Archive for month: September, 2013

Cuban-born, age 72, (in 2013) “El Tiante” broke into the American League in 1964, which was in the middle of a golden age for great pitchers. (Bob Gibson, Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichial, Sam McDowell, Denny McClain, Mickey Lolich, Don Drysdale, Mel Stottlemyre, Warren Spahn, Hoyt Wilhelm, Dean Chance, Jim Perry, Jim Kaat and Jim Bunning.
Red Sox 1960 hurlers’ highlights included, Medford (MA) High School’s Bill Monbouquette (no-hitter on 8-1-62),

Earl Wilson (no-hitter 6-26-62. Thru 7 yrs, Wilson hit 17 HR’s as a Sox pitcher).

Dave Morehead (no-hitter 9-16-65. Although Morehead led A.L. pitchers with 18 losses in ’65).

MINOR LEAGUE : During his 15-1, AAA season, the 23-year old Luis Tiant threw a no-hitter and one-hitter in consecutive games, in 1963.

ROOKIE 1964 ; As a rookie in 1964, for Cleveland, Tiant started 16 games and completed 9, while compiling a 10-4 record.

 

TRADED : 1970 traded to the Minnesita Twins from Cleveland, for Dean Chance and Craig Nettles.

INJURY May 28th 1970. Tiant broke his shoulder blade during the 1970 season, possibly a career-ending injury.
(from the blog, MLB.com by Bruce Markusen) “Tiant broke his shoulder blade while making a May 28th start against the Milwaukee Brewers. According to Tiant, the doctor claimed that he had never seen such an injury experienced by a pitcher; in fact, the doctor had examined only a broken shoulder blade suffered by a javelin thrower during his years of dealing with athletes.”

TRADED ; 1971. Tiant signed and flourished with the Red Sox from 1971 to 1978.

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR (1972). Seven winning seasons for Boston, including a stretch of win totals of 20, 22, 18 and 21.
His micro-scopic E.R.A in 1968 and 1972 led the A.L. with 1.60 and 1.91.
1975 ALCS. Boston’s ace shuts down the A’s in a complete game, 7-1 victory, in game one, against Oakland’s Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi, Bert Campanaris and Sal Bando.
1975 WORLD SERIES, GAME ONE : Boston’s Tiant won “game one” with a 6-0 complete game shutout versus Cincinnati.In 1975, the Reds dominated the N.L. with a record of 108-54 (CIN franchaise record beginning in 1890!) The Reds would earn six playoff appearances in the 1970’s.

 

1975 WORLD SERIES, GAME FOUR : During the “game four” Boston victory, Tiant threw 163 pitches verus the devestating  line-up of the Cincinnati Reds in a complete game, 5-4 Sox win.

The Big Red Machine included, Pete Rose (MLB all-time hit leader 4,256 hits ), Johnny Bench (HOF), Ken Griffey Sr. (3x All Star) , Joe Morgan (HOF), Tony Perez (HOF) and George Foster (6x All Star, 2x NL HR champ).
1975 WORLD SERIES, GAME SIX : Tiant also started classic “game six” but was pulled in the top of the 8th inning as the Reds led 6-3.
FYI: Now batting…. Bernie Carbo in the bottom of the 8th and Carlton Fisk in the bottom of the 12th. Boston’s game six, winning pitcher… Rick Wise.
Many have said that “Game Six” was the greatest World Series game ever played. “El Tiante” won 1975’s Babe Ruth Award for best performance in the post-season.

The New York Yankees lavished the right-hander with a $200,000 raise for 1979 and 1980. Then, Tiant played an unsatisfactory year each with the Pirates and Angels.
CAREER. 37th all-time in career strike-outs.

Three-time All-Star. 1966, ’68 and ‘ 74 led A.L. in shutouts. In 1968 and ’69,

Tiant averaged more than 9 K’s per 9 innings, for the first (1968) and second (1969) ranking of A.L. pitchers.

 

He is one of five pitchers to throw four (or more) consecutive shutouts. In 1966, Tiant blanked opponents for 41 consecutive innings and in 1968, he did the same in 40 consecutive shutout innings.

 

Cy Young Award consideration (#6, #4 and #5) in ’72, ’74 and ’76.

 

M.V.P. consideration 1968 (#5), 1972 (#8), 1974 (#11) and 1976 (#26).
Red Sox uniform number # 23 and inducted to Red Sox Hall of Fame.
HALL OF FAME: In 1988, Tiant got 30% of the Cooperstown vote, after that, not more than 18%
“The Lost Son of Havana”, Luis Tiant documentary (2009).

SEE PICTURE OF MY GOOD LUCK AT FENWAY 9-15-13 at FACEBOOK. CLICK HERE.

Baseball – reference .com , the baseball page .com, mlb.com, bruce mlblogs .com, wiki-pedia .