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Longtime Red Sox great Luis Tiant dies at 83

Luis Tiant, a longtime Red Sox great who starred for the club throughout the 1970s, has died at age 83.

The Herald confirmed his passing Tuesday morning. As of this writing no cause of death has been reported.

Today is a very sad day. My friend and teammate , Luis Tiant, passed away. A Big game pitcher, a funny genuine guy who loved his family and baseball. I miss him already….RIP my friend. pic.twitter.com/9jFODk2Che

— Fred Lynn (@19fredlynn) October 8, 2024

A native of Cuba, Tiant pitched 19 seasons in the majors between 1964-82, including eight seasons with the Red Sox from 1971-78. A three-time All-Star and two-time ERA champion, Tiant went 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA and 187 complete games in his career.

His best years came in Boston, when he went 122-81 while posting three top-6 Cy Young finishes in 1972, 1974 and 1976. “El Tiante” was a fixture of the Red Sox starting rotation during one of the most successful eras in club history, and in 1975 he helped lead Boston to within one win of its first World Series championship since 1918, making four starts during the postseason while going 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA in 34 innings.

That included complete game victories in Games 1 and 4 of the World Series against the Cincinnati Reds, and he pitched into the eighth inning of Boston’s eventual Game 6 win as well.

Though he wasn’t enshrined in Cooperstown — he never earned more than 30.9% of the vote in 15 years on the ballot — Tiant put together a Hall of Fame-caliber resume and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1997. He has remained a regular presence around the Red Sox since his retirement and could regularly be found around JetBlue Park during spring training.

He was also a frequent guest in the club’s Legends Suite at Fenway Park, including as recently as the final home series of the season barely two weeks ago.

This is a breaking news story. Check back later for further updates.

Boston, MA. – June 25: Louis Tiant and Pedro Mart’nez enter the field as the Red Sox pay tribute to Dustin Pedroia prior to the game at Fenway on June 25, 2021 in , Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

BOSTON, MA – MAY 4: From left, Police Commissioner William Gross jokes with former Red Sox players Sam Horn and Luis Tiant, during the South End Little League Opening Day ceremonies at Peter’s Park May 4, 2019 in BOSTON, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Chris Christo/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

FORT MYERS, FL – FEBRUARY 18: Luis Tiant makes a point while talking with players during a spring training workout in Fort Myers, Florida on February 18, 2019. (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

Former Red Sox’ Luis Tiant.

Luis Tiant and Jim Rice joke during the Boston Red Sox alumni game at Fenway Park on Sunday,May 27, 2018. Staff Photo by Nancy Lane

FILE – Luis Tiant throwing out the first pitch at Fenway Park on Friday, October 5, 2007. Staff photo by Matt Stone

Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk welcomes a Luis Tiant embrace after Tiant pitched the Sox to a 7-1 win over Oakland in the American League playoff opener Saturday, Oct. 4, 1975.(AP Photo)

Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant stands by the pitching mound as his father, the legendary Cuban pitcher Luis Tiant Sr. pitches the first ball of the game with the California Angels at Fenway Park, Aug. 26, 1975. The Tiants were reunited last week after fourteen years. (AP Photo)

FATHER AND SON: Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant Jr., left, is reunited with his father, Luis Tiant Sr., after 14 years apart.

Boston Red Sox starter Luis Tiant is shown in action during the All-Star game at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., July 23, 1974. (AP Photo)

Cuban-born pitcher Luis Tiant smokes what he called a Cuban cigar in the Red Sox dressing room after he pitched a 6-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series opener, Oct. 11, 1975. (AP Photo)

(Fort Myers, FL, 02/25/15) Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz gets a ride from Luis Tiant in a golf cart at the Red Sox Spring Training facility at Jet Blue Park on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Staff Photo by Matt Stone

Boston Red Sox Luis Tiant with his right arm in ice and holding the figure 20 on a shirt following his pitching 20th complete game and 20th win of the season Friday night against the Oakland. Boston Herald file photo
8/24/1974

Luis Tiant is congratulated by George Scott and Denny Doyle after three-hit shutout of Texas. Boston Herald file photo
6/15/1977

Luis Tiant Baseball. Undated Boston Herald file photo

(Boston, MA 05/07/16) Red Sox pitching great Luis Tiant throws out a pitch during the opening day of South End Baseball in Peters Park on Saturday, May 7, 2016. Staff photo by John Wilcox.

(083004- Norton MA)Red Sox players and management play in a Pro Am golf tournament on the Deutsche Bank tourney site in Norton.Luis Tiant, cigar in mouth, hits out of the sand onto the 14th green.(083004GolfNL-Photo by Nancy Lane.Saved in Tue)

(Boston, MA) Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, left, and Luis Tiant hug prior to the start of the Fenway Park 100th Anniversary baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees on Friday, April 20, 2012. Staff photo by Christopher Evans

Luis Tiant Baseball. Undated Boston Herald file photo

(Undated) The Red Sox senior citizens, Carl Yastrzemski and Luis Tiant share a moment of creamier at Fenway. Boston Herald file photo

Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk welcomes a Luis Tiant embrace after Tiant pitched the Sox to a 7-1 win over Oakland in the American League playoff opener Saturday, Oct. 4, 1975.(AP Photo)

9/16/1975 — Carlton Fisk (left) embraces teammate Luis Tiant after Tiant shutout the Baltimore Orioles 2-0. Carl Yastrzemski (no. 8) joins the celebration. AP File photo

(Boston, MA) 08/01/13 Former Red Sox player Luis Tiant gave patient Walter Murphy, 79 of West Newbury, the chance to wear his World Series ring when he visited patients at the Dana Farber Yawkey Way Center for Cancer care on Thursday, August 1, 2013 . Herald photo by Amanda Sabga.

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Boston, MA. – June 25: Louis Tiant and Pedro Mart’nez enter the field as the Red Sox pay tribute to Dustin Pedroia prior to the game at Fenway on June 25, 2021 in , Boston, MA. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

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