Talked with Luis Tiant today.

[kalinecountry]

This afternoon after taking the elderly man I'm a caregiver to to a doctor appointment, we stopped at a restaurant nearby. Always crowded, anyways we are at the edge of one room of tables near the entrance to the other room of seating. After awhile, I see Tiant and his wife. They finish, get up, she leaves for the exit, our eyes meet and we smile, she is probably used to people talking to 'El Tiante'. He's talking with another guy, then walks towards us.
I get up and shake Luis' hand and wish him luck to get in the HOF. Similar career numbers iirc with Hunter, Bunning, Drysdale.....and I asked him what it was like to pitch to Kaline. Luis said he was very tough to pitch to.
I saw and spoke to him summer of 1999 near Fenway walking with a crowd of people at an event not a ballgame. It was about the time he began selling his Luis Tiant cigars.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Cool man. Big fan of his..I hope he gets in.

 

[tomdalton22]

never heard of him. I wasn't really a baseball fan until the 1980's though.

 

[biggunsbob]

Love how he turned his back on batters..

 

[Mitchrapp]

never heard of him. I wasn't really a baseball fan until the 1980's though.

He did play into the 80's.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Love how he turned his back on batters..

Yeah. I remember as a kid growing up in the 70's that was one of those windups I tried to emulate when playing ball in the neighborhood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md2k4NdOPmA

 

[tomdalton22]

I did play into the 80's.

I just googled him...never heard of him and don't remember him. Looks like he had a few good years. Lead the league in ERA twice.

 

[stonecold2136]

I think Tiant's wind up has a huge influence on Japanese pitchers

 

[biggunsbob]

Stats.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tiantlu01.shtml


Just three 2o wins seasons.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Stats.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tiantlu01.shtml


Just three 2o wins seasons.

Those Cleveland teams for the most part weren't good. Because he pitched well for them. He is most remembered when he went to Boston. Probably won't get into the HOF but a solid career nonetheless.

 

[manchild98]

never heard of him. I wasn't really a baseball fan until the 1980's though.

You know how I know Tiant?.....from the Bad News Bears Breaking Training movie. That kid pitcher on the team does a Tiant impression.

 

[Mitchrapp]

You know how I know Tiant?.....from the Bad News Bears Breaking Training movie. That kid pitcher on the team does a Tiant impression.

Oh yeah, that's funny.