Longtime Red Sox great Luis Tiant dies at 83 (2025)

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

The Red Sox announced he passed away Tuesday morning at his home in Maine. 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

“Luis had the kind of unforgettable presence that made you feel like you were part of his world,” said Red Sox principal owner John Henry in a statement. “He was a pitcher with incredible talent, accomplishing so much with a style uniquely his own. But what truly set Luis apart was his zest for life, embracing every moment with an infectious spirit, even in the face of his many challenges. He channeled everything into his love for the game and the people around him. He was magnetic and had a smile that could light up Fenway Park. Luis was truly one-of-a-kind and all of us at the Red Sox will miss him.”

“Luis embodied everything we love about this game: resilience, passion, and an undeniable sense of belonging to something greater than himself,” said Red Sox chairman Tom Werner. “He was a cornerstone of the Red Sox pitching staff for years, with an unmatched grit and tenacity on the mound. His ability to rise in the most pressure-filled moments—especially his complete-game performances—cemented his place as a true legend. But what made Luis unforgettable was his vibrant personality. He was a gifted storyteller, always sharing tales filled with humor, honesty, and an enduring loyalty to his teammates. All of us are deeply saddened by his passing. We lost one of the great ones today.”

Born in Marianao, 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.

In addition to the Red Sox, Tiant also pitched for the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels. He later went on to serve as a pitching coach in the Dodgers (1992-95) and White Sox (1997) organizations and as Nicaragua’s pitching coach in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He spent 1998-2001 as head coach for Division III Savannah (GA) College of Art and Design, then returned to the Red Sox organization in 2002 as a pitching coach for Short-A Lowell. From 2002-03, Tiant served as a broadcaster for the Red Sox Spanish Baseball Network, and for the past 21 years (2004-24) he had served as a special assignment instructor.

All told, Tiant spent 31 years with the Red Sox in one capacity or another.

“Luis had a style of pitching that was as memorable as it was effective, but to me, the rarer gift was his ability to lift you up with just a smile,” said Red Sox President and CEO Sam Kennedy. “When you were with him, you were reminded of what really matters. Whether you were a teammate, a fan, or just someone fortunate enough to share a conversation, Luis had a way of making you feel special, like you were a close friend. His legacy on the mound is undeniable, but all of us today are mourning the man, the friend, the mentor who connected generations of fans and players. I am gutted by the news of his passing and will miss him more than words can express. Spring Training won’t be the same without Luis’s infectious energy spreading throughout camp.”

Tiant is survived by his wife, Maria, and their four children, Luis Jr., Isabel, Daniel, and John Papile.

[]

Longtime Red Sox great Luis Tiant dies at 83 (2025)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 6397

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.