Home  News Luis Tiant A Veterans Committee Finalist at Baseball Hall of Fame
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Luis Tiant A Veterans Committee Finalist at Baseball Hall of Fame
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National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
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COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Luis Tiant turned his back on batters with one of the most unique windups in baseball history.
But when he delivered the ball, Tiant came right at hitters with speed and command that has made him a Veterans Committee finalist at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Tiant, born on Nov. 23, 1940, is a former right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians (1964-69), Minnesota Twins (1970), Boston Red Sox (1971-78), New York Yankees (1979-80), Pittsburgh Pirates (1981) and California Angels (1982). His signature delivery – a twisting and turning motion that left him facing his outfielders before throwing the ball – confused and confounded batters along with his pinpoint control.
A three-time All-Star, Tiant pitched 19 seasons and compiled a 229-172 record with a 3.30 earned-run average, 187 complete games and a .571 winning percentage in 573 games pitched.
Tiant led the AL in shutouts three times (1966, 1968, 1972), including nine in his ’68 season. That year he pitched 40 consecutive shutout innings.
While playing for the Indians, Tiant posted four straight shutouts during one stretch and went 21-9 in 1968, posting a league-best 1.60 ERA and nine shutouts. In one two-game stretch, he struck out 32 batters.
After battling injuries, “El Tiante” had an excellent year in 1972 with a 15-6 record for the Red Sox and a league-leading 1.91 ERA. He won the Comeback Player of the Year Award that season.
From 1972 to 1978, Tiant averaged 17 wins per season and was named to the All-Star team twice with Boston. In his eight seasons with the Red Sox, he pitched 116 complete games and won 122 games.
Tiant will be considered for the Class of 2009 at the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee as part of the post-1942 ballot (players who began their big league careers in 1943 or after). Other members of the post-1942 Veterans Committee final ballot are Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Joe Torre and Maury Wills. Any player receiving at least 75 percent of the vote from the Veterans Committee, which consists of the 64 living Hall of Famers, will be enshrined at the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2009.
Results from the Veterans Committee vote will be announced Dec. 8 at baseball’s Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.
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