Luis Tiant is regarded by some as the best Cuban-born players in MLB history. He’s certainly the best pitcher and the best Cuban player in Boston Red Sox history.
Tiant pitched eight years in Boston, winning 20 games three times and compiling a 3.36 ERA in 274 games (238 starts). He finished the 1972 season 15-6 with a sparkling 1.91 ERA to lead all of baseball.
Tiant was a guest on the Audacy Original “The Bret Boone Podcast” and talked about how special Boston was to him and his baseball career.
“From the bottom of my heart, when I come into Boston, that was the best thing to happen to me in my baseball career,” Tiant said (8:30 in player above). “When I come into Boston, it was different. The fans were different. The people showed me respect, appreciation, love. I don’t get that anywhere in my life, even in my own country.”
Tiant started his career in Cleveland and he spent a year in Minnesota before joining the Red Sox in 1971. He was a two-time All-Star in Boston and finished top-six in Cy Young Award voting three times.
Not everyone understood why Tiant wanted to be in Boston, especially fellow Cubans, but the pitcher valued the respect he was shown there.
“People from my country used to tell me ‘What are you doing in Boston? It’s too cold. Come to Miami.’ What am I going to do in Miami, be hungry?” Tiant said. “I stay in Boston. I stay where the people want me, people respect me. That’s important for me… You respect me, I respect you.”
Tiant pitched for six different teams in his 19-year career, but it’s safe to say that he’s rightfully remembered as a Red Sox after his eight great years in Boston.
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