38 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 279.0 | 274 | 95 | 64 | 131 | 3.06 | -476.8 |
| 1977 | BOS | AL | 12 | 8 | 32 | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 188.7 | 210 | 95 | 51 | 124 | 4.53 | -290.6 |
| 1978 | BOS | AL | 13 | 8 | 32 | 31 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 212.3 | 185 | 78 | 57 | 114 | 3.31 | -1617.3 |
| 1979 | NYY | AL | 13 | 8 | 30 | 30 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 195.7 | 190 | 85 | 53 | 104 | 3.91 | - |
| 1980 | NYY | AL | 8 | 9 | 25 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 136.3 | 139 | 74 | 50 | 84 | 4.89 | - |
| 1981 | PIT | NL | 2 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 57.3 | 54 | 25 | 19 | 32 | 3.92 | 616.5 |
| 1982 | LAA | AL | 2 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29.7 | 39 | 19 | 8 | 30 | 5.76 | - |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 573 | 513 | 36 | 84 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 44 | 1 | 13 | 146 | 0.164 | 0.185 | 0.224 | 0.409 | -2461.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | CLE | AL | 19 | 45 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0.111 | 0.0 |
| 1965 | CLE | AL | 41 | 68 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 30 | 0.088 | -687.6 |
| 1966 | CLE | AL | 46 | 36 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0.111 | 0.0 |
| 1967 | CLE | AL | 33 | 71 | 9 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 0.254 | -115.8 |
| 1968 | CLE | AL | 34 | 87 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0.080 | -962.0 |
| 1969 | CLE | AL | 38 | 81 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 0.235 | -154.7 |
| 1970 | MIN | AL | 18 | 32 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0.406 | 0.0 |
| 1971 | BOS | AL | 21 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.158 | 0.0 |
| 1972 | BOS | AL | 43 | 56 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 0.107 | -541.8 |
| 1973 | BOS | AL | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1974 | BOS | AL | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1975 | BOS | AL | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1976 | BOS | AL | 38 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1977 | BOS | AL | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1978 | BOS | AL | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1979 | NYY | AL | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1980 | NYY | AL | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
| 1981 | PIT | NL | 9 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.188 | 0.0 |
| 1982 | LAA | AL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.250 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | ALCS | BOS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1975 | WS | BOS | 3 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0.250 |
| 1970 | ALCS | MIN | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Playoff Career Pitching
| W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 34.7 | 29 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 2.86 |
Playoff Pitching by Year
| Year | Round | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | ALCS | BOS | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9.0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0.00 |
| 1975 | WS | BOS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 25.0 | 25 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 3.60 |
| 1970 | ALCS | MIN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13.50 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | 573 | 484 | 221 | 389 | 35 | 31 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | CLE | P | 19 | 16 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 2 |
| 1965 | CLE | P | 41 | 30 | 17 | 27 | 1 | 2 |
| 1966 | CLE | P | 46 | 16 | 9 | 20 | 4 | 0 |
| 1967 | CLE | P | 33 | 29 | 13 | 17 | 4 | 3 |
| 1968 | CLE | P | 34 | 32 | 15 | 19 | 1 | 2 |
| 1969 | CLE | P | 38 | 37 | 22 | 31 | 4 | 1 |
| 1970 | MIN | P | 18 | 17 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 2 |
| 1971 | BOS | P | 21 | 10 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | BOS | P | 43 | 19 | 7 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
| 1973 | BOS | P | 35 | 35 | 17 | 31 | 1 | 4 |
| 1974 | BOS | P | 38 | 38 | 22 | 31 | 4 | 1 |
| 1975 | BOS | P | 35 | 35 | 16 | 22 | 4 | 2 |
| 1976 | BOS | P | 38 | 38 | 12 | 34 | 4 | 4 |
| 1977 | BOS | P | 32 | 32 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | BOS | P | 32 | 31 | 14 | 20 | 0 | 2 |
| 1979 | NYA | P | 30 | 30 | 13 | 27 | 2 | 2 |
| 1980 | NYA | P | 25 | 25 | 13 | 21 | 2 | 3 |
| 1981 | PIT | P | 9 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | CAL | P | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 573 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Player of the Month | August |
| 1976 | Player of the Week | Week of 1976-09-24 |
| 1975 | Babe Ruth Award | P |
| 1974 | Player of the Week | Week of 1974-07-12 |
| 1972 | TSN Comeback Player of the Year |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Cy Young Award | AL | 5th | 10.0 | 120 | 0 |
| 1976 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 26th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1974 | Cy Young Award | AL | 4th | 8.0 | 120 | 0 |
| 1974 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 11th | 41.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1972 | Cy Young Award | AL | 6th | 16.0 | 120 | 1 |
| 1972 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 70.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1968 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 5th | 78.0 | 280 | 0 |